Total Film Issue 355 (October 2024) The Penguin

Set a week after the events of The Batman, which saw crime lord Carmine Falcone killed and Gotham City flooded by The Riddler, The Penguin tracks Cobb’s Scarface-like rise to power as the city’s criminal contingent fight to fill the vacuum at the top. Oz has stiff competition in the shape of Sofia Falcone – aka serial killer The Hangman – and unexpected help from unlikely protege Victor.

The Batman Part 1.5 in all but name, The Penguin is essential viewing ahead of the 2026 superhero sequel and will establish a new (under)world order for Robert Pattinson’s Bats to contend with in Part II. But above all, it’s a rich new story for one of Batman’s most iconic villains. In the cover feature, Total Film talks to stars Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz and Clancy Brown, as well as executive producers Matt Reeves and Dylan Clark, and showrunner Lauren LeFranc about returning to a Gotham on the brink, how the show sets up The Batman Part II and putting The Penguin in the spotlight.

Look out for more exclusives from The Penguin dropping soon. Elsewhere in the issue, you’ll find deep dives into Sean Baker’s festival hit Anora, emotional Christopher Reeve doc Super/Man and the long-awaited Salem’s Lot remake; as well as a career-spanning chat with Dune: Prophecy star Emily Watson, Ridley Scott on his transformative director’s cuts, Himesh Patel talking superhero spoof The Franchise, a countdown of the 10 best Stephen King movies and exclusive new looks at Gladiator II, Wicked, Smile 2 and Terrifier 3.

Check out the Total Film website.