HBO may be adding another Gotham villain to its lineup. Lauren LeFranc, creator of “The Penguin,” is in talks to produce a Poison Ivy series for HBO and DC, according to TheWrap. The project has not been greenlit, and it would not be part of Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” universe.
LeFranc created “The Penguin,” the eight-episode HBO crime drama miniseries that picked up after the events of 2022’s “The Batman.” The series won nine Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Cristin Milioti.
Where the Poison Ivy HBO series stands
LeFranc would serve as a producer rather than a writer on the project. No writers are attached yet, and no one has been cast as Poison Ivy. HBO has not publicly commented.
The series would fall under LeFranc’s two-year overall deal with HBO. Beyond “The Penguin,” her producing credits include “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Impulse,” “Chuck,” “My Own Worst Enemy” and “Hemlock Grove.”
Who is Poison Ivy?
In DC Comics, Poison Ivy is Dr. Pamela Isley, a botanist turned eco-villain who controls plant life and can bend people to her will with her pheromones.
The character has had only a handful of screen outings. Uma Thurman played her in 1997’s “Batman & Robin.” On TV, Lake Bell voices her in the adult animated series “Harley Quinn,” Bridget Regan played her on The CW’s “Batwoman” and Peyton List took on the role in the final season of Fox’s “Gotham.”
What it means for fans
A Poison Ivy series would give the character her own spotlight instead of a supporting slot in someone else’s story. Because it sits outside Reeves’ films, the show also would not have to fit that franchise’s continuity.
What’s next
HBO has not announced a writer, director, cast, production timeline or premiere date. The series still needs a greenlight before any of those details come into focus.
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