The Penguin release time (by each time zone), preview, and what to expect

It's the season of the villains in the world of comic book adaptations. Fresh off the release of Marvel Studios' Agatha All Along comes The Penguin, bringing one of DC's greatest antagonists to the small screen. And let's not forget that DC Studios will also be releasing Joker: Folie à Deux in theaters this year.

But right now, Gotham City belongs to The Penguin - or at least it will when he builds his criminal empire. The upcoming HBO and Max series is a spinoff of Matt Reeves' The Batman, the critically-acclaimed 2022 movie which starred Robert Pattinson as The Dark Knight. Colin Farrell reprises his role as Oswald Cobblepot - or Oz Cobb as this universe calls him - as the character attempts to make a name for himself in a city without a crime boss; a city that is vulnerable after The Riddler's attack.

The reviews are in and The Penguin is shaping up to be a smash hit that Bat-fans all around the world will be eager to watch. If you're one of them, here's when you can expect the Reeves-verse spinoff in your area and what you can expect from it.

When The Penguin comes out in each time zone

The first episode of The Penguin, titled "After Hours", will air on HBO in the United States on Thursday, September 19, at 9:00 p.m. ET, 6:00 p.m. PT, 7:00 p.m. MT, and 8:00 p.m. CT. It will also be streamed on Max simultaneously, meaning that if you don't have HBO, you can watch it on the WarnerMedia streaming service at the exact same time.

You can also watch it in other time zones around the world at the same time as its US release. This applies to all areas with the streaming service Max, as well as some other locations that have deals in place to air it on TV channels simultaneously (in the UK, for example, all of the DC shows air on Sky Atlantic).

If you don't live in the US, here are the times and dates for The Penguin's release around the world. It will include areas with Max while also making an exception for certain locations that will air the episode on a different TV channel or service.

• Hawaii: 3:00 p.m. HST on Thursday, September 19
• Alaska: 5:00 p.m. AKDT on Thursday, September 19
• West Coast of the US: 6:00 p.m. PT on Thursday, September 19
• Mountain time: 7:00 p.m. MT on Thursday, September 19
• Midwest of the US: 8:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, September 19
• East Coast of the US: 9:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 19
• Canada (Crave): 9:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 19
• Brazil: 10:00 p.m. BRT on Thursday, September 19
• Portugal and Western Europe: 2:00 a.m. WEST on Friday, September 20
• UK (Sky Atlantic): 2:00 a.m. BST on Friday, September 20
• Spain and Central Europe: 3:00 a.m. CEST on Friday, September 20
• Bulgaria and Eastern Europe: 4:00 a.m. EEST on Friday, September 20
• India:  6:30 a.m. IST on Friday, September 20
• New Zealand (Neon): 1:00 p.m. NZST on Friday, September 20

The show is the first DC TV series to be shared between Max and the cable channel HBO in the US. It was initially produced for the former, but a new deal was made that will see some major shows land on both simultaneously. And that's a good thing because the method has proven to be extremely successful with other HBO shows such as House of the Dragon and The Last of Us.

*** It's also important to note that the show's day of release will move to Sundays after the release of the first episode. ***

The Batman's Epic Crime Saga expands in dark and violent ways with The Penguin

Matt Reeves started a compelling, new chapter in the Batman lore with the release of The Batman in 2022 and now The Penguin looks to carry it on, serving as the bridge between that movie and its 2026 sequel The Batman - Part II. It's not just a spinoff; it's a sequel in its own right, taking us back into the vivid world that Reeves has created and honing in on the rise of one of The Dark Knight's greatest enemies.

Colin Farrell is nothing short of phenomenal in the role, proving that this version of Oswald Cobb was worthy of the spotlight after his promising performance in The Batman. It will come as no surprise to learn that he's even better here, thriving with the extended screen-time and leading role, offering up a performance that is worthy of an Emmy Award. What might come as a surprise to you is how dark the series gets.

The Batman wasn't a light-hearted story by any means, but it kept a lot of the darker themes and elements either surface-level or completely off-screen. The Penguin isn't a detective story, so it doesn't just tell us about the corruptness of Gotham; it shows us it. Yes, the HBO series is much more in the vein of The Sopranos than any Batman series, and although that's not surprising given the universe it takes place in, it might come as a surprise to viewers unfamiliar with what they are about to watch.

The Penguin is a gripping, thrilling crime drama that shows us the intricacies of the Falcone family and with that power up for grabs, it's Oz's turn to be the King of Gotham; or at least that's what he's aiming to make happen throughout the course of the series. Get ready, because it's going to be one heck of a ride!