A live-action Poison Ivy series is reportedly being developed for HBO, with The Penguin showrunner and executive producer Lauren LeFranc in talks to produce.
A new Poison Ivy project
The proposed series is understood to be at a very early stage. It does not have writers attached, and LeFranc’s reported involvement is currently limited to producing. The project was also paused for a period because of the proposed Paramount and Warner Bros. merger.
A report from Deadline has not established whether the show would sit within the wider DC Universe or use a separate continuity.
That distinction matters because LeFranc previously worked on The Penguin, but this Poison Ivy project is not currently connected to Matt Reeves’ The Batman films or their spin-off series. That group of stories is known as the Batman Epic Crime Saga and remains separate from DC Universe projects such as Superman, Lanterns and other announced films and television series.
Who is Poison Ivy?
Poison Ivy is the alter ego of Dr Pamela Isley, a character who has occupied both villain and anti-hero roles. She is an ecoterrorist with the ability to control plant life, giving a television adaptation plenty of room to explore environmental themes alongside superhero drama.
Her best-known screen appearances outside comics include Uma Thurman’s performance in the 1997 film Batman & Robin and Lake Bell’s voice role in the animated sitcom Harley Quinn.
Will Batman appear?
Whether Batman would feature could depend on the show’s eventual continuity. Several Gotham villains, including the Joker, Penguin and Clayface, have received leading film or television projects during this decade without Batman appearing as the central character.
Batman has not yet made his live-action debut in the DC Universe, although he appeared in animated form in Creature Commandos. DC Studios’ The Brave and the Bold is expected to bring the character into live action, but that film appears to be years away.
The separate Reeves-led sequel, The Batman Part 2, recently paused filming after Reeves stepped away for a personal matter. Steven Soderbergh is now helping complete the production, with the film scheduled for Australian cinemas and other markets on 18 February 2028.
What happens next?
For now, the Poison Ivy series remains a reported development rather than a confirmed production. No writers, cast, release date or final continuity have been announced. If HBO moves forward, the project would follow The Penguin to the network.
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