Comic-Con 2024: ‘The Penguin’ Panel

Producer Matt Reeves, showrunner Lauren LeFranc and various cast were on hand physically to provide more details about the first spin-off for ‘The Batman’.

Preview:

‘The Penguin’ had new footage to show at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con event.
Star Colin Farrell and executive producer/‘The Batman’ director Matt Reeves were among those attending (Farrell via video).
The show is a spin-off of 2022’s ‘The Batman’.

‘The Penguin’ might not have had the most promising start at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, making headlines after an immersive “activation” event based on a nightclub from the HBO series for press and the cast was evacuated on Friday night when a fire broke out. No one was hurt, but the big question, of course –– did anyone check to see whether a cowled individual was involved, and were they carrying a Bat Fire Kit?

Regardless, some of the creative team, including ‘The Batman’ director Matt Reeves (who is a producer on the show), actors Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, showrunner Lauren LeFranc and producer and Dylan Clark –– plus star Colin Farrell, live via video link from Macau, showed up on Saturday afternoon at its panel in Hall H to talk up the show, which continues the story of Farrell’s criminal schemer Oz Cobb from ‘The Batman.’

What’s the story of ‘The Penguin’?

Colin Farrell as Oswald "Oz" Cobb in Max's 'The Penguin.' Photo: Courtesy of Max.

The series, which has been described as in the style of classic crime drama ‘Scarface’, will pick up the story of Farrell’s character as he rises to power in Gotham City. Mild spoiler alert in case you’ve yet to see ‘The Batman’, but part of the movie’s plot involves Oz’s bosses either dying or heading to jail, leaving him a path to achieve his aims.

Yet given that there’s a whole series to fill with this story, we doubt the road will be an easy one. And there’s still that pesky Caped Crusader lurking around (even if Batman likely wouldn’t appear much if at all in the show).

Farrell’s character will face off against other notorious Gotham crime bosses, including Salvatore Moroni, played by Clancy Brown.

Clancy Brown in Max's 'The Penguin.' Photo: Courtesy of Max.

One of Carmine Falcone’s chief rivals, he’ll be back on the streets for the series and ready to make his move now that he's no longer at the mercy of Falcone (who, again spoiler alert, died in ‘The Batman’).

The Cast also includes Milioti as Carmine’s daughter Sofia Falcone, with Shohreh Aghdashloo, Michael Kelly, Dierdre O’Connell, Michael Zegen, Feliz and Theo Rossi rounding out the main cast.

The Penguin

"The city will be his."

TV-MA1 SeasonsSeptember 19th, 2024

Witness the The Penguin's rise to power in Gotham's criminal underworld in the aftermath of the Riddler killings. Read the Plot

What did we learn from ‘The Penguin’ panel?

Cristin Milioti in Max's 'The Penguin.' Photo: Courtesy of Max.

According to Reeves, Farrell’s Cobb was going to be a focus of the movie sequel to ‘The Batman’ (which the filmmaker is busy writing), but HBO bosses asked for a marquee character for the first spin-off show, and so the decision was made to use the series to bridge between the two movies and explore more about his rise to power.

Farrell reveals he was hesitant to take on the role for the first movie but was convinced by Reeves and especially delighted by the look of the character, keying in how to play the role and his background from the first sculpt he was shown.

For her part, showrunner LeFranc said her take on the character’s story was inspired by a corrupt mayor in Rhode Island, who was nevertheless hailed as a pillar of the community for the help he provided to people. She said there are no heroes in this series –– everyone is operating in shades of gray.

(L to R) Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti in Max's 'The Penguin.' Photo: Courtesy of Max.

And LeFranc also talked up the idea that Sofia Falcone in the show is very different from how she’s been portrayed previously in the comics, praising what Milioti brought to the role.

Reeves admitted that ‘The Godfather’s Fredo and Harvey Weinstein were among his inspirations for the character.

Feliz plays Victor Aguilar, a new character created for the show, and one designed to give us a fresh way into Oz’s story through his connection with the wannabe crime boss.

Colin Farrell as Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot in Max's 'The Penguin.'

Colin Farrell as Oswald "Oz" Cobb in Max's 'The Penguin.' Photo: Courtesy of Max.

According to the team, Oz and Sophia Falcone mirror each other, but are on two sides of the series and Gotham’s fate is in the balance.

And if you were wondering whether Oz’s story is wrapped up in the limited series, Reeves confirmed that he will in fact be back on the big screen for ‘The Batman - Part II’, which kicks off filming next year ahead of its planned 2026 release.

What other Batman news broke at Comic-Con?

'Batman: Caped Crusader'. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

The news for on-screen Batman –– and particularly The Penguin –– wasn’t limited to the ‘Penguin’ panel, as the presentation for animated series ‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ (also produced by Reeves, alongside Batman animation legend Bruce Timm) revealed that Minnie Driver is playing Oswalda Cobblepot, a female take on the character, who will sing in the show.