The Penguin wrapped up its critically acclaimed eight-episode run in Nov. 2024. With its widespread success, fans are craving a second season, despite the show being billed as a limited series. Star Colin Farrell has stated that near the end of production, he couldn’t wait for it to be over. 5j2t57

When asked whether he’d do it again, he said, “I don’t know.” For his role, the actor had to endure hours of filming while wearing prosthetics – a three-hour process – and a heavy bodysuit to transform into Gotham’s rising power player, an experience that was anything but comfortable. That unpleasantness aside, he shared that playing the dark character got to him. Still, he’s grateful to be included in the list of actors who have played Penguin, including Burgess Meredith and Danny DeVito.

Farrell has been widely praised for his gripping portrayal, racking up awards from the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Television Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. But when asked, yet again, whether he’d be open to a second season of The Penguin, his response was, “I don’t want it. I don’t not want it.” He further explained that they put maximum effort into the eight episodes of the series, and he doesn’t want to do a second season just because the first one was a success, fearing it would only be a “diluted version.” “I’m in no rush. I have no deep desire to do it,” he told Variety.

While the actor seems reluctant, he isn’t completely closing his doors. “If they think of something that works in conjunction as a parallel to Matt Reeves’ cinematic universe and it’s a good idea, I’m open to it. But it’s not something concerning me,” he explained, referring to the interconnected world The Batman director Matt Reeves is creating that is separate from the main DC Universe known as the DC Elseworlds. The Penguin takes place a week after the events in The Batman, and The Batman: Part II is set to take place after The Penguin.

Farrell was a bit more positive when he talked to TheWrap, saying that he would be “open to it for sure,” but again, he elaborated that it would have to be tied to Reeves’ Batman world in some way. Ultimately, multiple factors must be figured out before a second season of The Penguin happens, and right now, Farrell is saying that he would consider it if there is a “strong” idea.

Farrell’s Penguin made his debut in The Batman, with Robert Pattinson in the lead role of the brooding Dark Knight. While the fate of The Penguin season 2 remains uncertain, fans can take comfort in one thing — Farrell will be slipping back into the role for The Batman: Part II. Details are scarce regarding the movie, but according to reports, Part II will begin filming late this year. The original release date of Oct. 2026 has been pushed back, with the film expected to come out sometime in 2027.

Colin Farrell disappeared into the role of Oz Cobb in The Penguin. Even though the actor didn’t enjoy the makeup and prosthetics process, it proved to be worth it as he claimed a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television.

Make no mistake about it: HBO’s The Penguin was one of the best television shows of 2024. Critics and audiences raved about this latest instalment in Matt Reeves’ isolated corner of the DC Universe, comparing it favorably to shows such as The Sopranos and The Wire. Naturally, awards chatter followed – especially for Farrell and Cristin Miliot’s outstanding performances as Oz and Sofia Falcone respectively. Everyone’s work was recognized in the end, as The Penguin received three Golden Globe nominations, though Farrell was the only winner of the bunch.

This is Colin Farrell’s third Golden Globe win, but it also catapulted him into an elite category. He’s now the third person to have played a comic book supervillain and won a Golden Globe for his performance. The previous winners were Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix, who received the plaudits for playing the Joker in 2008’s The Dark Knight and 2019’s Joker respectively.

Discussing what it means to be ing this prestigious group of actors, Farrell said the following in the press room after his win (via Variety):

“To have your name just uttered in the same sentence as those performances, honestly, it’s lovely, but still I’m more of just a fan of it all! I don’t feel like I’m part of that pantheon. Joaquin and Heath, just two extraordinary and honest great actors.”

Social media came alive after Farrell’s win, with the general consensus being that he deserved it for disappearing into the role of Oz. Various X s praised his performance and said the inclusion into the same club as Phoenix and Ledger was more than merited. Another commentator pointed out how DC continues to dominate at the Golden Globes, writing, “That’s DC for you.”

Unquestionably, The Penguin‘s success is a boost for the DC brand as a whole. While it’s considered separate from the main universe that James Gunn and Peter Safran are creating, it was much-needed good news after a series of poorly received efforts such as The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The Penguin is testament that not only can good comic book properties be made for fans, but they can also appeal to wider audiences and be in the running for awards.

In of Farrell’s Oz, he’s set to return for The Batman Part II; however, that movie appears to be constantly delayed and pushed out further and further. At this point, don’t be surprised if it turns into a Batman Beyond story since everyone becomes aged out of their roles.

