AceShowbiz - The streets of Gotham are about to get a lot darker as Colin Farrell's Penguin stakes his claim in HBO's upcoming limited series "The Penguin". As the power vacuum left by Carmine Falcone's death looms large, Oswald "Oz" Cobb is ready to rise and seize control, promising intense drama and high-stakes gang wars.

"The Penguin is really looking at the profound corruption of Gotham. It's a kind of a dark, American dream story, really," explains Matt Reeves, executive producer of the series and director of "The Batman". The series continues from where "The Batman" film left off, diving deeper into Gotham's gritty underbelly. One week after the death of gangster Carmine Falcone, Gotham's streets, recently flooded and strained, verge on a massive gang war as various factions vie for control.

In the extended trailer, Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) whispers to Oz, "People underestimate you, but not me. I've always known you were capable of more." As Sofia, alongside her brother Alberto (Michael Zegen), seeks to carry forward her father's legacy, Oz declares, "I'm gonna be the new kingpin of Gotham."

The cast, featuring talent like Shohreh Aghdashloo as Nadia Maroni and Clancy Brown as imprisoned mob boss Salvatore Maroni, brings to life the dynamic power struggle. Showrunner Lauren LeFranc and executive producer Dylan Clark discuss how we see Oz Cobb, a.k.a. the Penguin, navigate his rise in amidst rival gangs and crime family conflicts.

Oz's journey toward power is not just a tale of crime but also one of personal demons and deep emotional complexity. "I think he wants to be loved and revered," LeFranc notes, referencing Oz's relationship with his mother, Francis Cobb, played by Deirdre O'Connell. This relationship is a cornerstone in understanding Oz's drive and ambition.

"The world ain't set up for the honest man to succeed," Oz tells Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz), an ambitious teen character who he takes under his wing, showing the series' deep engagement with themes of ambition and the harsh realities of Gotham.

"The Penguin" premieres Thursday, September 19, at 8 P.M. on HBO. Following its premiere, future episodes will air Sunday nights at 9 P.M., starting September 29. The eight-episode series promises to set up "The Batman: Part II", slated for an October 2026 release. Alongside Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti, the star-studded cast brings a classic character to the screen with new depth and intrigue.