HBO Max has cancelled Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler after three seasons, bringing the DC prequel series to a close.
HBO Max announced today that they have cancelled Pennyworth, the live-action drama series which followed the adventures of a younger version of Alfred Pennyworth, the man who would become Batman’s butler.
“While HBO Max is not moving forward with another season of Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler, we are very thankful to creator Bruno Heller and executive producers Matthew Patnick, Danny Cannon and John Stephens, along with Warner Bros. Television, for their brilliant, unique, gripping depiction of the origin of Alfred Pennyworth, one of the most iconic characters in the Batman world,” an HBO Max spokesperson said in a statement. “An incredible blend of action, drama and humor, for three seasons, Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler has taken fans on a mind-bending ride into Alfred’s eccentric world and the beginnings of cutting-edge super heroes and super villains.” Pennyworth isn’t the only DC series on HBO Max to get cancelled in recent days, as it was announced last week that both Titans and Doom Patrol would be coming to an end after four seasons.
The DC prequel series explored the early life of young Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon), a former SAS soldier who forms a security company in 1960s London. Together with young billionaire Thomas Wayne (Ben Aldridge) and his wife Martha (Emma Paetz), Pennyworth finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that threatens to start a civil war. I never got around to watching the series myself, but our own Alex Maidy enjoyed it despite its lack of connection to the larger DC Universe. “If you are looking for something that directly ties into DC Comics or established lore, Pennyworth is not for you,” Maidy wrote in his review of the first season. “If you could care less about the origin of Batman’s butler, you will probably steer clear as well. But, if you are up for a violent and fun retro romp featuring some Brits kicking the ass of criminals and evil societies, you could do a lot worse than Pennyworth.“
The first two seasons of Pennyworth debuted on Epix, but the third season made the leap to HBO Max. The third, and the now final, season concluded late last year and found the story leaping forward five years, with the civil war now over and a cultural revolution changing the world — for better or worse — by ushering in a new age of superheroes and supervillains. Based on DC characters created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger, the DC series from Warner Bros. Television was developed by Gotham‘s Bruno Heller, who also executive produces alongside Matthew Patnick, Danny Cannon, and John Stephens.
How do you feel about Pennyworth getting cancelled?