At the time of writing, a second season of The Penguin hasn’t been officially announced. Colin Farrell confirmed he would return if asked and mentioned how he has shared ideas of where the story could go with showrunner Lauren LeFranc. After the nominations and win at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, it’s more than likely the powers that be will give the thumbs-up for the next chapter in Oz’s rise to the top of Gotham City’s underworld.

Fans are still reeling from the devastating finale of The Penguin which aired on Max. While everyone deserves some breathing room, Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) isn’t being put to bed for good.

Viewers can expect the return of The Penguin in Matt Reeves’ sequel to 2022’s The Batman. But in what capacity? Producer Dylan Clark spoke to Variety about the future of the iconic Batman villain. He complimented showrunner Lauren LeFranc on her unimpeachable vision that was a necessity for the success of The Penguin. The crime drama could have easily been a cameo-ladden cash grab with no nuance. Instead, LeFranc presented the audience with a careful if often brutal character study of a narcissist. Clark stated that he and Reeves were blown away by her initial pitch, which leaves many storylines up in the air. Clark continued:

“We’ve built these two characters up and left them both in very precarious places. Power corrupts, and now he has it. What’s he gonna do? Probably some more bad stuff.”

Knowing The Penguin, “bad stuff” is likely an understatement. Oz has finally achieved everything he has ever wanted, but it came at a cost. The crime boss explored the lengths of what he was willing to do in order to get supreme power. He sacrifices an innocent closest to him, and all for a goal that is now unachievable. Oz wanted to provide for his mother, Francis (Deirdre O’Connell), but now that she is in a vegetative state, he keeps her locked up in a penthouse overlooking the city. He has fully accepted himself as he is, which should dovetail nicely when The Batman: Part II premieres. Viewers may also be interested to know what is in store for the co-protagonist of the series.

Sofia Gigante is down but not out 401x2m

The season finale of The Penguin is tragic for almost every character. Sofia Gigante (Cristin Milioti) is high on that list, as she is left exactly where she started at the beginning of the series. After struggling to get revenge for her brother and control of the Falcone crime family, Oz maneuvers her so she ends up back in Arkham. On her first stay in the asylum, Sofia was heartbreakingly framed by her father Carmine (Mark Strong), and spent a decade unjustly in the worst place on earth.

The last episode shows Sofia back in a cell, though this time with the unwavering of Dr. Rush (Theo Rossi). The shining light for Sofia is receiving a letter from an established half-sister, Selina Kyle, portrayed by Zoë Kravitz in The Batman. This portends some interesting things for the character down the line. The sibling characters share their father, Carmine Falcone, and have equal reasons for hating him. While dead, Carmine still fascinatingly unites the two characters. There is more in store for Sofia, who LeFranc tells Variety was conjured up with a specific goal in mind.

“So much of the reason why I created Sofia was just to give my younger self a female character that I didn’t feel like I had growing up.”

Sofia is unapologetic and ruthless, just the type of person to get ahead in Gotham. LeFranc is light on the specifics, but judging from the ending of The Penguin, that won’t be the last time we see Ms. Gigante.

The following article contains spoilers for The Penguin, season 1, episode 8: “A Great Or Little Thing.”

The Penguin has come to a close with all the gusto and violence that could be expected, and fans only want to know one thing. Will Colin Farrell play the titular character again?

All previous reports pointed to not being very likely. Farrell quite famously told Total Film that the darkness of The Penguin affected him deeply and he had no designs on returning to the role.

“I never want to put on that f***ing suit and f***ing head again,” Farrell said.

However, in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter following The Penguin season 1 finale, he recontextualized his earlier comments. Farrell itted that he had been venting about the difficulties of the shoot and how existing in Oz’s world had been a challenge. With more time, the actor has since reasoned “Never say never.” There may be a future where Farrell dons the elaborate prosthetics again to play the irredeemable gangster, he told the outlet.

“If there’s a great idea [for season two], and the writing was really muscular and as strong or stronger on the page than it was the first season, of course I would do it.”

Farrell also explained that he is contractually obligated to appear in three Batman films in the Matt Reeves universe. He noted that he hasn’t seen a script for The Batman Part II but understands he may have five or six scenes in the film. The new movie has been highly anticipated since 2022 when the first Batman premiered, but now there is even more reason to fast-track it. The Penguin sets up a terrifying villain for Batman to defeat in the film.

The Penguin perfectly set up Oz’s villain era 4e5wm

For fans of Batman comics, it seems pretty evident what Matt Reeves will tackle in the next film. There is heavy messaging in The Batman that Hush, a villain never explored in live action before, will be the next foe for the Caped Crusader. However, the film would be remiss to not include the Gentleman of Crime.

