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Robert Pattinson’s cameo in “The Penguin”
Following the events of The Batman (2022), Oz Cobb, aka The Penguin, makes a play to seize control of Gotham’s criminal underworld.. Except for the bat signal in the final image of the season finale, we never got to see. In this short video, IMDb attempts to answer: Where the hell was Batman? Colin Farrell fought hard to have the Penguin smoke tobacco in The Batman (2022), but it didn’t work out. However, for his own series, the character is depicted as a casual tobacco user, with a preference for cigars..
The DC Studios logo is placed on a rainy Gotham alley
An umbrella falls and the logo changes to the Warner Bros. logo.. Featured in Graham Norton and guests: Lady Gaga/Demi Moore/Colin Farrell/Richard Ayoade/Jack Savoretti (2024). The new HBO show The Penguin, a spin-off of Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022) is an exciting dive into the criminal underworld of Gotham City. Led by Colin Farrell as the titular character Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin, this series expands on the dark and colorful tone established by the film and offers fans a fresh yet familiar experience in the Batman universe.
The series wisely avoids relying too heavily on Batman’s shadow, allowing The Penguin to truly shine as a leader
Unlike most superhero-related content, The Penguin focuses on the darker and more human elements of Gotham’s criminals, moving away from the caped crusader to highlight the rise of one of Batman’s most notorious foes. Set immediately after the events of The Batman, the series explores Penguin’s journey to fill the power vacuum left in Gotham’s criminal empire. With Carmine Falcone dead and Gotham’s infrastructure in chaos, Penguin seizes the opportunity to rise through the ranks, determined to assert his control over the city’s crime syndicates. His transformation from underboss to major crime lord is the main focus, giving The Penguin a mob drama feel more akin to The Sopranos than a traditional superhero show. Without the dominating presence of Gotham’s protector, it creates a new and interesting dynamic, where Oswald is free to operate in a morally ambiguous space.
Farrell brings layers to the character, moving beyond the stereotypical villain portrayal
This narrative shift feels fresh for the genre and adds depth to Gotham’s criminal underworld without overly focusing on the superhero show. Colin Farrell’s performance Colin Farrell’s portrayal of The Penguin is nothing short of remarkable. 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 insecurities and ambition that drive him. The Penguin is no longer just a caricature of a deformed, umbrella-wielding villain; instead, he is portrayed as a ruthless and calculating player in Gotham’s criminal hierarchy, making him both terrifying and oddly likable. His Oswald Cobblepot is shrewd, manipulative, and ready to break bones, yet he is also a man driven by a deep-seated inferiority complex and desire for respect.
The dark, crime-ridden streets of Gotham are beautifully shot, emphasizing realism over comic book extravagance
Watching him navigate the treacherous waters of Gotham’s criminal underworld is compelling and provides a solid take on the character, making The Penguin a fascinating character study. Atmosphere and Serious Tones In terms of atmosphere, The Penguin retains the same grimy, rainy aesthetic that fans have come to love in The Batman. The tone of the series is grim, violent, and tense, reminiscent of neo-noir crime thrillers. Every scene is steeped in the corruption and decay of Gotham, and it feels as if danger lurks in every shadow. The production design is top-notch, with set pieces that feel like a natural extension of Reeves’ Gotham City.