The DC Studios logo is located on a rainy Gotham street
Narrative
Following the events of Batman (2022), Oz Cobb, aka the Penguin, attempts to take over Gotham’s underworld. Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti discuss how they decided to make «Penguin.» Colin Farrell fought hard to get his version of The Penguin Smoking Tobacco in Batman (2022), but was unsuccessful. However, his own series depicts the character as an occasional tobacco user, preferring cigars. The umbrella is lowered and the logo changes to the Warner Bros. logo.
Graham Norton and guests: Lady Gaga/Demi Moore/Colin Farrell/Richard Ayoade/Jack Savoretti (2024)
HBO’s new show «Penguin» is a spin-off of Matt Reeves’ film; Batman (2022) is a thrilling dive into Gotham City’s criminal underworld. Led by Colin Farrell as the titular character Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin, the series expands on the gritty, adventurous tone introduced in the film and offers fans a new but familiar experience in the world of Batman. Unlike most superhero content, The Penguin focuses on the darker, more human elements of Gotham’s criminals, moving away from the caped crusader to focus on the rise of one of Batman’s most famous foes. Set immediately after the events of The Batman, The Penguin journeys to fill the power vacuum left in Gotham’s criminal empire. With Carmine Falcone dead and Gotham’s infrastructure in disarray, The Penguin seizes the opportunity to climb the ranks, determined to control the city’s crime syndicates.
Colin Farrell’s performance Colin Farrell’s portrayal of Penguin is simply incredible
The focus is on his transformation from underworld boss to crime lord, giving Penguin a mob drama feel more akin to The Sopranos than a traditional superhero show. The show cleverly avoids relying too much on Batman’s shadow, allowing Penguin to truly shine in the lead role. Without Gotham’s powerful protector, it creates a new and interesting dynamic where Oswald can operate freely in a morally ambiguous space. This narrative shift refreshes the genre and adds depth to Gotham’s criminal underworld without becoming too much of a superhero spectacle. Physically unrecognizable due to his prosthetic limbs, Farrell fully inhabits the character with a nuanced performance that balances the brutality of a mob boss with the insecurity and ambition that drives him.
Farrell conveys the many layers of the character, pushing the boundaries of portraying the stereotypical villain
Penguin is no longer just a caricature of a deformed, umbrella-toting villain; Instead, he’s portrayed as a ruthless, calculating player in Gotham’s criminal hierarchy, which makes him both terrifying and strangely likeable. His Oswald Cobblepot is cunning, manipulative, and ready to break bones, but he’s also a man driven by a deep-seated inferiority complex and a thirst for respect. Watching him navigate the treacherous waters of Gotham’s criminal underworld is a fascinating and grounded look at the character, making “The Penguin” a compelling character study. Gritty Atmosphere and Tone When it comes to atmosphere, The Penguin maintains the same gritty, rainy aesthetic that fans have come to love in The Batman. The dark, crime-ridden streets of Gotham are beautifully filmed, with an emphasis on realism over comic-book extravagance.
The tone of the series is dark, violent, and tense, reminiscent of neo-noir crime thrillers
Every scene is permeated with the corruption and decay of Gotham, and danger seems to lurk in every shadow. The production design is top-notch, and the sets feel like a natural extension of Reeves’ work; Gotham City. Segregious clubs, abandoned alleys, and luxurious mansions of mafia criminals all feel like a spectacular spectacle.
