The Penguin continues Matt Reeves’s take on Gotham prior to The Batman, providing important points to keep in mind. The Batman brought us a gritty urban yet modern take on DC’s Gotham City alongside its complex underground networks. Among the underground criminal networks is the powerhouse Collin Farrell, who plays Oswald Cobb (AKA Cobblepot). Though his role was small in The Batman, he will get his spin-off as we watch his rise to power.
HBO’s The Penguin is set to premiere on Thursday, Sept.19th after The Batman’s conclusion. The Batman sets the narrative of the show depicting the interworkings of Gotham’s crime-ridden scenes inclusion to the film’s events. The Penguin could impact The Batman’s sequel. Each project is part of DC Elseworlds which are alternate realities that are separate from the primary DCEU timelines.
10. Penguin Owns The Iceberg Lounge Club
Oswald Cobblepots Clom from The Comics
The Iceberg Lounge is an infamous nightclub in Gotham City serving as The Penguin’s base of operations. It is located on Gotham’s waterfront the nightclub is a very popular place to be from politicians and criminals. The Iceberg is not only just known for entertainment it is a blanket for organized crime.
9. The Penguin was Head of Falcone’s Crime Syndicate
Oswald Cobblepot in The Beginning Worked for Falcone
Cobblepot was a lieutenant in Falcone’s crime syndicate operating as the right-hand man managing illegal operations from the shadows overlooking]everything. Although Falcone is the boss, Penguin is the most trusted, handling all the dirty work and protecting Falcone’s image.
Penguin is loyal to Carmine, and the vision he has for himself stretches far beyond being under Falcone’s wing as his lieutenant leaving him unhappy with his current position throughout the film, showing hints to his desire to rise in the criminal ranks making a name for himself.
8. Falcone is Involved In The Wayne’s Murder
Batman Puts Together a Connection Between The Wayne and Organized Crimes
A big revelation in the film marks Carmine Falcone as a potential lead to the murder of Bruce’s parents, Thomas and Martha. Gotham’s history showed that The Waynes were the symbol of light to Gotham’s dark. But in The Batman, it introduced a narrative that Thomas Wayne while he ran for mayor asked for Falcone’s help to silence a journalist that was going to out Martha for struggling with mental health.
Thomas didn’t intend to have the journalist killed, Falcone took matters into his own hands. Stricken with guilt, Thomas Wayne wanted to go to the police but was murdered along with his wife before he had a chance to. The series will explore crime after Falcone and more details about The Wayne’s and their connection to the mob giving us more layers to Gotham’s onion of history.
7. Gotham City Police Were On Falcone’s Payroll
A Theme That is Synonymous With Batman
Corruption in the Gotham City Police Department (GCPD) is a noteworthy theme in Batman and most of Batman’s continuity. Many of the officers including ones in high positions are revealed to be in Carmine Falcone’s pockets. The corrupted system allows Falcone freedom and his criminal empire is untouchable due to him having the law on his side meaning officers turn blind eyes to all his operations, and anyone that threatens his power is dealt with quickly.
Batman and Gordan exposed the extent of that corruption discovering just how deep Falcone’s influence ran. From the dealing of drugs to political manipulation, it is shocking how low The GCPD was willing to sink for Falcone. This played a crucial role in Falcone’s. Inevitable downfall, as the remaining GCPD who were against the crime boss brought him down. The Penguin will show just how Oswald Cobblepot navigated the corrupt system as he tried to seize control of Gotham’s underworld.
6. The Penguin Wasn’t The Police’s Informant, Falcone Was
In The Batman, The Penguin Was Implied To Be An Informant For The GCPD
A major plot twist in The Batman circles the idea of who is the inside man of the GCPD. For much of the film, assuming Cobblepot is the mystery informant leaking all the information to the police. However, it is uncovered that it is Carmine Falcone, demonstrating just how deeply Falcon was intertwined in Gothams’s power structure. By feeding certain information to the police, Falcone single-handedly took down Salvatore Maroni, inheriting his vacant crime syndicate.