In The Batman, The Penguin is comic relief at best, roasting the world’s greatest detective for his terrible Spanish. The Penguin continues this trend but develops a character arc that is disturbing until the final episode. The season finale of The Penguin shows Oz become so reprehensible that fans are practically begging Batman to swoop down and beat him into submission.

Season 1, episode 8, “The Great or Little Thing” shows the lengths to which Oz will go to become a true powerhouse. After s (Deirdre O’Connell) has a stroke that effectively leaves her comatose, Oz decides that he can’t ever be weak again. His only remaining weakness is Victor (Rhenzy Feliz), who calls Oz family in his final moments. Oz promises that he couldn’t have accomplished his massive power grab without his apprentice, right before wrapping his fingers around his throat and choking the life from him.

Many fans were willing to forgive many things, but this act, in addition to Oz killing his brothers and setting a woman and her son on fire, just further crystalizes his descent into true villainy. He exhibits no real remorse, even diving further into his delusions regarding his mother in the final moments of the episode. There is no question why Colin Farrell needed some time away from this character. Oz, who easily could have fallen into the trap of being a caricature, finally becomes the villain he was boasting to be and is now worthy of being included in Batman’s Rogues Gallery.

While The Penguin did a phenomenal job of keeping the focus on Colin Farrell’s mesmerizing Oswald Cobb, the series still leaves enough loose threads for fans to follow as we try to anticipate the plot of The Batman: Part II. Furthermore, The Penguin’s ending gives a clearer picture of how dangerous Oz can be as Gotham City’s new kingpin and where we’ll see some beloved characters next.

Francis’ and Victor’s fate reveals the true nature of Oswald Cobb 383n2z

When the credits of The Penguin’s final episode roll, there’s no question: Oz is a sociopath who doesn’t honestly care about anyone but himself. Since he’s so good at talking his way out of trouble, Oz managed to charm the audience, using the façade of a self-made man to hide his devious nature. After a few episodes, one could wonder if Oz was a villain or just a misguided soul trying to survive in Gotham City.

A look at Oz’s past, in Episode 7, helps to clear the matter. After all, Oz’s compulsion to be loved led him to murder his brothers, all while pretending to be Mommy’s good boy. Yet, Episode 8 hammers the point by showing how Oz’s need for validation has sealed the fate of Francis (Deirdre O’Connell) and Victor (Rhenzy Feliz).

In the final episode, Victor, inspired by Oz’s grandiose speeches about the less fortunate rising against the wealthy, convinces every second-in-command of Gotham’s gangs to seize power. This revolutionary coup gives Oz the throne he always dreamed of. Sadly, Victor is repaid with blood, as Oz chokes his apprentice to death without any previous warning. 

It’s not that Oz is not fond of Victor, per se. It’s just that Oz doesn’t want to share his crown, and Victor proved himself too bright and reliable for Oz to trust him to keep to his place. Victor is a liability for Oz, who has to cater to the boy’s big expectations on how the Penguin should rule. In short, by ing every gang in Gotham to Oz, Victor proves he’s too cunning to stay alive. Victor’s value expired once he showed Oz he could be more than a loyal lapdog, which gives us a spine-chilling peek at the Penguin’s head.

As for Francis, what she feared the most comes to . By the end of The Penguin, Francis is in a vegetative state, trapped inside the flesh prison she once called her body. Oz had promised to terminate her life if that ever came to , but of course, he doesn’t fulfill his oath. Oz is incapable of loving his mother and respecting her as a person. To him, Francis is just the source of the affection he needs to feel good about himself. That’s why he keeps her alive. Oz still has use for Francis, and he won’t let her final wishes get in the way of what he wants. The Penguin is a cruel narcissist, and the way he treats his mother at the end of the limited series proves it.

Is Sofia Gigante showing up for The Batman: Part II? 36o1d

While The Penguin is primarily about Oz, Cristin Milioti stole our hearts with her take on Sofia Gigante. For a moment, it looked like Sofia was marked for execution since she was the biggest obstacle in Oz’s way to absolute power over Gotham’s underworld. However, instead of killing Sofia, Oz sends her back to Arkham Asylum, which is genuinely hell on Earth. This move allows the Penguin to blame her for all the chaos he helped spread in Gotham’s streets.

Oz believes he’s dooming Sofia to a fate worse than death. He would be correct if it weren’t for two reasons. First, Dr. Julian Rush (Theo Rossi) gets his job back at Arkham to protect Sofia as best as possible. That means this time, she won’t be subject to psychological torture the same way as before. More importantly, though, Sofia gets a letter from Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz), aka Catwoman.

