With this week’s highly anticipated premiere of The Penguin on Max, Academy Award-nominated actor Colin Farrell is stepping back into the gritty shoes of Gotham City’s mob boss, Oz Cobb, first introduced in Matt Reeves’ 2022 blockbuster The Batman. Farrell’s portrayal of The Penguin, one of DC Comics’ most notorious villains, is a fresh take on the character, which has been portrayed by many iconic actors over the decades. Among them is Danny DeVito, who gave an unforgettable performance in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns (1992).
Colin Farrell’s Friendly Banter with Danny DeVito
Before reprising his role as The Penguin, Farrell had a light-hearted exchange with DeVito, with whom he co-starred in Tim Burton’s Dumbo (2019). During a press conference in West Hollywood, Farrell shared that the two actors texted back and forth about their portrayals of the famous DC villain. “We joked about who’s the best Penguin,” Farrell laughed, noting that they’ve often shared playful banter. While there wasn’t a deep dive into acting techniques or character analysis between the two, the friendly exchanges underscored their mutual respect and humor when tackling such an iconic role.
The Legacy of The Penguin: From Danny DeVito to Colin Farrell
The Penguin is one of the most recognized characters in the Batman universe, first introduced in DC Comics in 1941. Over the years, many actors have portrayed the villain, but perhaps none more memorably than Danny DeVito’s dark and grotesque version in Batman Returns. While Farrell acknowledged watching DeVito’s performance and being a fan of Burgess Meredith’s portrayal in the 1960s Batman TV series, he said his approach to the character came from more modern and darker inspirations.
Farrell’s interpretation of Oz Cobb, also known as The Penguin, is rooted in the realism and gritty criminal underworld portrayed in The Batman. He revealed that his performance was influenced by complex characters from film and television, including Dustin Hoffman’s Ratso Rizzo from Midnight Cowboy, Robert De Niro’s Al Capone from The Untouchables, and James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano from The Sopranos.
Drawing from Dark Inspirations
For Farrell, these inspirations helped build a version of The Penguin that isn’t just a comic book villain but a deeply flawed and morally corrupt character. He explained, “All of them are in there. I’ve seen The Untouchables twice, Midnight Cowboy four times. As an actor, everything you ever see or hear—every piece of music or film—meets you in a place that gets used in your characters, in greater or lesser ways.”
The darkness of his interpretation wasn’t easy to handle. Playing such a remorseless villain took a psychological toll on the actor, leaving him feeling drained by the end of production. “By the end of it, I was grumpy because it’s so dark and he’s such a remorselessly cruel character,” Farrell admitted. “I was glad to be done.”
Coping with the Darkness: Farrell’s Unusual Escape
After portraying such a dark and complex character, Farrell found it necessary to decompress by watching something lighthearted. His solution? Pixar movies. “I’d go back to my hotel room and put on Finding Nemo,” he revealed with a chuckle. “Honest to God, Finding Nemo was the answer. I wouldn’t watch anything dark, just something light.”
This playful contrast between Farrell’s intense performance as The Penguin and his chosen method of relaxation showcases the duality actors often experience when stepping out of such mentally and emotionally draining roles.
The Penguin in the DC Universe: A Hard-Boiled Take on Gotham’s Underworld
The Penguin series, which premieres on Max (a Warner Bros. Discovery platform like CNN), offers a deep dive into the criminal underbelly of Gotham City, presenting a noir-like vision similar to Matt Reeves’ The Batman. This standalone series puts Oz Cobb at the center of the story, tracing his rise to power and the influence he holds over Gotham’s crime world.
Farrell’s Penguin is far removed from the more campy versions of the character we’ve seen in the past. His portrayal is more grounded, drawing parallels to real-world mobsters and ruthless criminals. This approach aligns with the dark, gritty tone established in Reeves’ The Batman, where Gotham is depicted as a corrupt and decaying city overrun by crime.
Conclusion: A New Chapter for The Penguin
Colin Farrell’s return as The Penguin marks a new chapter for the character in the DC Universe. With influences ranging from classic mob films to dark crime dramas, Farrell’s portrayal offers a complex and gritty interpretation of a villain that has fascinated audiences for decades. His banter with Danny DeVito highlights the respect and humor shared between actors who have both brought unique elements to the iconic role.
As the series premieres, fans will undoubtedly see a new side of The Penguin—a character shaped by darkness, ambition, and ruthless cunning. Farrell’s deep dive into the psychology of the role, combined with the creative direction of Matt Reeves, ensures that The Penguin will offer a fresh yet chilling look into Gotham’s criminal underworld.
Fact-Check Information:
- Colin Farrell first portrayed The Penguin in The Batman (2022), directed by Matt Reeves.
- Danny DeVito played The Penguin in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns (1992).
- Farrell and DeVito co-starred in Dumbo (2019), also directed by Burton.
- The Penguin series is a spin-off of The Batman and premieres on Max in 2024.
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