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The DC Studios logo is located in a rainy alley in Gotham City
Scenario
Following the events of The Batman (2022), Oz Cobb, aka the Penguin, attempts to take over the criminal underworld in Gotham City. With the exception of the Bat-Signal in the final shot of the season finale, we never got our Robert Pattinson cameo in “The Penguin.” In this short video, IMDb attempts to answer: Where the hell was Batman? Colin Farrell fought hard to get his version of The Penguin to smoke tobacco in The Batman (2022), but was unsuccessful. However, for his own series, the character is depicted as a casual tobacco user, with a preference for cigars. An umbrella falls over and the logo changes to that of Warner Bros..
Featured in Graham Norton i gosti: Lady Gaga/Demi Moore/Colin Farrell/Richard Ayoade/Jack Savoretti (2024)
HBO’s new show The Penguin, a spin-off of Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022), is a thrilling dive into Gotham’s criminal underworld. Led by Colin Farrell as title character Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin, this series expands on the gritty, noir tone established by the film and offers fans a fresh, yet familiar experience in the Batman universe. Unlike most superhero-related content, The Penguin focuses on the darker, more human elements of Gotham’s criminals, moving away from the Caped Crusader to highlight the rise of one of Batman’s most notorious foes. Plot Set immediately after the events of The Batman, the series explores Penguin’s journey to fill the power vacuum left in Gotham’s criminal empire. With Carmine Falcone dead and Gotham’s infrastructure in chaos, Penguin seizes the opportunity to rise through the ranks, determined to assert control over the city’s criminal syndicates.
Colin Farrell’s Performance Colin Farrell’s performance of Penguin is nothing short of remarkable
His transformation from underboss to big-time crime boss is the main focus, giving The Penguin a mob drama vibe more akin to The Sopranos than a traditional superhero show. The show smartly avoids relying too heavily on Batman’s shadow, allowing Penguin to really shine as the protagonist. Without the domineering presence of Gotham’s protector, it creates an interesting new dynamic, where Oswald is free to operate in a morally ambiguous space. This narrative shift feels fresh for the genre, and adds depth to Gotham’s criminal world without focusing too much on superhero spectacle. Physically unrecognizable in his prosthetic makeup, Farrell fully inhabits the character with a nuanced performance that balances the brutality of a mob boss with the insecurities and ambition that drive him.
Farrell brings layers to the character, going beyond the stereotypical portrayal of the villain
No longer is The Penguin just a caricature of a deformed, umbrella-wielding villain; Instead, he is depicted as a ruthless and calculating player in Gotham’s criminal hierarchy, making him both terrifying and oddly sympathetic. His Oswald Cobblepot is cunning, manipulative, and ready to break bones, but he is also a man driven by a deep-seated inferiority complex and a desire for respect. Watching him navigate the treacherous waters of Gotham’s criminal underworld is compelling and provides a grounded approach to the character, making The Penguin a fascinating character study. Gritty Atmosphere and Tone In terms of atmosphere, The Penguin maintains the same gritty, rainy aesthetic that fans loved in The Batman. Gotham’s dark, crime-ridden streets are beautifully shot, with an emphasis on realism over comic book quirkiness.
The tone of the show is grim, violent, and fraught with tension, reminiscent of neo-noir crime thrillers
Every scene is steeped in the corruption and decay of Gotham City, and danger seems to lurk in every shadow. The production design is top-notch, with sets that feel like a natural extension of Reeves’ Gotham City.