DC’s Penguin forced to shut down production indefinitely in unexpected twist

The Penguin. Image courtesy HBO Max
The Penguin. Image courtesy HBO Max

The WGA Strike has forced The Penguin and Daredevil: Born Again to halt production indefinitely.

In what can only be described as a blow to superhero aficionados and streaming aficionados alike, it appears both Daredevil: Born Again and The Penguin will not be delivering any electrifying punches or cunning plans to our screens any time soon.

Deadline has just reported that the WGA (Writer’s Guild of America) Strike has forced both series to remain on a hiatus, with a return to action contingent on the strike’s conclusion – a timeline that remains uncertain as of yet.

The Penguin and Daredevil: Born Again shut down production indefinitely

The Penguin, Oswald Cobblepot, The Batman, The Penguin spin-off series
COLIN FARRELL as Oswald Cobblepot/the Penguin in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure “THE BATMAN,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo: Jonathan Olley/™ & © DC Comics. © 2021 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Born Again, filmed at its base at Silvercup East in New York, has faced its fair share of striking in the past. The latest being picketing outside the base, which led to a temporary shutdown of the drama. The production’s pause has been a frequent outcome, usually in response to sunrise picketing.

Equally affected is The Penguin, the spinoff from The Batman film series. It too has repeatedly found itself in the crosshairs of WGA East picketers, with production mirroring Daredevil’s pattern of repeated interruptions.

The DC series comes from the creative mind of Matt Reeves. This eight-episode show is set to take place between the events of The Batman and upcoming sequel The Batman: Part II. It’s currently set to release on streaming service Max in 2024, and features Colin Farrell headlining as The Penguin, with Cristin Milioti also starring as Sofia Falcone.

Meanwhile, Daredevil: Born Again is three months into what was scheduled to be an eight-month shoot for a new 18-episode season for Disney+. Fans are eagerly awaiting the series, which brings Charlie Cox’s Daredevil, a.k.a. Matt Murdock, and Vincent D’Onofrio’s notorious mob boss Wilson Fisk a.k.a. Kingpin back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The industry-wide impact of the WGA Strike continues to ripple outwards, and it’s clear that even the mightiest of superheroes and most cunning of villains aren’t immune. As picket lines persist and fans hold their breath, we can only hope for a resolution that satisfies all parties, enabling our favorite characters to resume their on-screen antics.

As of now, though, Daredevil and The Penguin will have to hang up their masks and umbrellas, as the real story unfolds not in the shadowy alleys of New York and Gotham, but on the picket lines outside production studios.

As always, we will be watching closely and keeping our readers updated with the latest developments. But it seems like it could be some time before The Penguin (and Daredevil: Born Again) resume production.

Are you looking forward to The Penguin or Daredevil: Born Again?