As "Gotham" on FOX will end after the fifth season, fans of the "Batman" franchise, who are wondering where they may get their fix for the superhero, don't actually have to wonder any longer. A new show from the same vein as "Gotham" will be coming on the premium cable network Epix and it will center on Alfred, Bruce Wayne/Batman's loyal butler.
Titled, "Pennyworth," the series will take place in London, England, at least 20 years before the timeline on "Gotham." The story features a younger Alfred (played by Jack Bannon) who has just started working for the security firm of one Thomas Wayne after serving the British SAS.
"Pennyworth" features a side of Alfred as a cheerful, clever, charming and boyishly handsome London lad. He's the kind of person people won't suspect could be in the SAS. But before he took Bruce Wayne in as his ward, Alfred was actually a cold-hearted killer.
Executive producer Danny Cannon told the press at the Television Critics Association panel that while this series might seem like a prequel to "Gotham," the show is actually going to be very different in terms of tone and feel.
In "Pennyworth," viewers will not see any "Batman" villains. Instead, it will feature "archetypal villains and classic villains of British literature," Cannon clarified. Viewers will have to watch the show to find out how Alfred squares off with the descendants of Jack the Ripper, among other potential enemies.
However, it will be a while before "Pennyworth" comes on screen as the show is still completing production. With 10 episodes due for release in the first season, viewers could be looking at a potential June debut.
But Cannon also promised this show will be unhinged and R-rated, which is what most loyal fans of the "Batman" franchise want. Because the series isn't on network television, they are not constricted to creatively develop the storylines.
The executive producer also shared that the first episode of "Pennyworth" was screened to a test audience recently. The response they got was mostly positive because they did not hold back with developing the character.
Based on the characters created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, "Gotham" creator Bruno Heller wrote the pilot episode that received positive test reviews. The series started filming last October in London with Bannon joined by other cast members like Ben Aldridge, Hainsley Lloyd Bennett, Paloma Faith, Ryan Fletcher, Jason Flemyng and Polly Walker.
