DC Studios is moving forward with a live-action Poison Ivy series for HBO, and the project has already sparked a loud debate among Batman fans. Lauren LeFranc, the showrunner behind HBO’s The Penguin, is in talks to produce the series, according to reports from Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety published on October 21 and 22, 2026. The show is in early development and does not yet have a writer, a cast, or a release date. It will not be set in Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, the same world as The Penguin and Robert Pattinson’s Batman films.
The announcement came just a day before Clayface, another Batman villain, arrived in theaters. Fans on social media quickly focused on one question: where is Batman in the new DC Universe? The DCU has not yet cast its Batman, and the script for The Brave and the Bold, the planned DCU Batman movie, is still not finished. That gap has made the Poison Ivy news a flashpoint.
Lauren LeFranc Would Produce, Not Write
LeFranc is in negotiations to join the Poison Ivy project as a producer. She would not serve as the writer, and no screenwriter is currently attached to the series. Her role would be to guide the project’s development, not to write the scripts.
LeFranc’s recent work on The Penguin made her a major name in comic book television. The series, which starred Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti, won nine Emmys in 2025 and earned praise for its grounded crime-drama approach. Before The Penguin, LeFranc created the sci-fi series Impulse and wrote for Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. . Her involvement gives the Poison Ivy project immediate credibility inside HBO and DC Studios.
HBO has declined to comment on the project. The series has not been greenlit, and it would only move to HBO if the studio officially orders it.
The Show Sits Outside the Reeves Batman World
A key detail in the reports is that the Poison Ivy series will not be part of Matt Reeves’ Batman universe. That universe includes The Batman (2022), The Penguin, and the upcoming The Batman Part II, which is scheduled for February 18, 2028. Fans hoping to see Colin Farrell’s Penguin or Pattinson’s Batman share the screen with Poison Ivy will not get that crossover from this project.
The separation also means the series is not automatically part of the James Gunn DCU, either. Poison Ivy has not appeared in Gunn’s DC films, and there has been no word on her joining the next Batman movie. The exact continuity of the HBO series remains unclear.
Fans Ask Where Is Batman
Social media reaction to the news was divided. Many fans questioned why DC is building more villain projects before introducing its new Batman on screen.
“So, where’s batman?” — a fan comment quoted in Soap Central’s coverage of the reaction
“Anything besides Batman at this point huh Gunn?” — another fan reaction shared by Soap Central
“This sounding a lot like the Sony approach. Something to do with batman I think…” — a fan comparing the strategy to Sony’s Spider-Man villain films without Spider-Man
Some fans defended the move. One comment pointed out that DC has already made around ten Batman solo films and that lesser-known characters can succeed without a famous lead. Another noted that the Poison Ivy series does not even have a script yet, so the concern may be early.
“Or. Hear me out. Make a fucking DCU Batman movie first? What the fuck is going on?” — a fan reaction quoted by CineCorner UK
The Villain-First Strategy Behind the Show
The Poison Ivy project is part of a larger pattern at DC Studios. The studio has been developing shows around Batman’s villains before its new Batman film is ready. Clayface arrived as a theatrical film, and The Penguin became a critical hit. Fans and commentators have described this as an attempt to build Batman’s rogues’ gallery first.
Some fans see storytelling logic in that plan. One user suggested that The Batman Part II could close out the Reeves universe, after which the DCU could introduce its own villains as a fresh start. Others proposed that LeFranc should write or direct the DCU Batman movie herself, given her work on The Penguin.
The DCU Batman film, The Brave and the Bold, is still in development. The script is not complete, and no director or star has been confirmed. Until that changes, the “Where’s Batman?” question is likely to follow every new Gotham villain project.
Related Stories
View all articles about
What Is Confirmed and What Is Not
Confirmed details from multiple reports:
- The series is in early development at HBO and DC Studios.
- Lauren LeFranc is in talks to produce, not write.
- The show will not be set in Matt Reeves’ Batman universe.
- No writer, cast, or release date has been announced.
Not confirmed:
- Whether the series will be part of the James Gunn DCU.
- Any casting choices, despite fan polls and social media suggestions.
- A production start date or premiere window.
Poison Ivy, also known as Dr. Pamela Isley, first appeared in Batman #181 in 1966. She has been played in live action by Uma Thurman in Batman & Robin (1997), Peyton List in Gotham, and Bridget Regan in Batwoman. The character has never headlined her own live-action series before this project.
Also Read: Uma Thurman Reflects on Her Poison Ivy Role in Batman & Robin
For more updates on DC television projects and fan reactions, keep reading VvipTimes.
Leave a Reply