38/28

The DC Studios logo is placed in a rainy Gotham alleyway

Line of Events

Following the events of The Batman (2022), Oz Cobb, aka The Penguin, is trying to take over Gotham’s criminal underworld. Aside from a Bat-Signal in the final shot of the season finale, we never got our Robert Pattinson cameo in “The Penguin.” This short film from IMDb tries to answer: Where the hell was Batman?. Colin Farrell fought tooth and nail to get his version of The Penguin to smoke tobacco in The Batman (2022), but he failed. However, in his own series, the character is depicted as an occasional tobacco user, preferring cigars. An umbrella falls and the logo changes to the Warner Bros.

Appears in The Graham Norton Show: Lady Gaga/Demi Moore/Colin Farrell/Richard Ayoade/Jack Savoretti (2024)

logo. HBO’s new series The Penguin, a spin-off from Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022), is a thrilling dive into Gotham City’s criminal underworld. Directed by Colin Farrell as the titular character Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin, the series expands on the dark, noir tone established by the film and offers fans a fresh, yet familiar experience in the Batman universe. Unlike most superhero content, The Penguin focuses on the darker, more human elements of Gotham’s criminals, moving away from the caped crusader to shed light on the rise of one of Batman’s most iconic foes. Set immediately after the events of The Batman, the series explores The Penguin’s journey to fill the power vacuum left in Gotham’s criminal empire.

Colin Farrell’s performance Colin Farrell’s portrayal of the Penguin is simply extraordinary

Following the death of Carmine Falcone and the chaos of Gotham’s infrastructure, the Penguin seizes the opportunity to climb the ranks, determined to take control of the city’s crime syndicates. His transformation from underling to kingpin is a primary goal, giving the Penguin a mob drama feel more akin to The Sopranos than a traditional superhero show. The series wisely avoids relying too much on Batman’s shadow, allowing the Penguin to truly shine as the protagonist. Without the overpowering presence of Gotham’s protector, it creates a new and interesting dynamic in which Oswald is free to operate in a morally ambiguous space. This narrative shift feels refreshing for the genre and adds depth to the world of Gotham’s crime without becoming too focused on superhero spectacle.

Farrell adds layers to the character, going beyond the stereotypical portrayal of a villain

Physically unrecognizable in his prosthetic makeup, Farrell fully inhabits the character with a nuanced performance that balances the brutality of a mob boss with the insecurity and ambition that drives him. The Penguin is no longer just a caricature of a deformed villain with an umbrella; instead, he is presented as a ruthless, calculating player in Gotham’s criminal hierarchy, making him both terrifying and strangely likeable. His Oswald Cobblepot is cunning, manipulative, and ready to break bones, but he is also a man driven by a deep-seated inferiority complex and a thirst for respect. Watching him navigate the treacherous waters of Gotham’s criminal underworld is fascinating and provides a grounded approach to the character that makes The Penguin a compelling character study. Dark Atmosphere and Tone When it comes to atmosphere, The Penguin maintains the same dark and rainy aesthetic that fans have come to love in The Batman.

The tone of the series is grim, brutal and tense, reminiscent of neo-noir crime thrillers

The dark, crime-ridden streets of Gotham are beautifully filmed, with an emphasis on realism over comic book extravagance. Every scene is permeated with the corruption and decay of Gotham, and it seems that danger lurks in every shadow. The production design is top-notch, with set pieces that feel like a natural extension of Reeves’ Gotham City.