He’s served as a loyal protector, confidant, and butler to the Wayne Family for generations. But just who is Alfred Pennyworth? During the Television Critics Association press tour, Gotham executive producer Danny Cannon teased what fans can expect from the forthcoming Pennyworth series.
Set in the “13 degrees darker” world of 1960s London, the prequel series follows Jack Bannon’s Pennyworth as he finishes service as a British SAS soldier and meets young billionaire Thomas Wayne. Along with Cannon, Gotham’s Bruno Heller will executive produce and write for the 10-episode series.
“It’s 20-something years before Gotham, it’s a very different world,” said Cannon. “His is the DC version of 1960s London. It’s not the England we know. It looks and feels like it, 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?’.”
While the “unhinged, R-rated” series won’t include ancestors to Batman villains like the Joker or the Penguin, Cannon teased the addition of “archetypal villains and classic villains of British literature.”
Alongside Bannon, the series stars Paloma Faith as Pennyworth’s main adversary, Bet Sykes. As well as Polly Walker as Bet’s sister and lucrative dominatrix Peggy Sykes, and Jason Flemyng as baddie Lord Harwood.
“There’s so much to draw from and so much to imagine. You didn’t really know Alfred’s backstory,” concluded Cannon.
Pennyworth is expected to premiere on Epix sometime in 2019.