MGM’s premium cable network Epix has placed a straight-to-series order for the origin story of comics’ most famous butler, Alfred Pennyworth. Pennyworth will be a 10-episode drama from Gotham showrunner Bruno Heller. Heller will write the script and produce the series, and Danny Cannon, another Gotham vet, will executive produce and direct the pilot. The series will go into production later this year, with the premiere planned for 2019.

Despite the involvement of several alums, the series is not a spinoff of Gotham, which was recently renewed for its final season (see “The Renewed, The Cancelled, The Rebooted: 'Gotham,' 'Lost in Space,' 'iZombie,' 'The Expanse,' 'Charmed,' 'Star Wars,' and More”). Pennyworth will be a prequel set in 1960s London that will explore Alfred’s past as a British SAS soldier and the beginning of his relationship with Bruce Wayne’s father, Thomas. This means Sean Pertwee, a standout as Alfred in Gotham (see “Casting Updates for 'Gotham'”), isn’t involved. But it does look like we'll get to see Alfred in deadly action mode.