If you’re like us, then you’ve been obsessed with the DC TV show “The Penguin.” Set after the events of 2022’s brilliant “The Batman,” the “Penguin” TV show is a full-fledged crime drama that shows us the deep, seedy underbelly of Gotham City. While the main “Batman” movie was filmed in the United Kingdom, you’ll be surprised to know that the Max TV show was actually filmed stateside!
The next time you’re watching “The Penguin,” take a closer look at some of the landmarks and you’ll realize that the series was filmed in New York City and its surrounding areas.
The Penguin Was Filmed In New York City
New York City has always been an inspiration for the fictional city of Gotham, so it makes sense that “The Penguin” was filmed there. The production crew made good use of their time in the Big Apple, venturing outside of Manhattan to ensure Gotham was fully realized. A decent portion of the show was shot in the Bronx, which is also where key scenes from 2019’s “Joker” were filmed.
Some specific areas in the Bronx offered unique architectural elements that closely match the TV show’s vision of Gotham. Riddled with industrial districts, buildings that are historic, and streets that aren’t as flashy, the Bronx served as a solid area to mine for the show’s crew. A working-class area, The Bronx made Gotham feel fully realized and genuine.
The Show Took Advantage Of New York City’s Diversity
The show was also filmed in other areas as well. Remember that church scene? That was shot on location in Harlem, which is a popular place for productions. The now iconic Iceberg Lounge Club, for example, was filmed in Harlem. Other notable areas include Brooklyn and Whitesone, Queens. In short: “The Penguin” was shot all over New York City and its various boroughs.
This makes sense as, throughout the show, we see completely different sides of Gotham. It’s not surprising that the creative team would tap into New York’s architectural diversity to get the most bang for their buck. And diversity was needed to ensure that the show gave viewers a different POV of Gotham for every episode. The Crown Point neighborhood, for example, which has a key role in the show, was shot in the working-class neighborhood of Yonkers (South Bronx). Additional scenes were also shot in Chinatown.
The crew also ventured outside of the Big Apple when needed. For example, Falcone’s mansion was actually a real-life mansion in Long Island.
