One of the more perplexing DC comics-related Hollywood projects on the docket is the upcoming “Pennyworth” series coming to EPIX in June. The series aims to tell the story of a young Alfred Pennyworth, the future butler of Bruce Wayne, aka Batman. However, the series isn’t based on strict DC comics lore. Instead, it’s a prequel to the character that we meet in the Fox series “Gotham,” which means this version of Alfred is a badass. And according to the series’ creator, “Pennyworth” is going to take full advantage of its cable TV rules.
Speaking at the recent TCA event, creator-producer Danny Cannon opened up about “Pennyworth” and gave fans an idea of what they might expect from this “Gotham” prequel. First, don’t worry about feeling like you have to watch the aforementioned series before beginning “Pennyworth.” In fact, the time difference between series means this is a completely new, never-before-seen tale.
“It’s twentysomething years before ‘Gotham,’ it’s a very different world,” said Cannon (via Deadline). “His is the DC version of 1960s London. 13 degrees history is different: It’s not the England we know. It looks and feels like, but if you look a little closer, [you ask], ‘Why is that like that? Why is that building there? What war is he talking about?’”
The series is aiming to take a darker look at London. Considering this is a ‘Batman’-inspired series that doesn’t take place in Gotham, Cannon wanted to make sure elements of Gotham showed up in London. And with the new rules of being on cable TV versus network TV, “Pennyworth” will differ in one major way from “Gotham.”
Cannon says his new series is a completely “unhinged, R-rated” series. Yes, that means fans are just months away from watching the R-rated Alfred series of their dreams.
Kidding aside, the producer says that there won’t be many villains that fans will be able to recognize in the series, considering this is a prequel to a prequel to ‘Batman.’ However, there are some famous real-life villains that might have descendants that will show up.
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“Jack the Ripper was 1880s,” Cannon said. “But he has descendants.”
Perhaps the biggest selling feature of this new “Pennyworth” series is how un-DC it is. There’s not any real superheroics on display. In fact, according to Cannon, most of the test audience didn’t even realize it was a DC property.
“We had a test audience and there were only so many who knew it was a DC-related series,” said Cannon. “It was incredibly positive and that’s because the characters are being drawn out. There’s so much to draw from and so much to imagine.”
As mentioned, “Pennyworth” is set to premiere on EPIX in June.