The Batman reveals Selina is the daughter of Carmine Falcone (John Turturro) with one of the sex workers from the Iceberg Lounge. That makes her Sofia’s half-sister. Since Selina s Sofia at the end of The Penguin, Catwoman most likely knows their father is the actual Hangman. So, Selina might help get Sofia out of Arkham. Plus, the two women might be involved in the plot of The Batman: Part II.

What does the ending of The Penguin mean for Robert Pattinson’s Dark Knight? 661823

One of the highlights of The Penguin is how the limited series shows the corrupt and inhumane modus operandi of Arkham Asylum. Since the prison for the mentally ill is such a cornerstone of the Dark Knight mythos, Pattinson’s Batman will probably revisit the place in The Batman: Part II. When that happens, he might learn what truly happens behind Arkham walls and try to take the place down or reform it. That would be the perfect way to tie The Penguin and the movies.

In The Batman, Bruce learns that his mother spent some time in Arkham, a fact his father did everything to hide from the press. Being the obsessive investigator we love, Bruce will probably dig deeper into his family’s past, taking him to Arkham. With Selina keeping in touch with Sofia and Catwoman being an ally to Batman, the three characters might work together to expose the nefarious things that happen in Arkham.

Following the events of The Penguin, The Batman: Part II also has to explain Batman’s inexplicable absence from the show. There’s just too much death and destruction in The Penguin for it to go unnoticed by Gotham City’s nocturnal protector. The Bat-Signal at the end of The Penguin teases how the Dark Knight will investigate Oz’s actions as Gotham’s new kingpin. Nevertheless, the movie must also explain why Batman was nowhere to be seen for weeks without end, as a new drug flooded Gotham and prominent crime lords fell like flies.

In an interview with SFX Magazine, Reeves revealed that Part II will deal with “digging into the epic story about deeper corruption.” Arkham is part of this corruption, for sure. However, the depths of the issue mean some influential people are pulling the strings in Gotham and might have subdued Batman during the events of The Penguin. Whatever the case might be, it’s going to be hard to wait until 2026 to see how the story of The Penguin unfolds.

As a spinoff of The Batman, The Penguin‘s story is tied to Matt Reeves’ beloved movie. However, Episode 7 pushes the show’s logic to its brink by not having the Dark Knight glide to an atrocious crime scene.

From a production’s point of view, it makes sense that Robert Pattinson’s Batman doesn’t have a cameo in The Penguin. The show is about Oswald Cobb’s (Colin Farrell) ascension to the position of Gotham City’s kingpin, so the creative team wants to keep all eyes on the villain. Of course, fans were bound to be disappointed by this decision, which is why Reeves warned everyone of Batman’s absence even before The Penguin‘s premiere.

Nevertheless, knowing the Dark Knight would not appear in The Penguin didn’t prevent fans from looking for signs of Batman in every dark corner. For the series’ first episodes, it was easy to think Bruce Wayne would be recovering from his battle against Riddler’s (Paul Dano) goons or maybe figuring out how to be more than a symbol of fear. After all, most of The Penguin’s events happen in just a few days. Yet, it became harder to believe Batman would not look into Gotham City’s gang wars after Episode 6, which features a significant time jump and shows how a new drug, Bliss, has flooded the streets.

Episode 7 takes everyone’s suspension of disbelief to its breaking point. In it, Sofia Gigante (Cristin Milioti) sends a bomb to Oz’s underground base of operations, literally blowing his business off the map. The explosion also creates a massive hole in the middle of Crown Point, the same neighborhood affected by Riddler’s flood. That means the people of Crown Point were already struggling to survive before the gang war blew them up into pieces. There’s no way Batman would just ignore this event. Right? Well, that might be the point.

It makes no sense for Batman to ignore ‘The Penguin’s events, but that might be the point 1v581h

After the end of The Batman, Bruce Wayne learns that he does more good to Gotham City when he tries to help people and be a symbol of hope than when he punches lowlife criminals in the face to become a symbol of fear. So, it’s fair to assume that Bruce is using Wayne’s fortune to help the people of Gotham recover from Riddler’s terrorist attacks. There’s no way Bruce would not be involved in Crown Point, helping to turn the lights back on, for instance. Yet, it’s the Penguin who does the job. Likewise, Batman would be all over Bliss once he heard about a new drug poisoning Gotham. But the Penguin’s only challenger is Sofia. There has to be a reason for this.

