HBO Max has announced more additions to its cast for its upcoming series The Penguin, working title. According to Variety and Deadline, Michael Zegen (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Boardwalk Empire), James Madio (Band of Brothers, The Offer), Scott Cohen (The 10th Kingdom, Love & Other Drugs), and Theo Rossi (Emily the Criminal, Sons of Anarchy) are set to appear in the crime drama with recurring roles.
Little is known about the characters the newcomers will play, with the exception of Zegen, who has been cast as Alberto Falcone. Via Variety, Falcone is the son of Gotham City crime boss Carmine Falcone and the brother of Sofia Falcone. In the comics, Alberto is known as serial killer called The Holiday Killer, who targets Gotham gangsters on a holiday each month. Additionally, Rossi will play a “key recurring role” in the series, via Deadline.
A spinoff of The Batman (2022), directed by Matt Reeves (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Away), The Penguin follows the story of Oswald Cobblepot, portrayed by Oscar nominee Colin Farrell (The Lobster, The Banshees of Inisherin), an infamous Gotham gangster who rose to prominence from nothing. The eight-episode series will take place one week after the events of the film.
Reeves and Farrell will also serve as executive producers of the show, along with Dylan Clark (The Wilds, The Mayor), Bill Carraro (Dexter: New Blood, Lovecraft Country), and Lauren LeFranc (Hemlock Grove, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), who also works as a writer and showrunner for the series. Craig Zobel (Mare of Easttown, The Hunt), also an EP, is set to direct the first three episodes.
The main cast includes Cristin Milioti (The Resort, Made for Love) as Sofia Falcone. Playing undisclosed roles are Shohreh Aghdashloo (The Cuban, The Expanse), Michael Kelly (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, House of Cards), Deirdre O’Connell (The Requin, Outer Range), and Rhenzy Feliz (Encanto, Runaways).
The Penguin recently began production and is expected to have a release date in early 2024. A first look at photos from the set is featured below.
The Batman is streaming now on HBO Max.