Though we're sure this news will come as a crippling blow to many of you, HBO Max has decided to cancel Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman's Butler after three seasons.
The series, which originally debuted on Epix, focused on the early days of Bruce Wayne's loyal ally Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon) and his career as a crime-fighter in his own right.
After a five-year time-jump, the most recent season took full advantage of its swinging sixties setting by thrusting Alfred into a plot involving psychedelic drugs which ultimately result in madness.
“While HBO Max is not moving forward with another season of Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler, we are very thankful to creator Bruno Heller and executive producers Matthew Patnick, Danny Cannon and John Stephens, along with Warner Bros. Television, for their brilliant, unique, gripping depiction of the origin of Alfred Pennyworth, one of the most iconic characters in the Batman world,” a spokesperson for HBO Max said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “An incredible blend of action, drama and humor, for three seasons, Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler has taken fans on a mind-bending ride into Alfred’s eccentric world and the beginnings of cutting-edge super heroes and super villains.”
Though the show did tend to come in for a bit of ridicule online, Pennyworth clearly had its share of viewers to remain on the air for three seasons, and was far from a critical flop (it sits at 66% on Rotten Tomatoes).
Even so, the writing was on the wall once Titans and Doom Patrol were given the axe. Superman and Lois is expected to run for at least two more seasons, however, and Gotham Knights is set to premiere on The CW this March (how long that'll last remains to be seen).
What do you guys make of this news? Did you watch Pennyworth? Drop us a comment down below.