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Austin Manchester is a writer and editor living in New York City. At Polygon, he covers gaming and entertainment news, reviews new video games, interviews behind-the-scenes talent, and more. He enjoys discovering hidden gems and sharing them with Polygon's audience. Previously, he was the gaming editor for AIPT Comics and has written for other outlets like XDA, How-To Geek, and The List.
He enjoys soulslikes, character-driven RPGs, and third-person shooters plucked straight out of the Xbox 360 era. He also likes to flex his non-video game nerdy knowledge sometimes, whether that's explaining who's who in the new Wolverine game or recommending a comic book series about a sentient sword.
Big decade for Batman villains on the big and small screens
HBO Poison Ivy show is next from The Penguin producer, report says
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Get ready for more Batman villains to take the spotlight. A Poison Ivy series is reportedly in the works with The Penguin showrunner and executive producer Lauren LeFranc in talks to produce it, according to a new report.
Although LeFranc worked on The Penguin, the Poison Ivy series would not be connected to Matt Reeves' The Batman films or its spinoff show The Penguin, which collectively are called the "Batman Epic Crime Saga." Those stories are separate from Clayface (also about a Batman villain) and other DC Universe projects, which include Superman, Lanterns, and more movies and TV series.
Deadline's report on the in-development series has not yet indicated whether this Poison Ivy show would be connected to the larger DCU or if it would take place in a separate universe. Superhero continuity is confusing, regardless of medium. Just ask DC Studios co-head James Gunn.
Poison Ivy, otherwise known as Dr. Pamela Isley, is a sometimes-villain, sometimes-anti-hero ecoterrorist who can control plant life. Outside of comics, her most famous appearances have been in 1997's oft-derided Batman & Robin, where she was played by Uma Thurman, and in the animated sitcom Harley Quinn, where Lake Bell voiced her.
The Poison Ivy show is seemingly in very early development as it does not have any writers yet; LeFranc will only produce. Deadline notes the series was paused for some time due to the Paramount and Warner Bros. merger. If it does get picked up, it would go to HBO, like The Penguin.
The Batman question
It'll be interesting to see if Batman appears in the Poison Ivy show, especially if it's part of the DCU. Several Batman villains (e.g., Joker, Penguin, Clayface) have gotten leading roles in movies and TV series absent The Caped Crusader this decade. Batman has yet to debut in the DCU in live action, though he did cameo in the animated Creature Commandos show. Batman is slated to appear in live action with DC Studios' The Brave and the Bold movie, though that project appears to be years away.
Speaking of Batman: The Batman Part 2 recently paused filming while director Matt Reeves stepped away due to a personal matter. Steven Soderbergh will now help finish the sequel, which is due in theaters Feb. 18, 2028.