With this twist, it shifts the spotlight from Penguin, while he is an important player in the underworld, he ain’t the one pulling the strings but with Falcone dead The Penguin sees his chance to step up to his more manipulative role like his comic version. Oswald will most likely be up to his similar tactics in The Penguin series, turning into an informant himself or manipulating the police to advance his ambitions.
5. The Riddler Was Responsible For Carmine Falcone’s Death
Falcone Was Killed During His Arrest
Paul Dano portrayed The Riddler in Matt Reeves’s The Batman. He was involved in all the high-profile murders throughout Gotham City, he targeted corrupt officials and all who contributed to the city’s decline. His ultimate target is Falcone. The Riddler lured Carmine into a trap by setting up Batman to be the one to catch him allowing Riddler to kill him showing Gotham’s criminal underworld to the entire public.
The assassination marks a moment in the movie for multiple reasons. Falcone’s death shakes the power structure that kept Gotham operating for years. The Riddler’s actions showed Gotham’s corruption and paved the way for new contenders to rise and claim power.
4. Bella Real Is Elected As The New Mayor Of Gotham
She Was Elected During The Gotham Square Garden Scene In The Film
At the end of The Batman, the character Bella Real (played by Jayme Lawson) is elected to be Gotham’s new mayor with her project to change and reform the City. She represents the new direction that Gotham is heading into, and she stands against the things that plague the city such as corruption and the heavy criminal influence. Her election comes at a time when Gotham has no stability. This comes with attempts of assassination against her as well as the Riddlers bombings that took place.
Bella’s leadership will be tested in this upcoming series, although she has not been brought up in The Penguins cast. Nonetheless, Bella was elected, and her efforts to clean up things like the corruption will cause her to bump heads with Penguin who wants the city to remain vulnerable to make it easier for him to have his way. The conflict with Gotham’s new politicians and the revival of the crime underworld will be a key point when watching the upcoming series on HBO.
3. Gotham City Is Underwater
The Riddler Destroys Gotham
Gotham City is flooding due to The Riddler’s attack with several bombs detonating causing a massive flood throughout the city. The devastation was widespread submerging many parts of Gotham underwater and leaving everything in a state of chaos forcing thousands of residents to leave thus tweaking the city’s infrastructure.
The flooding acts as a cleansing to Gotham as The Penguin is set weeks after the results of the bombings playing a role in the narrative. Creating the perfect environment for criminals such as Penguin to take power and exploit the weakness of the city expanding his empire while Gotham struggles to thrive.
2. Carmine Falcone’s Death Leaves Lack Of Leadership In Gotham’s Underworld
The Penguin Is The Result of This
With The Riddler being at the head of Falcone’s death it leaves a huge power vacuum in the criminal part of Gotham. As the most notorious mob boss Falcone controlled a big network of enterprises in Gotham from drugs to the bribery of politicians. With him removed everyone scrambles to seize control of Gotham.
For Cobblepot this opportunity is what he has been waiting for no longer will he be that lieutenant wanting more, Penguin now is given the chance to take the top and become a dominant figure in the crime scene. Though he won’t be the only player in the game to get the power other factions and hungry players will want to emerge as well undoubtedly making the battle for the throne much more dangerous. The Penguin will focus on Oswald Cobblepot’s journey to power as he seeks to build his empire.
1. With The Riddler Locked Up in Arkham, He Befriend A Familiar Prisoner
The Batman Faces 3 Villians
The Riddler is locked up in Arkham Asylum after being caught by Batman. However, in this film’s closing moments, The Riddler befriends another inmate in the cement hotel, The Joker ( Barry Keoghan). This small interaction brings about an alliance between Gotham’s notorious criminals, hinting at chaos to come.
While The Penguin Show will focus on Oswald Cobblepot’s rise to power, the presence of these two villains in Arkham can’t be overlooked. The Riddler and Joker’s potential alliance could have a huge implication for the criminal landscape in Gotham, and it might be possible that their influence will be felt throughout the walls of Arkham. Whether it plays a direct role or not in The Penguin, their presence in the background following The Batman could add another layer to the tension and intrigue of the series.