Reeves underlined how The Penguin sets the stage for The Batman Part II, the director’s highly-anticipated sequel. So, maybe disgruntled fans should start asking why Batman is nowhere to be seen. We can all agree that, at this point, it makes no sense for the Dark Knight to keep avoiding Oz. He had time to heal, time to rethink his crimefighting approach, and time to investigate the deaths of the Falcones. The only logical conclusion is that something is preventing Batman from protecting Gotham. Whatever it may be, it’s probably the threat from The Batman Part II.

There are still no details available on the plot of The Batman Part II, but thanks to Pattinson’s absence from The Penguin, we can know one thing. Someone has trapped Bruce Wayne or sent him away for a long time, enough for Oz to take control of Gotham. Whoever the responsible are, they surely will be formidable foes for the sequel.

With Agatha All Along and The Penguin dropping on streaming services in the same week, the age-old Marvel vs. DC rivalry has reignited. Now that the viewership numbers of both series have been revealed, it’s time to declare a winner.

According to data released by the Walt Disney Company, Agatha All Along generated 9.3 million views in its first seven days on Disney+. This figure represents views rather than unique viewers, as streaming services often calculate viewership by dividing total watch time by the runtime of the content. Meanwhile, The Penguin waddled its way to an impressive 5.3 million viewers across all platforms in just four days after its release. This number includes viewership on both HBO’s cable channel and its streaming platform, Max.

At first glance, fans might think Agatha All Along emerged victorious in this streaming showdown. However, it’s the other way around. The Marvel Studios series’ figure is a global tally, while The Penguin‘s numbers are specific to the U.S. market. Additionally, The Penguin achieved its viewership in a shorter timeframe, suggesting a potentially higher audience engagement rate. Finally, Warner Bros. Discovery has disclosed the actual number of viewers, while Disney tried to inflate the number by counting views (but let’s be honest, hardcore fans of both brands will rewatch episodes multiple times).

However we approach these numbers, The Penguin is considerably ahead of Agatha All Along. The question, now, is why.

Why is The Penguin the kingpin of the superhero streaming game despite Agatha All Along enchanting story? 5s5g4g

To understand the results of the latest Marvel vs. DC dispute, it’s essential to consider each show’s release context. In the wake of Avengers: Endgame, the MCU has struggled to maintain the same level of critical and commercial success that defined its earlier phases. This fatigue has been attributed to an oversaturation of content and a perceived decline in quality, with some recent MCU entries failing to meet box office expectations.

On the other hand, The Penguin rides the wave of success generated by Matt Reeves’ The Batman, which grossed an impressive $772 million worldwide at a time when people had already lost faith in the DCEU. This financial triumph, coupled with critical acclaim, has reinvigorated interest in DC’s Gotham-centric storytelling, providing a solid foundation for spin-off series like The Penguin.

The way Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney distribute content for critics might also weigh this result. Disney is determined to protect the secrecy of Marvel Studios productions, so the company historically only gives critics a few episodes to write reviews. That causes some distrust as no one knows beforehand if TV shows keep their quality and pacing throughout the season. Meanwhile, critics could watch The Penguin in its entirety and have been praising the show over a week before the first episode release – our own review is part of this crowd.

Unfortunately, Agatha All Along failed to get the love it deserves. It is the latest production to be review-bombed by the “anti-woke” gang on score aggregator websites. Even before its release, the Marvel Studios show was attacked for being “too gay,” which probably didn’t help its viewership. So, The Penguin, being great as it is, had to issue to grab the crown.  It will be curious to observe how both Marvel and DC deal with these results.

The follow-up to critically beloved The Batman has finally swam into view. Max’s The Penguin takes place a week after the events of Riddler’s (Paul Dano) terrorist plot against the Gotham seawall, and it sees Colin Farrell reprise his role as the newly dubbed Oswald Cobb, who has yet to fit into the shoes of the Penguin.

Among one of Batman’s gallery of rogues, the new series follows Oz’s attempts to seize power in the wake of Carmine Falcone’s — now played by Mark Strong — death. The first episode aired on the streaming platform on Sept. 19 and did not disappoint. Entitled “After Hours,” the series premiere is on par with a gritty character-driven feature film.

The events of the show kick off when Oz impulsively kills Carmine’s son, Alberto Falcone. He quickly realizes the ramifications of this rash act but once it happens, there is no undoing it. Once the episode starts, there is a domino effect that cannot be stopped. With the help of his new acolyte, Vick (Rhenzy Feliz), Oz travels around Gotham trying to tie up loose ends and cover his tracks. The wrench in the plan is the arrival of Alberto’s sister, Sofia (Cristin Milioti) who knows more than she lets on. The episode is a captivating character drama that opens the door to many more episodes.

