Comic-Con transformed into a living, breathing Gotham City for the highly anticipated panel of DC's "The Penguin," gracing the esteemed Hall H. Though the star of the show, Colin Farrell, couldn't physically grace the stage, he beamed in virtually via Zoom, joining forces with director Matt Reeves, co-stars Cristin Milioti and Rhenzy Feliz, and the ingenious makeup designer Mike Marino for an insightful discussion on this Batman spin-off series.
The freshly unveiled trailer painted a vivid picture of Farrell's iconic Penguin, ruthlessly navigating the treacherous underworld of Gotham through a barrage of bullets and blades. Scenes of him unleashing uzis upon unsuspecting vehicles and monopolizing the drug trade from the shadows of his exclusive Iceberg Lounge club left the audience breathless. Meanwhile, Sofia Falcone (portrayed by Milioti), the heir to the notorious Falcone crime dynasty, emerges from Arkham Asylum, poised and determined to challenge Penguin's grip on Gotham.
"This world isn't designed for the virtuous to thrive," Penguin proclaims in the trailer, his voice laced with cynicism. "America, it's all about the hustle." Farrell, himself, showered praise on Marino's groundbreaking prosthetics, which seamlessly transformed him into the menacing Penguin. Marino revealed that the character's portly silhouette and scarred visage were subtly inspired by Harvey Weinstein's enigmatic persona and the poignant image of injured birds.
"Oz is a character shrouded in mystery, yearning for recognition and a chance to transcend his limitations," Marino eloquently stated on stage, highlighting his previous collaborations with Farrell. "I've always believed Colin possesses the ideal canvas for makeup magic. With his petite nose, every stroke enhances rather than detracts. He's truly a masterpiece in the making."
"The Penguin," a gripping eight-episode series, is poised to make its dazzling debut on HBO on September 19th, continuing the thrilling saga from Reeves' "The Batman" where Farrell's astonishing villainous metamorphosis left audiences stunned. Set just a week after the film's climatic conclusion, this spin-off delves into the shadowy depths of Gotham City's criminal underworld, centered around Oz Cobb, alias the Penguin – a notorious crime lord with a deadly umbrella fetish and a formidable presence in the city's dark underbelly.
As the Penguin ascends to even greater power amidst the chaos left in the wake of "The Batman," the series meticulously charts his cunning exploits and ruthless rise. Farrell's prosthetics-laden performance in the film garnered widespread acclaim from critics and comic book enthusiasts alike, promising an equally captivating portrayal in this standalone series.
The star-studded cast brings to life a tapestry of complex characters, including Milioti as Sofia Falcone, Feliz as the Penguin's youthful and loyal driver, Victor Aguilar, Michael Kelly as the formidable Falcone crime family patriarch, Johnny Vitti, and Shohreh Aghdashloo as the enigmatic Nadia Maroni. Deirdre O'Connell portrays Francis Cobb, while Clancy Brown takes on the role of mob boss Salvatore Maroni, adding further depth to the criminal landscape. James Madio, Scott Cohen, Michael Zegen, Theo Rossi, and Carmen Ejogo round out the ensemble, each bringing their unique flair to characters like Milos Grapa, Luca Falcone, Alberto Falcone, Julian Rush, and Eve Karlo respectively.
In the thrilling conclusion of 2022's "The Batman," the Riddler's (Paul Dano) diabolical plan succeeds, decimating Gotham's seawall with a devastating barrage of bombs, inundating the city with water. Amidst the chaos, Robert Pattinson's Batman triumphs, capturing the villain and rescuing mayor-elect Bella Reál from the Riddler's assassins. The Penguin, however, narrowly escapes the wreckage, leaving Gotham's crime syndicate in a state of flux following the demise of John Turturro's mob boss, Carmine Falcone, at the hands of the Riddler. This power vacuum sets the stage for a new era of criminal dominance, with the Penguin poised to seize control.
