The Penguin’s name change has sparked a fascinating fan theory about another key DC villain connection

Could this be Oz’s cousin?

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Just days before The Penguin is due to drop, fans think they have finally figured out the reasoning behind Penguin’s name change in the upcoming HBO show, and it has something to do with another DC villain.

In the HBO show, The Penguin’s name is changed from his official comic book name Oswald Cobblepot to Oz Cobb. Although his name was Oz Cobb inThe Batmanmovie too, fans have begun to theorize why this may be, and that it’s not just a fluke or to make him more “grounded,” like the show’s creators told SFX magazine, but to link the villain to another Batman character, William Cobb.

“My brother came up with a theory I love, that he will be related to William Cobb Talon,” said the fan onTwitter, adding that The Pemguin’s mother has ties to The Court of Owls AKA the secret society that employs William Cobb. See the full tweet below.

My brother came up with a theory I love, that he will be related to William Cobb Talon. Especially since Constance (his mom) has ties to the Court, literally can’t believe I haven’t seen anyone say this yet. https://t.co/qdtUAhnyG8 pic.twitter.com/sQfwdACzEtSeptember 16, 2024

So, who is William Cobb? In the world of DC, Cobb is the most formidable killer in a group of assassins named Talons who were used by the Court of Owls when Batman discovered their evil doings. In the comics, Cobb is also the great-grandfather of Dick Grayson, AKA the DC superhero Nightwing.

Although William and Oz seemingly share a last name, it is not clear at this time whether they are of any official relation in this show. We are also uncertain if this means that the Talon will make an appearance in the series. But we sure hope he does!

The Batman spin-off, which is quickly becoming one of the most anticipatedupcoming DC shows, picks up right where Matt Reeves’ 2022 movie left off as The Riddler left Gotham underwater. The show once again stars Colin Farrell as Oz and follows Penguin’s rise to power in the city’s criminal underbelly.

The show is developed by showrunner Lauren LeFranc, and also stars Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, James Madio, Scott Cohen, Michael Zegen, Carmen Ejogo, and Theo Rossi.

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The Penguin will be available from September 20 on Sky and NOW in the UK and from September 19 on HBO in the US. Before you tune in, make sure to check out our spoiler-freeThe Penguinreview and make sure to keep up with ourThe Penguin release scheduleto find out when each episode drops.

I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for SFX and Total Film online. I have a Bachelors Degree in Media Production and Journalism and a Masters in Fashion Journalism from UAL. In the past I have written for local UK and US newspaper outlets such as the Portland Tribune and York Mix and worked in communications, before focusing on film and entertainment writing. I am a HUGE horror fan and in 2022 I created my very own single issue feminist horror magazine.

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