Colin Farrell is almost unrecognisable in his latest role as Oswald Cobblepot, otherwise known as The Penguin, in Matt Reeves’ The Batman.
His version of the character is a million miles away from Danny DeVito’s depiction in Batman Returns in 1992 and is more reminiscent of the ruthless mob boss seen in the Batman: Arkham games from Rocksteady Studios.
Anyone who enjoyed playing those games will appreciate the ferocity that the Irish actor brought to the iconic villain in the 2022 offering from DC Films.
What do Audiences Expect from the Penguin?
Batman has famously faced a vast variety of foes ever since he first appeared in DC Comics’ Detective Comics in 1939. However, a few mainstays have shown up more frequently than the others.
The Penguin is one of the staples of Gotham City, and fans of the Caped Crusader have come to expect the notorious gangster to exist in whatever version of Batman they are either reading or viewing.
One thing that’s notable about the Penguin is that his appearance has changed drastically over time and hasn’t been consistent. He is known to have a monocle and often wears a tuxedo, but other aspects can be altered.
According to an infographic from ExpressVPN, the main thing that remains the same about the character is that he has ruthless business acumen. Actors and filmmakers have then brought their own ideas about the villain to the screen.
In Tim Burton’s Batman Returns, DeVito’s Penguin was an exaggerated pantomime villain, and he had an obscure backstory of having been raised in the sewers of Gotham. This cartoony version would have looked out of place in Reeves’ The Batman, and Farrell did a marvellous job of making the character darker and more serious.
How Does Farrell’s Penguin Compare to the Arkham Version?
The Batman: Arkham games from Rocksteady Studios are widely considered to be the best superhero titles ever made, and the developers did their best to include all the most important villains in Gotham.
The Penguin was played by Nolan North in Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Origins, and Batman: Arkham Knight in 2011, 2013, and 2015 respectively. In those games, the mobster was an intimidating foe to the Caped Crusader, and he had a commanding presence on screen.
Farrell’s version of the Penguin has a lot of similarities with North’s portrayal, especially in the savagery the Irishman brought to the role. They are also quite alike in appearance, with Farrell wearing a custom-made fat suit in the picture.
As covered by the New York Post, the makeup department also did excellent work in making the character’s face look scarred and ravaged through violence. Although Farrell didn’t have a major role in The Batman, he is likely to appear again in future instalments. There is also a planned series on HBO Max, according to Variety.
Ever since Arkham Knight marked the end of the Batman: Arkham series, players have missed the immersive and engaging world of the legendary games. Farrell’s turn as the Penguin gives people a chance to enjoy a version of the character that’s reminiscent of North’s interpretation in the Arkham games.