With over 5 million views over the premiere weekend, there is no doubt that fans are in agreement. However, as much as The Penguin is a home run for both DC Studios and Max, the show still has not dethroned one of the biggest premieres on the streaming platform to date.

The Last of Us ratings make it the reigning king of Max streaming 6y4hr

DC has a certain amount of marketability that ensures viewers will tune in, but The Last of Us was almost an anomaly. Though adapted from the highly successful video game of the same name, the post-apocalyptic series had a lot riding against it. Video game adaptations, for one, are not guaranteed success as tends to be the case for superhero projects. Quite the opposite in fact. In the past, adapting a video game has generally been a recipe for disaster.

In the hands of original creator Neil Druckmann and Chernobyl writer Craig Mazin, however, The Last of Us flouted tradition. For one, the strength of the game was on their side. Druckmann had already created a cinematic story that just happened to be a video game. Set in the aftermath of a worldwide virus, the characters have to survive the Infected as well as fascist regimes that have risen to make order. At the center of it are Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), an unlikely father-daughter duo. Still reeling from the tragic death of his daughter, Joel reluctantly agrees to shepherd an orphan teenager across state lines. As they encounter the horrors of the world, they naturally grow to love each other. But violence is a sick and ugly cycle.

The Last of Us adaptation turned out to be a massive success, in many ways improving upon the game. It was evident from the very beginning that the series would become a juggernaut. On the first night alone, the premiere of the show amassed over 4 million views. More than likely, this would mean it would have eclipsed The Penguin‘s record which was counted after four days. While the DC property may have missed out on the record by a slim margin, there is no doubt that television is back. At least on Max.

Matt Reeves’ “Batman Epic Crime Saga” takes a grounded approach to the Dark Knight mythos. In this context, a simple gangster such as The Penguin might seem harmless. However, Colin Farrell shows why he can go toe-to-toe with the World’s Greatest Detective.

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers for episode 2 of The Penguin, “Inside Man.”

In DC Comics, The Penguin is a gangster with a penchant for bird-related crimes and high-tech umbrellas he uses as weapons. So, while he might not be a great martial artist, there have been countless confrontations between him and Batman. 

After The Batman premiere, it was hard to imagine how the new live-action Oswald Cobblepot could become one of the Dark Knight’s greatest foes. Robert Pattinson’s Batman is a punching machine, while Farrell’s Penguin struggles to move around. Furthermore, since Reeves is taking his “grounded” approach to its limit by even changing the Penguin’s surname to Cobb, we shouldn’t hold our breaths for quasi-magic umbrella guns. As such, The Penguin lacked the tools he needed to cause Batman more than a light headache.

Fortunately, Max’s The Penguin changes the playing field by showing how dangerous Oswald Cobb can be.

The Penguin’s biggest power is his superhuman ability to lie 1ze4h

In the absence of his umbrellas or senseless love for birds, Reeves’ “Batman Epic Crime Saga” highlights The Penguin’s other distinct traits: opportunism and sociopathy.

The first two episodes already follow Oz as he navigates Gotham’s criminal underworld, changing allegiances faster than Victor (Rhenzy Feliz) can follow. He tells the Falcones what they want to hear while working with Sal Maroni (Clancy Brown) in Blackgate Penitentiary. Meanwhile, he tries to convince Sofia (Cristin Milioti) to trust him with her revolutionary new drug.

Watching Farrell lie through his teeth and change his narrative with each new sentence is mesmerizing. That’s because The Penguin is not only tricking everyone around him, but he ends up believing his own words. It’s so easy to fall for The Penguin’s schemes because he doesn’t see the difference between truth and falsity. He only lives in the moment and does what’s best for him. 

At one moment, he full-heartedly believes that he’s helping Maroni take his revenge because the Falcones mistreated him, and he deserves respect. Next, he is willing to forge partnerships with Sofia as she’s the rightful ruler of the Falcones. As the perfect sociopath, The Penguin believes his lies, which help him conquer the hearts and minds of people on every side of the war raging in Gotham City’s streets.

The Penguin’s relationship with Victor is also symbolic of his opportunism. The gangster took the young man under his crooked wings and taught him how to become an essential player in the drug business. However, Oz can flip a switch, point a gun at Victor, and force him to lie with dead bodies for daring to make a mistake. 

Oz thinks he owns Victor and has the right to use him as a tool. Simultaneously, the Penguin genuinely believes he’s taking care of Victor and giving him the opportunities life took from the young man. It’s Orwell’s doublethink in its purest form, as The Penguin doesn’t lose a second worrying about contradictions if he gets what he wants. This doublethinking approach is also Oz’s primary instrument to inspire loyalty from everyone.

