The world of comic book adaptations is buzzing with excitement, especially with the recent developments surrounding Colin Farrell's portrayal of the infamous villain, The Penguin. This character, long known to fans of Batman, is having another moment in the spotlight with Farrell's much-anticipated spin-off series set to debut on HBO. But what really has everyone talking is not just Farrell’s performance, but the playful back-and-forth he’s had with previous Penguin actor Danny DeVito.
Colin Farrell, who you might recognize from films like The Banshees of Insherin, is stepping back as Oz Cobblepot, the morally dubious mobster introduced to audiences in 2022’s The Batman directed by Matt Reeves. And let’s not forget the iconic portrayal by DeVito back in 1992's Batman Returns, directed by Tim Burton, which has left its mark on countless fans.
With the air thick with anticipation as we inch closer to the series premiere on September 19, 2024, Farrell recently opened up about his chats with DeVito, expressing admiration for his predecessor’s take on the character. Speaking to Extra, he revealed, 'Me and Danny shared a couple of texts back and forth, nothing serious about talking about the character, just little slags. He’s super supportive; DeVito? He’s magic, man.'
But it isn’t all camaraderie. DeVito, never shy about sharing his views, claimed, 'He still thinks his Penguin is superior to mine.' Farrell, amused by this claim, asked the audience not to view it as something with absolute measurements—lucky for them, the debate continues!
Colin hasn't hesitated to express his respect for DeVito, recalling how he grew up watching the older actor’s performance. "Danny DeVito's Oswald Cobblepot was so amazing; he was just so otherworldly. You could feel human frailty and ambition wrapped up together. He’s got this darkness inside him, and it just made the character pop off the screen!" These words reflect how deeply both actors have invested themselves in the role, albeit from different eras of film.
The upcoming series promises fans of the franchise something exciting, digging deep beneath the surface of Cobblepot’s shady dealings and providing insights about his character's psyche. 'We're going to really get to understand why he is the way he is,' Farrell explained, shedding light on the narrative direction the spin-off is taking.
Filming the series has proved to be quite the emotional rollercoaster for Farrell. Being immersed in the dark nature of the Penguin's world led him to feel somewhat grumpy by the time the shoot wrapped up. He humorously mentioned, 'I was glad to be done.' To combat the gloom, he found solace in happier escape routes—watching Pixar films like Finding Nemo when the cameras weren’t rolling. "On my life, I had to watch light stuff. After each shoot, I just needed something uplifting. I turned to light materials to shake off all the dark vibes from filming. It was almost like hitting reset!"
With the arrival of the new series, viewers will get to see Farrell’s Penguin come to life not only as a figure steeped in crime but also as someone wrestling with his troubled past and ambitions. The narrative will follow Cobblepot, as he battles rival crime families—the Falcones and Maronis—while attempting to establish himself firmly on the underworld throne of Gotham City.
The series aims to explore the complicated relationships Cobblepot fosters, especially with his mother, adding to the character's depth. Farrell shared insight about the script saying, 'The writing really captures his psychology and how he navigates the world. It gives us space to understand Cobblepot intimately and explore these complex relationships.'
The role transformation was so significant for Farrell—a daily three-hour ordeal to bring Cobblepot to screen—that he ended up going incognito on set. Many crew members, struggling to recognize him outside of his character's heavy makeup, couldn’t believe he was actually the same person they had been working with all year. It's wild to think how much of his presence was engulfed by the character he was portraying.
Fingers crossed the series will strike the right balance between light and dark, much like Gotham itself, which thrives on chaos. The mix of Farrell's gritty portrayal and DeVito's legacy seems poised to create a thrilling viewing experience, even as fans debate who wore the Penguin mantle best.
After the psychological depths explored and the emotional heaviness of Farrell’s portrayal, it’ll be fascinating to see how audiences respond when The Penguin hits screens. Perhaps as discussions spark over which interpretation reigned supreme, both actors can take pride knowing they have become integral threads woven tightly within the larger Gotham story.
For everyone eager to compare insights on the old vs. the new, the chatter is bound to resurface once the series airs, giving fans the chance to reassess the legacy of The Penguin, which has both delighted and disturbed audiences for decades.
