Max is set to transform San Diego into Gotham City to celebrate the highly anticipated HBO® Original series The Penguin, starring Colin Farrell, which debuts this September. Beginning Thursday, July 25, The Penguin takeover will offer fans an exclusive experience by recreating Gotham’s famed Iceberg Lounge, deploying a Gotham Ice Truck in front of the San Diego Convention Center, and partnering with local businesses for bespoke giveaways. Additionally, Max will host a panel in Hall H featuring the cast and executive producers, where the official trailer for the series will premiere.
“We are incredibly excited to tap into the rich and passionate fanbase in San Diego this year by introducing them to our new series, The Penguin,” said Pia Barlow, Executive Vice President, Originals Marketing, HBO and Max. “With our in-world activations, fans will have the chance to engross themselves in the underground world of Oz Cobbs’s Gotham, picking up where we left off in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, as we look to generate excitement for the series premiering this September.”
The Iceberg Lounge Experience
On Friday, July 26, and Saturday, July 27, Max, in partnership with Giant Spoon, will transform Bloom Nightclub into Gotham’s famed Iceberg Lounge. Guests will begin their experience with the “Iceberg Descent,” created in partnership with BUCK and VT Pro Design, an immersive journey filled with special effects, haptic technology, interactivity, and exclusive content displayed on Samsung big screen TVs. This multi-sensorial, subterranean descent drops users into Gotham’s notorious Iceberg Lounge lobby, navigating through the wreckage left by The Riddler at the end of The Batman (2022) film to reach the party deeper within.
Fans will party with Oz’s crew by venturing through the dark corners of the club for a chance to be inducted into the Penguin’s inner circle. This multi-room experience offers complimentary drinks, live DJ sets, exclusive giveaways, including a Jefferson’s Bourbon tasting, and photo opportunities with Oz’s iconic purple Maserati — giving partygoers an unprecedented glimpse into Gotham’s criminal underworld. By exploring the main club, guests can discover a password that will grant them access to the inner sanctum, 44 Below, diving deeper into the world of The Penguin.
“The Iceberg Lounge” Experience Location:
Bloom Nightclub (Iceberg Lounge) 21+ only
919 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
“The Iceberg Lounge” Experience Hours:
- Friday, July 26: (Press Preview): 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Friday, July 26: General Admission: 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
- Saturday, July 27: General Admission: 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Max is providing 21+ adult fans with three ways to receive an invitation to “The Iceberg Lounge” from today through Saturday, July 27:
- Fans can now register on 1iota.com for an exclusive invitation to Gotham’s hottest nightclub, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- From Thursday, July 25, through Saturday, July 27, Max, in collaboration with Map 360 Collective, is partnering with select local establishments to offer specialty cocktails, bespoke swag, and a chance to attend “The Iceberg Lounge” Experience through a limited number of scratch-off tickets.
Participating Locations:
- Gaslamp Pizza | 505 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
- The Butcher’s Cut | 644 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
- Osteria Panevino | 722 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
- Prohibition 1920 | 548 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
The Gotham Ice Truck
From Thursday, July 25, through Saturday, July 27, the Gotham Ice Truck located in Downtown San Diego (exact location to follow) will offer free Slush Puppies to beat the heat. The cups will feature a QR code, providing a chance to receive an invitation to “The Iceberg Lounge” Experience, revealing the truck’s true inspiration in the spirit of Oz Cobb’s dealings himself: guiding patrons to The Penguin’s exclusive nightclub.
Gotham Ice Truck Operating Hours:
- Thursday, July 25: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Friday, July 26: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday, July 27: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The Penguin Panel
On Saturday, July 27, Max will host “The Penguin Panel” at the San Diego Convention Center in Hall H from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Panelists will include Colin Farrell (Oz Cobb aka “The Penguin” and executive producer – virtually), Cristin Milioti (Sofia Falcone), Rhenzy Feliz (Victor Aguilar), Matt Reeves (executive producer), Lauren LeFranc (showrunner and executive producer), and Dylan Clark (executive producer). The highly anticipated official trailer for the series will be released during the panel, which will be moderated by Josh Horowitz, host of MTV and the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast.
Additional Activations
From Sunday, July 21, through Saturday, July 27, The Penguin will take over the @TheBatman social accounts. The “7 Days in Gotham” content series will chronicle Oz’s journey towards becoming Gotham’s next kingpin and his impending takeover of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter.
Launching Thursday, July 25, Max and Snapchat are partnering to introduce a revolutionary augmented reality (AR) lens throughout San Diego. This exclusive AR lens transports Snapchat users into the dark, atmospheric underworld of Gotham City.
About The Penguin
Premiere Date: September 2024
Episodes: 8 episodes x 1 hour
Executive Producer / Showrunner: Lauren LeFranc
Directors: Craig Zobel (episodes 1-3)
Executive Producers: Matt Reeves, Dylan Clark, Colin Farrell, Lauren LeFranc, Craig Zobel, Bill Carraro, Daniel Pipski
Production: DC Studios, 6th & Idaho Productions, and Dylan Clark Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television
Network/Platform: Max
Cast: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, and Michael Zegen.
About: Starring Colin Farrell as The Penguin, the eight-episode DC Studios drama series continues The Batman epic crime saga that filmmaker Matt Reeves began with Warner Bros. Pictures’ global blockbuster The Batman and centers on the character played by Farrell in the film.
Are you excited to experience Gotham at San Diego Comic-Con? Which immersive experience are you most looking forward to? How will you engage with The Penguin series and its cast? Share your thoughts with us on social media!
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