For now, The Penguin is busy with Gotham City’s underworld. Nevertheless, what happens once The Penguin becomes kingpin? Nothing can satiate the gangster’s greed, so he will most certainly stretch his wings elsewhere. With the people of Gotham rightfully mistrusting politicians and public institutions, there’s a lot of room for Penguin to seize power beyond the drug business. If he does, Batman won’t be able just to punch his problems away.

Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne was the gift we never knew we needed, but The Batman gave us even more than just a brooding superhero. Enter Colin Farrell, who has become so synonymous with the Penguin that we can’t imagine him not scheming to ruin Gotham from within.

When The Batman hit theaters in 2022, everyone knew we were in for a ride. Seeing Pattinson on screen again with his odd persona felt like a gift straight from Hollywood. But having such a strong ing cast for Gotham’s other iconic characters was the icing on the cake. So much so that Oswald Cobblepot, unexpectedly, became the film’s comedic relief.

This surge in popularity among fans quickly earned Colin Farrell his small-screen debut in the DC universe. On Sept. 19, the first episode of The Penguin premiered on Max, and surprisingly, it received incredibly positive responses from both DC fans and new viewers alike. However, the show adopted a much darker tone than the version of the Penguin we saw in 2022 — which was an unexpected turn.

To everyone’s surprise, the series ended up with a much gloomier, almost oppressive atmosphere than expected. Even Farrell found it difficult to separate himself from the grim, Soprano-like scripts. While some DC actors are known for method acting, immersing themselves fully in their roles, this wasn’t the case for Farrell — thankfully.

In an interview with AP Entertainment, Farrell itted that to decompress and mentally distance himself from the intensity of his work, he turned to… Toy Story. In fact, he wasn’t even too selective. According to the Irish actor, he “started watching Pixar films at the end of the working day” just to have “something light and beautiful” to come back to.

The Lobster actor also described the set and atmosphere of the series as “borderline nihilistic,” and if you’ve watched the first episode, this isn’t surprising. In the one-hour premiere, we’ve already caught a glimpse of the dark, mob-thriller vibe that lies ahead, making it a fitting start to the Spooky season.

Though it has just debuted, The Penguin has been a long time in the making. After its prequel film hit theaters, the series was greenlit almost immediately, but it wasn’t until 2023 that it received its official title, named after Gotham’s mob villain. Despite the wait, the star-studded cast was enough to keep fans eagerly anticipating the first episode.

We already knew Colin Farrell would return to reprise his role as Oswald Cobblepot, but the rest of the cast is just as spectacular. Cristin Milioti, whom you might recognize from How I Met Your Mother, takes on the role of Sofia Falcone, the daughter of supervillain Carmine Falcone, whom we last saw in The Batman.

ing these two leads are Myles Humphus (The Equalizer) as Dom Gigante, Theo Rossi (Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi) as Dr. Julian Rush, and David H. Holmes (High Fidelity) as Nick Fuchs. The series will feature a total of eight episodes, each running about an hour. The first episode is now available on Max.

As a sequel to Matt Reeves’ The Batman, The Penguin promises to keep exploring a gritty and grounded version of Gotham City. It’s no wonder that the show brings back Colin Farell’s Penguin to face Sofia Falcone, a somewhat unknown DC Comics character.

Created by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, Sofia Falcone debuted in 1997’s Batman: The Long Halloween #6, part of one of the quintessential Dark Knight stories. As the daughter of Carmine “The Roman” Falcone, Sofia quickly established herself as a force to be reckoned with in Gotham’s criminal landscape. 

As The Penguin’s marketing campaign teases, Cristin Milioti’s critically acclaimed take on Sofia Falcone will also fight for a piece of Gotham’s criminal cake, putting her at odds with Oswald Cobb – yes, Reeves changed the Penguin’s name. It’s fair to say Reeves will put a unique spin on Sofia Falcone, just as he did with The Penguin, Riddler (Paul Dano), and Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz). Still, the character’s comic book history may hint at the confrontations in the series.

Who is Sofia Falcone in DC Comics? 322d6y

The Long Halloween storyline introduces Sofia as a loyal enforcer for her father’s criminal empire. She’s portrayed as a tall, physically imposing woman, often seen wielding dual shotguns. Her initial role is to assist her father in uncovering the identity of the mysterious Holiday Killer, who has been targeting of the Falcone crime family. At the end of The Long Halloween, Carmine is killed by Harvey Dent, and Sofia falls to her death after an altercation with Catwoman.

