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Robert Pattinson cameo in “The Penguin”
Narrative
After the events of The Batman (2022), Oz Cobb, aka The Penguin, makes a play to take over the criminal underworld in Gotham. Aside from a bat signal in the final shot of the season finale, we never got ours. In this short video, IMDb tries to answer: Where the hell was Batman?. Colin Farrell fought hard to get his version of The Penguin to smoke a cigarette in The Batman (2022), but failed. In his own series, however, the character is depicted as a casual smoker who favors cigars. The DC Studios logo is set in a rainy Gotham alley.
The umbrella falls and the logo changes to the Warner Bros
logo. Appearing on Graham Norton i gosti: Lady Gaga/Demi Moore/Colin Farrell/Richard Ayoade/Jack Savoretti (2024). The new HBO show The Penguin, a spin-off from Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022) is a thrilling dive into the criminal underworld of Gotham City. Directed by Colin Farrell as the titular character Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin, this series expands on the gritty, raucous tone of the film and offers fans a fresh yet familiar experience of 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 and highlighting the rise of one of Batman’s most notorious foes. Set immediately after the events of The Batman, the series explores the Penguin’s journey to fill the void left in the empire.
Gotham’s criminal empire
With Carmine Falcone dead and Gotham’s infrastructure in chaos, Penguin seizes the opportunity to rise through the ranks with a determination to seize control of the city’s criminal gangs. His transformation from underboss to major crime lord is the primary focus, giving Penguin a mafia drama feel that’s more akin to The Sopranos than a traditional superhero show. The show cleverly avoids relying too much on Batman’s shadow, allowing Penguin to truly shine as the lead. Without the overbearing presence of Gotham’s protector, it creates a new and interesting 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 underworld without focusing too much on superhero drama. Colin Farrell’s performance Colin Farrell’s performance as Penguin is nothing short of remarkable.
Farrell is physically unrecognizable in his prosthetics
He completely inhabits the character with a nuanced performance that balances the mob boss’s brutality with the insecurities and ambition that drive him. Penguin is no longer just a caricature of a deformed, umbrella-wielding villain; instead, he is portrayed as a ruthless, calculating player in Gotham’s criminal hierarchy, making him both terrifying and oddly sympathetic. Farrell brings layers to the character and moves beyond the stereotypical villain portrayal. His Oswald Cobblepot is intelligent, manipulative, and ready to break bones, but he is also a man driven by a deep-seated inferiority complex and desire for respect. Seeing 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. Rough Atmosphere and Tone In terms of atmosphere, The Penguin maintains the same rough and rainy aesthetic that fans have come to love in Batman.
The dark, crime-ridden streets of Gotham are beautifully depicted, emphasizing realism over comic book grandeur
The tone of the show is dark, violent, and full of suspense, reminiscent of neo-noir crime thrillers. Every scene is filled with Gotham’s corruption and decay, and it feels like danger lurks in every shadow. The production design is top-notch, and the sets feel like a natural extension of Reeves’ Gotham City.
