HBO has made it official as Colin Farrell will play Oswald Cobblepot in the character’s upcoming HBO Max series called The Penguin, which is a spin-off of the recently released The Batman.
“The world that Matt Reeves created for The Batman is one that warrants a deeper gaze through the eyes of Oswald Cobblepot,” Farrell stated of his involvement. “I couldn’t be more excited about continuing this exploration of Oz as he rises through the darkened ranks to become The Penguin. Will be good to get him back on the streets of Gotham for a little madness and a little mayhem.”
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The series will focus on Cobblepot’s past and show his rise to power in Gotham’s seedy underbelly rather than him as the established kingpin. Farrell will also executive produce the series. The character has a rich history of live-action appearances as Danny DeVito famously played Penguin in Batman Returns and Robin Lord Taylor portrays him in Gotham.
“I have long been a fan of the world of The Batman, and Matt’s film is such a powerful and bold entry into the canon,” showrunner Lauren LeFranc said. “I am excited and humbled to continue telling stories in the grimy world of Gotham City — and what better excuse to channel my inner villain than to tell the story of Oswald Cobblepot?”
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The upcoming The Penguin series will be executive produced by The Batman‘s Dylan Clark and Matt Reeves, Farrell, Daniel Pipski, Adam Kassanand, and LeFranc. It is a joint project between 6th and Idaho, DC Entertainment, Dylan Clark Productions, and Warner Bros. Television.
