Batman prequel series Pennyworth casts Jack Bannon as its title character

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

For the past several years, GOTHAM fans have been watching Sean Pertwee's stern and grizzled Alfred Pennyworth kick ass, take orders, and guide Bruce Wayne through some of the toughest years of his young adult life. Now, Epix and Warner Bros. are preparing to take DC fans back to the 1960s, a time when the legendary would-be butler joined forces with a young billionaire named Thomas Wayne to create a state-of-the-art security outfit. It's a period in the iconic character's life that many fans have yet to experience, and before long, the concept will be the newest Bat-related series to hit the airwaves.

Today, Epix and Warner Bros. have announced that they've found their young Alfred Pennyworth in Jack Bannon (ENDEAVOUR, THE LOCH) for the upcoming 10-episode drama series. Titled PENNYWORTH, the show hails from GOTHAM showrunner Bruno Heller, executive producer/director Danny Cannon and Warner Horizon Scripted TV. Production on PENNYWORTH is expected to begin on October 22 at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the UK, marking the first time that a TV program has been filmed at the celebrated location. In the past, the Leavesden site has served as the production home of films such as THE DARK NIGHT, INCEPTION, the FANTASTIC BEASTS franchise, PADDINGTON, JASON BOURNE, and many more.

When PENNYWORTH arrives, Bannon's version of the character will be framed as a boyishly handsome, cunning and charismatic young man from London. However, despite being all Dapper Dan and than some, Alfred is also a man of action, who trains to become one of London's most lethal SAS agents. Throughout the series, Pennyworth will be forced to confront his past while in the process of discovering the man he wants to become. It's like a coming-of-age story, but with neck snappin' and good manners.

The role is a fine spotlight for Bannon, who is no stranger to the small screen after appearing in several TV series the likes of CLIQUE, ENDEAVOUR, and THE LOCH. He'll have his work cut out for him though, as comic-to-film fans are often a tough crowd to please. My hope is that PENNYWORTH will be served up as something akin to the KINGSMAN franchise. You can see it, right? Alfred Pennyworth armed to the teeth with gadgets, a la James Bond?

What do you think the tone and tenor of PENNYWORTH will be? Are you excited to check the show out or are you starting to feel a bit of Bat-fatigue? Let us know in the comments section below.