Sofia’s character undergoes a significant evolution in the sequel storyline, Batman: Dark Victory. Contrary to expectations, she survives her fall from The Long Halloween. Yet, she appears to be wheelchair-bound and wearing a fitted brace, due to her injuries. Following her father’s demise, she takes over as the head of the Falcone crime family, hoping to expand their business.

During Dark Victory, it is also revealed Sofia faked her injuries so she could conceal her secret identity as “The Hangman,” a serial killer targeting corrupt of the Gotham City Police Department who worked with Harvey Dent. While looking for revenge, Sofia also goes after Two-Face, being shot in the head by the villain and dying, this time for good.

Did Sofia Falcone ever face The Penguin in DC Comics? 56k3j

While Sofia Falcone and the Penguin don’t have extensive direct interactions in the main comic continuity, their relationship is characterized by a tense rivalry rooted in their competing claims to Gotham’s criminal throne. 

The Penguin, ever the opportunist, views the power vacuum left by Carmine Falcone’s death as a chance to expand his influence. This naturally leads to friction with Sofia during Dark Victory, who sees herself as the rightful heir to her father’s criminal legacy. Their relationship is of mutual distrust, each trying to outmaneuver the other in the high-stakes game of Gotham’s underworld. Furthermore, The Penguin’s preference for maintaining a veneer of legitimacy through his nightclub and other businesses often clashes with Sofia’s more direct and brutal approach to criminal enterprise.

Sofia and Oz Cobb not sharing an extensive DC Comics history is a blessing for The Penguin. The Batman already shows Reeves has a unique vision for Gotham City that demands him to deconstruct the Dark Knight’s rogue gallery. By focusing on Sofia and Oswald Cobb in the series, Reeves has plenty of wiggling room to create an engaging storyline without worrying about legacy and canon.

There is something to be said for updating comic book characters for a modern audience, but there is no sense in reinventing the wheel. The Batman has accomplished many impressive feats, but changing something so central to the canon of the comics is a bridge too far.

Or at least, it should be. Since The Penguin‘s introduction in 1941, he has been known by his given name, Oswald Cobblepot. One of the main contributions to Batman’s Rogues Gallery, The Penguin is the rare Batman villain who doesn’t hinge on theatrics or superpowers. He is so named because of his tuxedo-clad look, and only has an interest in crime.

He isn’t the sort to contaminate Gotham’s water supply with laughing gas, or turn all the inhabitants of the world into plant life. His pursuits are purely criminal, making him an intriguing foe for Batman. He is arguably the character that needs the least amount of retooling to be palatable for a live-action audience unfamiliar with the comics. But even so, creatives behind the scenes implemented a fundamental change for the character.

The Batman changed Oswald Cobblepot’s name 4m4e3j

In Matt Reeves’ The Batman, The Penguin is not a huge adversary. While he works the drug business out of the Iceberg Lounge, he ultimately answers to Carmine Falcone (John Turturro). It is only upon his death that The Penguin considers making a power grab. Played by Colin Farrell in all his prosthetic glory, viewers don’t get too close of a look at the character — or the name. But as it turns out, The Penguin is no longer known by his most accurate name, but Oswald “Oz” Cobb. Producer Dylan Clark spoke to SFX Magazine (via Discussing Film) about the change which was evidently approved by Jim Lee himself.

“DC had thought about changing his name at some point but had never done it. Matt asked, ‘Can I call our character Oz Cobb?’ Jim said, ‘Absolutely!’”

The interview further contextualizes the change by citing the update to The Riddler’s persona. Originally known as Edward Nygma (E. Nygma — get it?), the Riddler’s name was modernized to Edward Nashton. This change was an effort to make the character not such a tongue-in-cheek joke. Changes like these have been known to occur from time to time, and in some cases, aren’t detrimental. But altering The Penguin seems like a surface-level change that has no real bearing on whether the story resonates or not. Reeves pushed for the change, apparently to make the character seem more grounded in reality. One could argue that Cobblepot has a silly ring to it. But fans agree that this alteration to the character is pointless at the end of the day.

Changing the name of the character doesn’t automatically change how they are perceived by an audience. It also sets an odd precedent for other characters who were born from the pages of the comics. Detective Comics was spearheaded in the late 1930s, and because of that, may have some outdated monikers. Names like Bruce, Barbara, and Harvey were all popular at the time, and may not be as contemporary as some directors might like. But as this is an adaptation, and fans are presumably willing to suspend their disbelief. Since the character also goes by The Penguin, there isn’t a huge need to hear his last name all the time. No matter how much realism The Batman leans into, Bruce is still a rich orphan who dresses up as a giant bat. Suspension of disbelief kind of cones with the territory.