Colin Farrell Returns as the Penguin in "The Penguin" Premiering This Week
Oscar-nominated actor Colin Farrell is set to reprise his role as Oz Cobb in the highly anticipated series "The Penguin," which premieres this Thursday on Max. The character, a hardened and ambitious mobster, made his first appearance in last year’s blockbuster "The Batman."
This iteration of The Penguin is part of the wider DC Comics universe and pays homage to a character that has been portrayed by several actors over the years. Danny DeVito’s memorable portrayal in Tim Burton’s 1992 film "Batman Returns" remains a standout among the various adaptations.
Prior to stepping back into the role, Farrell revealed he reached out to DeVito, with whom he starred in 2019’s "Dumbo," also directed by Burton. “We shared a few texts back and forth about the character, but it was more to joke around about who’s the best Penguin,” Farrell stated, highlighting their playful rapport.
“The Penguin” sets itself apart by offering a gritty examination of Gotham City’s criminal underworld, positioning Farrell’s morally ambiguous character at its center. He acknowledged that while he admired DeVito and Burgess Meredith’s performances, his interpretation of The Penguin draws inspiration from more somber sources. Notable influences include Dustin Hoffman’s Ratso Rizzo from "Midnight Cowboy," Robert De Niro’s Al Capone in "The Untouchables," and James Gandolfini from "The Sopranos."
“Like, I’ve seen ‘Untouchables’ twice, I’ve seen ‘Midnight Cowboy’ four times,” Farrell noted. “Anything, as an actor, anything you ever see, any piece of music you ever hear, it all kind of meets you inside in a place that gets used, gets filtered through every single character you do in lesser or greater ways.”
However, embracing such a dark character was not without its challenges. Farrell described the emotional toll the role took on him, admitting, “By the end of it I was grumpy because it’s so dark and he’s such a remorselessly cruel character. I was in a bit of a funk by the end. I was glad to be done.”
To combat this mental strain, Farrell found solace in lighter fare after shooting wrapped up. “I watched Pixar films. I’d go back to my hotel room, put on ‘Finding Nemo.’ On my life, I had to watch light stuff,” he shared, emphasizing his need to avoid darker material during this time.
“The Penguin” premieres on Max this Thursday, which is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, the same parent company as CNN. Fans can look forward to an intense exploration of one of DC Comics’ most notorious villains, brought to life once again by Farrell.
