DC’s ‘Pennyworth’ has been canceled after Season 3 on HBO Max

The prequel television series about Batman’s butler has been canceled. Based on The Hollywood ReporterHBO Max has canceled the live-action drama.Pennyworth,” after its third and final season, which ended in November.

“Batman” prequel “Pennyworth” will be canceled

The television series explored the origins of Batman’s iconic butler, Alfred Pennyworth, played by Jack Bannon in the series. The series was created by Bruno Heller of “Gotham” fame. Heller also served as showrunner for “Pennyworth.”

The series was produced by Warner Bros. Television for the MGM-backed Epix premium network, which was recently renamed MGM+. To cut programming costs, the show was sold to HBO Max, itself a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, and aired there with other live-action DC Comics shows like “Doom Patrol” and “Titans.”

Chaos never seems to spare Alfred Pennyworth.

all episodes #PennyworthOnMax they’re streaming now, just turned on @HBOMax. pic.twitter.com/kzc0yNoohj

— Pennyworth on HBO Max (@DCpennyworth) December 1, 2022

THR notes that MGM+ still has the option to air a third season, but that’s unlikely to happen, even if the license fee for the third season is lower.

As previously reported by The Blast, Warner Bros. Discovery has decided to end “Titans” and “Doom Patrol” after their fourth and final seasons. Both shows still have six episodes from their final seasons that have yet to air.

With the shows ending, the new heads of DC Studio, James Gunn and Peter Safran, are preparing their own plans for the DC Universe. Several television shows and movies based on DC comics and characters with split continuity across TV, movies, and video games have recently been revealed. So shows like “Pennyworth,” “Titans” and “Doom Patrol” don’t seem to fit into their plans or visions for the DC Universe.

(embed)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw2fALi1swU(/embed)

The ending of “Titans” and “Doom Patrol” came before Gunn and Safran revealed plans for the first chapter of their DC Universe, which is titled “Gods and Monsters.”

The only other DC original television series currently remaining on HBO Max is “Harley Quinn.” The animated comedy was recently renewed for a fourth season. It also has another animated spinoff, “Noonan’s,” also in the works.

Other DC shows that can still be seen are The Flash and “Superman & Lois” on The CW. “The Flash” will end with its final season later this year. “Superman & Lois” is said to be on the bubble. Its third season will debut on the network in March. The new DC show “Gotham Knights” is also expected to premiere on the CW in March.

Always try to do the right thing. #PennyworthOnMax pic.twitter.com/m66eiJfKIE

— HBO Max (@hbomax) November 17, 2022

Now that Gunn and Safran are the captains of the ship, it makes sense that they want to impose their own will on the DC Universe and produce new shows that they oversee or have a hand in. However, this means many things. Previously created programs will be canceled.

Despite getting a third season, DC’s “Pennyworth” was never particularly well-liked or acclaimed by fans and critics alike. The show only got a 66% rating Rotten tomatoes. A television show about Alfred Pennyworth probably wasn’t on many comic book fans’ wish lists for characters they wanted to see adapted for TV.