The Penguin series has been given rare R-rating for TV

The Penguin is set to be a wild, crime-ridden ride if the official TV rating is anything to go by.

Matt Reeves’ spin-off TV series of The Batman has officially received an R-rating.

In case you didn’t know, the Motion Picture Association film rating system is used in the United States to classify the suitability of film for certain audiences.

Warner Bros

Introduced in 1968, there are five ratings, with G representing films that are suitable for all audiences and NC-17 content only being suitable for adults.

The R rating sits below the NC-17 rating, which usually means the film contains some adult material and people under 17 must be accompanied by an adult to watch it.

Since The Penguin is based on one of the most terrifying baddies in the DC universe, the rating will probably come as welcomed news for comic book fans.

Set to release on the recently renamed streaming service Max in 2024, the eight-episode series stars Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot, the ruthless and sadistic crime kingpin in Gotham City who becomes one of The Caped Crusader’s enemies.

The Max page for The Penguin has listed the show with a TV-MA rating, which is the small screen equivalent of an R-rating.

Warner Bros.

It's not unusual for Max shows to carry a TV-MA rating, with hit shows like the critically lauded The Last of Us and the iconic Game of Thrones both carrying the TV-MA rating.

Interestingly, Reeves’ The Batman has a rather tame PG-13 rating, which suggests that The Penguin may be even more gruesome and bloody and may feature more strong language.

We also now know for sure that The Penguin will be a crime drama as that is what is listed on the Max page for the show.

Back in April, fans got a first look at The Banshees of Inisherin star preparing to take on the iconic villain role in the upcoming series which is finally in production.

Farrell looks almost entirely unrecognisable in the trailer for the next chapter in the famed Batman saga.

Other cast members include the likes of Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Deirdre O’Connell, with Clancy Brown and Michael Zegen recurring.

The show is produced in association with Warner Bros. Television.

The Penguin will be coming to Max - formerly known as HBO Max - at some point in 2024.

Topics: TV and Film

Gregory Robinson

Gregory is a journalist for LADbible. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, he has worked for both print and online publications and is particularly interested in TV, (pop) music and lifestyle. He loves Madonna, teen dramas from the '90s and prefers tea over coffee.