The adventures of Batman’s butler will continue as EPIX has renewed Pennyworth for season 2. The alt-history prequel series focuses on a young Alfred Pennyworth in the days following his retirement from the British SAS, and as he finds himself and his family embroiled in a complicated plot to overthrow the government in 1960s London. Alfred is joined in his adventures by his new employer, Thomas Wayne, who is not yet the father of the man who will become one of the most iconic superheroes of all time.
Fringe prequel series seem to be a niche hit or miss proposition with streaming, broadcast, and cable networks. Most recently, the Superman prequel series, Krypton, was unceremoniously canceled after two season at SYFY. The end of Seg-El’s quest to ensure the birth of his grandson came shortly after another surprisingly long-lived Batman prequel, Gotham, ended its five-season run on FOX. It’s no surprise, then, that Pennyworth hails from Gotham executive producers Bruno Heller and Danny Cannon, which also accounts for its some of its more outlandish narrative swings.
More: For All Mankind Review: Apple TV+ Original Lives Up To Its Title
As reported by TVLine, the series is set to move on to season 2, as Alfred (Jack Bannon) and Thomas (Ben Aldridge) continue their partnership, and undoubtedly encounter some more eccentric and violent villains. EPIX president Michael Wright addressed the renewal with the following statement:
It’s worth noting that with Apple, Disney, and WarnerMedia set to enter the streaming wars and upend the ecosystem as most know it, EPIX is looking to maintain its foothold with buzzy originals like Pennyworth, Get Shorty, and Godfather of Harlem, which stars Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker as gangster Bumpy Johnson. It’s anyone’s guess whether or not the EPIX content lineup will be enough to keep viewers interested and their subscription dollars flowing, but it will be interesting to see what the future holds when Apple TV+, Disney+, and HBO Max are dominating the streaming conversation.
“Pennyworth has been a big hit for us, embraced by critics and fans alike. It was the highest-performing original series ever to premiere on Epix, more than doubling the viewership of the shows that came before it. Bruno Heller, Danny Cannon and WBTV have delivered a brilliant, must watch series. We can’t wait to work with this phenomenal cast and creative team on another exciting season.”
Next: Dublin Murders Review: A Satisfyingly Dark & Twisty Murder Mystery
Pennyworth season 2 is expected on EPIX in 2020.
Source: TVLine