SDCC 2024: BATMAN: CAPED CRUSADER Reveals Minnie Driver as a Gender-Swapped Penguin

Diana Keng

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Batman: Caped Crusader key art. Batman is seen backlit by a neon Gotham sign he is climbing. "DC Batman: Caped Crusader" print is displayed on the left with the Prime Video logo and "August 1 New Series" in the bottom left.

Highlights

  • Batman: Caped Crusader’s Penguin is a woman, Oswalda Cobblepot, and voiced by Minnie Driver
  • The new Harley Quinn is Asian-American, voiced by Jamie Chung who says Dr. Harleen Quinzel is a villain in her own right.
  • Other villains this season include Clayface (Dan Donahue) and Onomatopoeia (Reid Scott)

The first animated Batman series since Kevin Conroy passed in 2022 has a lot to carry on its cowl. Prime Video’s Batman: Caped Crusader reframes the Dark Knight through the lens of executive producers J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, and Bruce Timm. Reeves joined cast members Hamish Linklater, Jamie Chung, and Minnie Driver at their SDCC 2024 Panel. 

RELATED: Check out GGA’s SDCC 2024 content here!

Key art for Batman: Caped Crusader done in shades of deep blue and black. Batman is on the left, cape gripped in hand, masked and staring straight ahead with a seriously grim look. In front of him the cityscape of Gotham is lit in negative low in the frame. Two-thirds of the image is BATMAN with the words CAPED CRUSADER below in smaller font.
Credit: Courtesy of Prime

Prime Video’s Batman: Caped Crusader

Ahead of the panel, Prime Video announced Batman: Caped Crusader as part of their exciting slate of animation series and has been dropping teasers and clips to prepare audiences. The new series looks to take the Batman story back to the beginning with a nostalgic style of art while evolving the character cast with more diversity and development.

As described on the Prime Video site, “Welcome to Gotham City, where the corrupt outnumber the good, criminals run rampant and law-abiding citizens live in a constant state of fear. Forged in the fire of tragedy, wealthy socialite Bruce Wayne becomes something both more and less than human—the BATMAN. His one-man crusade for justice attracts unexpected allies within the GCPD and City Hall, but his heroic actions spawn deadly, unforeseen ramifications.”

A woman in a top hat with a purple ribbon and matching tuxedo attacks Batman with an umbrella. Batman: Caped Crusader Season 1 Episode 1
Photo: Courtesy of Prime

Oswalda Cobblepot

Attendees at the SDCC panel were treated to a world premiere screening of the first episode of the season. “In Treacherous Waters” introduces Minnie Driver’s Oswalda Cobblepot, aka The Penguin, crime maven and proprietor of a floating nightclub.

RELATED: SDCC 2024: Prime Video Drops Like a Dragon: Yakuza Trailer

Oswalda not only has to contend with a meddling vigilante and some smarter-than-what’s-good-for-them police, but she also has kids lacking the acumen and guts to take over the family business. Who would’ve thought a layered criminal enterprise could be so complicated?

Dr. Harleen Quinzel sits in a green armchair wearing a pink blazer and a knee length skirt.
Credit: Courtesy of Prime

Harleen Minus Joker

Jamie Chung’s Dr. Harleen Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn, is just as dramatic a departure from established canon as Driver’s Penguin. Quinzel is drawn as Asian-American, reflecting Chung’s own ethnicity. This Harleen steps up as her own person. In Chung words, “[A] twisted, twisted sick person.”

Whetting the Appetite for Batman

Back in June, the first official trailer was dropped, exciting fans with the promise of numerous classic villains like Penguin, Harley Quinn, Two-Face, and Firebug. Corruption continues to run deep in GCPD and politics are on the menu as well.

RELATED: SDCC 2024: Todd McFarlane Discusses King Spawn Film

Then, just before SDCC, Prime Video released a clip of the premiere. In it, Batman (Linklater) demonstrates his signature investigative technique. Whether you agree or disagree with his style, it is effective.

Check out both clips below. The entire 10-episode first season of Batman: Caped Crusader will drop on Prime Video at 3am ET on August 1.

 

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