The Penguin: The Batman Spin-Off Casting Treacherous Mob Boss Salvatore Maroni & More: Exclusive

The Penguin is gearing up for production next year, and The Illuminerdi has some exciting information about the upcoming series to share.

The Penguin is gearing up for production next year, and The Illuminerdi has some exciting information about the upcoming series to share.

The Penguin is written by Lauren LeFranc, who also serves as showrunner. Matt Reeves, Dylan Clark and Colin Farrell are producers. Colin Farrell also stars in the title role as Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin. The new DC TV series is a spinoff of The Batman, which was directed by Matt Reeves.

This is the first of multiple planned spinoffs that will work together to create a new, unique live-action DC universe separate from the primary DCU (Black Adam, Shazam: Fury Of The Gods, etc.). The first entry into Matt Reeves’ new universe was a huge success, successfully laying the groundwork for new projects like The Penguin to continue the saga.

THE PENGUIN WAS SET UP PERFECTLY BY THE BATMAN

During the events of The Batman, crime boss Don Carmine Falcone was murdered by The Riddler. He was the king of Gotham’s criminal enterprise, and his death has created a power struggle that moves The Penguin forward into action. Sofia and Alberto Falcone, the children of Carmine, will be coming to make their claim on Gotham City. Other Falcone family players like cousin Johnny Viti and Consigliere Milos Grappa will join the siblings in rebuilding Carmine’s empire.

The Penguin will fight for his ambitious desire to succeed Don Falcone as the number one player in Gotham, even while his mother’s dementia worsens. But Oswald Cobblepot has more to deal with than just the Falcone’s and his sick mom. Another player is entering the fray.

THE PENGUIN: DON SALVATORE MARONI JOINS THE FRAY

The Illuminerdi has learned from our sources that HBO Max is looking to cast a man in his 60’s to play Salvatore Maroni. Don Salvatore Maroni is the head of the Maroni crime family, an organization that has a long-standing rivalry with the Falcones. Don Maroni has been featured in film and TV programs such as The Dark Knight, Gotham, Batman Forever, and even The Batman, often as a younger man.

Salvatore Maroni is only seen briefly during The Batman, and he was played by an uncredited extra who will presumably not return for The Penguin. We learn that Salvatore was subject to one of the biggest drug raids in GCPD history, but it is eventually revealed that Maroni was set up by Falcone. We can only assume that Salvatore Maroni will be seeking revenge against the Falcone family for this slight during the new HBO Max spinoff. Theoretically, The Penguin could team up with the Maroni crime family in order to take down the Falcones together.

Additionally, The Penguin is looking to cast three more characters, who appear to be created for the show.

THE PENGUIN: HBO MAX IS CASTING THESE NEW CHARACTERS

“Eve” is a sex worker in her 50’s who doesn’t take crap from anyone. She agrees to help cover for Cobblepot. “Nick” is a 30 year old man who is employed at a plant controlled by The Penguin. He is distinguished by the gold cross constantly worn around his neck. Finally, HBO Max is looking for a male actor in their 40’s to play “Dr. Rueben Desotto”, whose work is less than ethical. These three will be supporting characters.

Eve and Nick do not appear to have any basis in DC comic book continuity. Neither does Dr. Reuben Desotto, but the little information revealed about the character is intriguing. He is a Doctor, working unethically in Gotham City amidst a criminal war for the streets. That description would also fit Dr. Hugo Strange very well. That is purely speculation, and there is no guarantee that Dr. Desotto and Dr. Strange have any connection whatsoever. But it is always possible that Desotto is a codename used to preserve the secrecy of supervillain Hugo Strange coming to The Penguin.

Even if he is not joined by the terrifying Hugo Strange, Salvatore Maroni is an icon from Gotham City whose inclusion on this show is thrilling in its own right. He is a force to be reckoned with, and one of the worst mafioso’s the city has to offer.

Precisely how the stories of Desotto, Nick, Eve, Maroni and The Penguin intersect remains to be seen, and we cannot wait to find out more. The Penguin is shaping up to be one of the most exciting comic book adaptations on the horizon, as it continues to bring dynamic characters and story elements together.