Colin Farrell's performance as Oswald Cobblepot, known as The Penguin, has garnered significant acclaim, culminating in his win for Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series at the 2025 Golden Globes. This victory not only highlights Farrell's talent but also bolsters the status of comic book adaptations within the prestigious award sphere.
During the awards ceremony held at the Beverly Hilton on January 7, 2025, Farrell received accolades for his portrayal, marking his third Golden Globe win overall. Farrell's previous wins were for films such as In Bruges (2008) and The Banshees of Inner Sherin (2022). With The Penguin, he led the charge of recognition for performances within the genre, exemplifying how comic book narratives have begun to be celebrated in mainstream Hollywood.
"No one to thank on this one. I did it all by myself. Just a raw, pared-away performance," Farrell humorously stated during his acceptance speech, emphasizing the collaborative nature of acting, as he quickly moved to acknowledge the countless faces behind the production.
Farrell went on to recognize the makeup and prosthetics team, among them makeup designer Mike Marino, whose work was instrumental to Farrell's transformation. He elaborated, saying, "I became a catalyst for [the makeup team's] brilliance," underscoring the labor involved, which required over three hours of extensive work to create the character's iconic look. The series, which is available to stream on Max, continues to develop the gritty atmosphere introduced by Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022) and has been positively received by audiences and critics alike.
Farrell's co-star, Cristin Milioti, also made waves with her performance, earning herself a nomination for her role as Sofia Falcone. Although she narrowly missed the award, losing to Jodie Foster for her performance in True Detective: Night Country, Milioti has been heralded for her contribution to the series.
Interestingly, The Penguin was nominated alongside esteemed productions like Baby Reindeer at the Golden Globes, representing how far comic book adaptations have come—a reflection of the changing tides within major award ceremonies. While The Penguin did not take home the award for Best Television Limited Series, the mere nomination brings valuable attention to the series and the characters within the Batman universe.
So, what's next for The Penguin? Discussions around the possibility of a second season are already heating up, with Dylan Clark, one of the executive producers, acknowledging, "There have been quiet conversations about [a second season]." This insight hints at the industry’s continued interest and investment in building out the lore of Gotham City.
Showrunner Lauren LeFranc, who has been guiding the narrative of The Penguin, expressed positivity about the series' success. She remarked, "We were meant to be a limited series, so I'm really proud of the first season and the story we made. There's more stories to tell there for sure, if we can find the right idea or characters." This sentiment aligns with Farrell's earlier interview where he conveyed hesitation about donning the character's extensive prosthetics again.
Upon finishing the eight episodes of The Penguin, Farrell noted, "When I finished, I was like, ‘I never want to put on those f–king suits and heads again.'" Nevertheless, he mentioned being open to future projects, which suggests space for more storytelling, yet only under the right circumstances.
The Penguin's successful first season, marked by audience ratings and social media buzz, has led to high expectations for any follow-up. TVLine reported receiving rare feedback for the series, highlighting its unique standing within today's television offerings. Critics have heralded both Farrell and Milioti, placing them among the voices to look out for as awards season continues.
The excitement surrounding potential new stories set within Gotham gives fans hope for more explorations of its complex characters and dark narratives. Despite the uncertainty of whether The Penguin will be gracing screens again soon, the groundwork laid by the first season certainly sets the bar high for what could come next.