Cristin Milioti, the Emmy-winning star of The Penguin, says there is still no word on a second season for the hit HBO series. While promoting a new film at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, Milioti shared that she has no concrete news about returning to Gotham City but would love to do it. This update leaves fans wondering about the future of the crime drama that serves as a bridge between The Batman and its upcoming sequel.
The Latest Update on The Penguin Season 2
Speaking at the Sundance Film Festival, Cristin Milioti was direct about the show’s status. When asked about a potential second season, she stated, “Yeah, there’s no official word on anything. And I would love nothing more, truly”. Her co-star in the film she was promoting, Topher Grace, expressed strong support for the show’s return, telling those in charge, “What are you doing? This is the greatest thing I have ever seen on [television]. We’ve got to have a season two”.
This echoes what Milioti has said in recent months. In a December 2024 interview, she called returning to play Sofia Falcone her “wildest hope”. She reiterated this passion more recently, saying, “I feel like I have zero chill about it because every time I’m asked [about a Season 2], I’m like, ‘Sign me up!’”. She praised the creative team and cast, calling them an “incredible group”.
The Batman Part II is the Current Priority
A major reason for the delay in a The Penguin Season 2 decision is the focus on the next Batman film. HBO and Max content chairman Casey Bloys has explained that the movie comes first. “The number one thing right now that Matt [Reeves] is dealing with is getting the movie going”, Bloys said. He confirmed that director Matt Reeves and The Penguin showrunner Lauren LeFranc have talked about ideas for more of the series, but the film is the main project.
Matt Reeves himself has confirmed this timeline. He noted that the first season of The Penguin was always designed to bridge the story directly into The Batman: Part II. Because of this, showrunner Lauren LeFranc has indicated that a second season of the show would not air until after the film is released. The Batman: Part II is scheduled to hit theaters on October 1, 2027, and is not expected to begin filming until spring 2026.
Mixed Feelings from Star Colin Farrell
While Milioti is eager to return, the show’s lead, Colin Farrell, has expressed more mixed feelings. He has stated he is in “no rush” for a second season. After the intense production of the first season, Farrell said, “I don’t want it, I don’t not want it. We all left it in the ring in those eight hours… I’m in no rush. I have no deep desire to do it”.
Farrell has also pointed to his character’s dark actions in the season one finale, specifically the murder of his protégé Victor Aguilar (played by Rhenzy Feliz), as something that could make continuing the story challenging. “I certainly think it makes [a second season] more difficult. [Killing Vic] is a very hard thing to claw back from”, he noted. However, he remains open to the possibility if the story is right and fits within Matt Reeves’s larger vision for the Batman universe.
What Could Happen in a Potential Season 2?
Though no official story exists, the first season’s ending set up several paths. Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Falcone was last seen being committed to Arkham Asylum. Milioti has shared her own hopes for the character’s next steps. “Obviously, I would want to see her get out of Arkham. That’s like number one. I don’t want her in there. So I want to see her get out there, and then exact revenge”, she said.
She also speculated that a time in Arkham could change Sofia, making her “an even more of a loose cannon” with a potentially larger target for her anger. A major reveal in the finale was that Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman, is Sofia’s half-sister. This discovery could lead to a significant team-up or conflict in a future story, whether in a new season of The Penguin or another project within the Batman universe.
For Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobb, a second season would likely explore his new role as a fully-fledged crime lord in Gotham City, dealing with the consequences of his brutal rise to power.
Cristin Milioti Confirms She is Not in The Batman Part II
Alongside the season two uncertainty, Milioti has confirmed one clear detail about her character’s immediate future: she will not appear in The Batman: Part II. She called her absence from the film “a bummer”. Director Matt Reeves explained the decision, noting that he and his co-writer were “so deep into the script” for the sequel by the time The Penguin was in production that adding Sofia Falcone’s storyline would have been disruptive.
Reeves was full of praise for Milioti’s performance, calling it “astonishing,” and left the door open for her to appear in a future film project within the series. Colin Farrell, however, is confirmed to reprise his role as Oz in the upcoming movie.
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When Could The Penguin Season 2 Possibly Release?
Given the current information, if a second season is greenlit, fans should expect a significant wait. With The Batman: Part II not releasing until October 2027 and taking priority, any work on a new season would likely begin after that. Considering the lengthy production time for the first season, a potential The Penguin Season 2 would not likely be ready until 2028 or later.
The show was a major critical and awards success. It earned 24 Emmy nominations in 2025, the most of any limited series that year, with Cristin Milioti winning the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series. It also holds a 95% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This success gives fans hope that HBO and the creative team will find a way to continue the story when the time is right.
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