Lauren LeFranc, creator and showrunner of HBO’s The Penguin, has signed a two-year overall deal with HBO and HBO Max while also unveiling her new production company, Acid and Tender Productions. The news was first reported by Variety.
“I am thrilled to continue my creative partnership with HBO,” LeFranc said in a statement to Variety. “They have been unwavering in their support of my work on The Penguin, and beyond. My company, Acid and Tender Productions, comes from a sincere desire to shepherd bold stories and perspectives from singular voices and artists I love.”
LeFranc first became involved with The Penguin in 2021, with the show officially ordered by HBO in 2022. Starring Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, and Deirdre O’Connell, the series debuted in September 2024 and quickly earned both critical acclaim and strong audience response. It went on to receive 24 Emmy nominations, including best limited series, as well as acting nods for Farrell, Milioti, and O’Connell. The program secured the second-highest number of nominations this year, behind only Apple TV+’s Severance.
Before The Penguin, LeFranc served as showrunner on YouTube Premium’s Impulse and worked as a writer and producer on Agents of SHIELD, Chuck, and Hemlock Grove. She is represented by Untitled Entertainment, CAA, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole, and ID PR.
While HBO has not officially confirmed a second season of The Penguin, speculation continues. HBO chief Casey Bloys recently told Variety that another installment is “definitely possible,” though the network’s immediate priority is supporting Matt Reeves’ progress on The Batman 2.
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