Batman Prequel Story Pennyworth Set for EPIX

EPIX has given a straight-to-series greenlight for the DC origin story Pennyworth, which comes from executive producer/writer Bruno Heller (Gotham, The Mentalist) and executive producer/director Danny Cannon (Gotham, CSI series).

The 10×1-hour drama series is based on DC characters created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger. From Warner Horizon Scripted Television, Pennyworth follows Bruce Wayne’s legendary butler, Alfred Pennyworth, a former British SAS soldier who forms a security company and goes to work with Thomas Wayne, Bruce’s billionaire father, in 1960s London.

Production will begin later this year, with a series premiere slated for 2019.

Michael Wright, president of EPIX, said: “As genuine fans of these classic DC characters, as well as the incredibly talented Bruno Heller and Danny Cannon, we couldn’t be more excited to make EPIX the home of this series. We can’t wait to work with Bruno and Danny—along with Peter Roth, Susan Rovner, Brett Paul and the team at Warner Horizon—on this fantastic origin story.”

Heller and Cannon added: “Michael and his colleagues have created the perfect venue for original storytelling, and all of us working on Pennyworth are thrilled to be on the EPIX slate.”