Colin Farrell Questions Return for Penguin Series
Article by August Tales
Farrell delivers a raw and riveting performance as the Penguin in The Batman. His journey reprising the notorious character for a series, however, leaves him in two minds about the future.
Farrell reveals to Total Film the emotional and physical toll of embodying the Gotham antagonist in a prolonged run. To no surprise, he admitted longing for the experience to be over by the time the cameras stopped rolling. “Don’t get me wrong – I loved it – but it started getting to me,” Farrell confessed. “By the end, anyone who’d lend me an ear got an earful about my eagerness for it to be over.” He coins the phrase “grumpy gratitude” to describe his state of mind – narrowly balancing his irritation with the transformation ordeal and his gratefulness for being part of the illustrious line-up.
Transformation Troubles
A veteran of the Penguin role through his part in The Batman (2022), Farrell exhibits acuity towards the character. Nonetheless, preparing for the series became a different ballgame altogether. “I didn’t lose myself in the character or engage in destructive behavior, but… combining Matt Reeves’s concept, Lauren LeFranc’s direction, and Mike Marino’s prosthetics and makeup work led to an intense journey,” reflects Farrell.
Donning the Penguin outfit for a second round was such an ordeal, it left Farrell unsure about his return for a second string. “Lauren inquired if I would consider coming back given the right circumstances, and I agreed, maybe in a year. But upon wrapping up, I swore I never wanted to have anything to do with that suit or headgear again,” he asserts.
The Penguin’s Future
Despite his doubts, Farrell is set to reprise the role of the Penguin in The Batman 2, slated for filming in 2024. Director Matt Reeves confirms the Penguin’s trajectory in the series feeds directly into the sequel. “[Farrell] will be part of the movie,” Reeves assures SFX magazine in their upcoming October 2024 issue. “The sequel seamlessly integrates aspects of Oz’s journey from the series without any mismatch as Batman takes on his next case.”
The Penguin, an eight-part HBO Original limited series courtesy Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios, is set to premiere on September 19, 2024, on HBO and for streaming on Max.
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