Key points
- Starring Farrell, “The Penguin” is a dark drama that fits into “The Batman” universe.
- Farrell reveals he watched Pixar films to cope with the darkness of his role.
- Fans appreciated Farrell's performance, making “The Penguin” a promising show.
The Penguin may have just started on linear TV and streaming, but it's already made a significant impression on viewers who tuned in for the first episode, and the show's protagonist reveals it's made an impact on him, too.
The Penguin is the most recent DC film to hit the screen, starring Colin Farrell in the eponymous role and chronicling his rise to power after the events of director Matt Reeves' brilliant work on The Batman in 2022. The show was intentionally made to fit into Reeves' own universe The Batman, serving as a direct sequel to that film and a bridge between it and the upcoming sequel film Batman: Part II. The show debuted on September 19 to almost entirely positive reviews from fans and critics, with special mention made to the characterization and world-building of a down-to-earth Gotham City.
Central for positive receptions The Penguin received is Farrell's performance in the lead role, bringing his Oz Cobb to the forefront with a compelling darkness and grit that really sells the role and the show. However, the star revealed that this electrifying performance wasn't easy to pull off, and he had to take some very interesting actions to help him deal with the dark tone and strenuous darkness that the role required. “I watched Toy Story,” Farrell admitted of filming The Penguin with the Associated Press. “I would go watch Pixar movies at the end of the workday just for something light and nice.”
The attitude that Farrell brought to the role, as well as his totally anatomically correct prosthetic suit for the lead role, helped immensely to start things off on a good note. The need to mope is understandable, and it's encouraging that Pixar films managed to do the trick. Farrell also benefited greatly from the tone of his next project, which gave him a panacea for all the negativity he had to absorb for his role in DC. “It was actually a lovely piece of work. It was upbeat, light-hearted and focused on healing The Penguin it's about damage and darkness and pessimism,” Farrell explained. “I mean, this is a really almost nihilistic piece of drama – this eight hours of the Penguin show. It was a good antidote.” Although he did not specify this in the interview, reports suggest that the project in question is likely A big, bold and beautiful journey, a lighthearted fantasy romance set to premiere in 2025.
While there is a long list of Batman villains who could be the stars of a show, The Penguin retroactively proved that Farrell's character was the right choice. His dedication to the role has been evident from the series' first scene, and discovering the kind of coping mechanism needed to overcome the character study that is his Oz Cobb makes the effort that much easier to appreciate.
The show's strong start has garnered an almost guarantee that fans will be invested in the rest of the season, whether or not Batman makes an appearance before the end of the series. It's not entirely clear when Farrell will once again be called upon to reprise his soon-to-be-iconic role, but when that time comes, there could be some new Pixar films to help him get through the filming process.
The Penguin is available to stream on Max and linear TV every Sunday on HBO.
Source: Associated Press
