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Tag: the penguin

  • What to Expect from the Future of the DCU and When To Expect It

    What to Expect from the Future of the DCU and When To Expect It

    Beginning in 2024, James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Studios will launch the DC Universe. In an effort to make more cohesive shared universe, the DCU will connect streaming series, video games and films through narrative threads. Though Gunn and Safran are building a new, interconnected continuity, there will still be DC projects produced outside of this continuity (such as Matt Reeves Batman Epic Crime Saga) under the Elseworlds banner.

    What’s next for DC Studios? Who’s recently joined the cast of your most anticipated series or film? Where can you find the teasers and trailers? Look no further, true believers. Everything you need to know about the future of the DCU has been collected for you here. Click on each logo to learn what we currently know about the upcoming DCU projects.

    Chapter One: Gods and Monsters

    Elseworlds

    Projects set outside of the main DCU continuity, the Elseworld projects allow artists to tell stories without attempting to weave them into the DCU’s narrative tapestry.

  • Review: ‘The Penguin’, Episode 1 -“After Hours”

    Review: ‘The Penguin’, Episode 1 -“After Hours”

    When Matt Reeves‘ The Batman hit theaters in 2022, it was clear that the Gotham which Robert Pattinson‘s Batman sought to protect had a long, dark and sordid past. Corruption ran so deep in Gotham that it might rightly be believed to be a cornerstone of the great city. So strong was the foothold of organized crime in Gotham that the crime families and their goons were entitled and emboldened to carry out their crimes while still considering themselves good men.

    Despite being as warped as the foot that caused his Penguin pimp limp, Falcone family capo Oz Cobb believed himself to be one of those good men. Colin Farrell’s portrayal of Oz in The Batman demanded a follow-up performance which has now hit Max in the form of the limited streaming series, The Penguin. And the series pulls no punches about its lead character nor does it provide any quarter for a man who finds himself in a mess of his own making.

    If The Penguin weren’t known to be a spinoff set in Reeves‘ Batman Epic Crime Saga, it would be as unrecognizable as a comic book-based property as its star is in the lead role. The Penguin shares far more in common with any number of HBO’s prestige crime dramas and Episode 1, “After Hours”, embraces that legacy. It goes full gangster right away and it looks as though the series will benefit from its forthright approach as an exploration of the world of organized crime and the types of people who inhabit it.

    Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.
    -Salvador Dali

    Central to Episode 1 and presumably the series are Farrell‘s Cobb and Cristin Milioti‘s Sofia Falcone. Oz wastes no time in unintentionally making an enemy out of Sofia and much of the first episode is spent with Oz apparently spinning his wheels. However, the true brilliance of the episode comes in its closing moments. In his own words, Cobb knows he inhabits a world of big men who need to believe he’s small…and so he allows them their fantasies, using his rough appearance and demeanor to serve as a facade for an ingenious criminal mind. And by episode’s end, Cobb has engineered the rise of the Maroni family he once took down and set himself up as all nut untouchable.

    Thematically, ambition is at the episode’s core and from Cobb’s words to his new partner in crime, Vic, to the 9 to 5 needle drop, there’s no chance it can be forgotten. Cobb’s ambition is second to none and now, with his brilliant mind free to cook, his time has come. Every bit as ambitious as its title character, The Penguin is as intelligent, violent and grounded in the human condition as the great HBO dramas it aspires to be.

  • Episode Titles & Runtimes for the First Four Episodes of ‘The Penguin’ Have Leaked

    Episode Titles & Runtimes for the First Four Episodes of ‘The Penguin’ Have Leaked

    As DC Studios’ co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran continue putting the finishing touches on Creature Commandos, the first project of the all-new, all-different DCU era, one of the studio’s Elseworlds projects that survived that change in direction at the WBD is nearing its premiere. The Penguin–an interquel to Matt Reeves‘ The Batman and The Batman Part II–will debut on HBO and Max on Thursday, September 19th, with new episodes then debuting on Sunday nights beginning on September 29th.

    This thrilling crime drama follows Oswald “Oz” Cobb’s quest for control in Gotham City. With the city in peril following the seawall’s collapse, Oz (Oscar® nominee Colin Farrell) seeks to fill the power vacuum left by the death of Carmine Falcone and finally give his mother Francis (Deirdre O’Connell) the life he’s always promised. But first, Oz must confront his enemies, including Carmine’s children, Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) and Alberto Falcone (Michael Zegen); the Maroni family, led by their imprisoned patriarch, Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown); and Oz’s own demoralizing reputation as “The Penguin.”

    -Official Synopsis for The Penguin

    Part of The Epic Batman Crime Saga, The Penguin is an eight-episode series that follows Colin Farrell‘s Oz through the immediate aftermath of the events of The Batman. With the series premiere just around the corner, members of the media have begun screening early episodes and, as a result, the titles and runtimes of the first four episodes of the series have leaked.

    Nothing about the episode titles for showrunner Lauren LeFranc’s series seems too spoilery; however, the episode lengths are fairly notable. Whereas Marvel Studios is often criticized by fans for rolling out streaming episodes that are too short, HBO is giving The Penguin the prestige treatment, with runtimes similar to series such as House of the Dragon or True Detective. As revealed by runtime go-to-guy Cryptic HD Quality, the first episode of The Penguin will eclipse the hour mark while each of the next three will come in just under it.

    With the follow-up to 2022’s The Batman set to enter into production next year and not expected in theaters until 2026, The Penguin looks to be serving up an impressive 8ish hours of content to bridge the gap!

    About The Penguin

    Starring Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb (aka The Penguin), the eight-episode HBO Original limited series from DC Studios continues the epic crime saga that filmmaker Matt Reeves began with the global blockbuster The Batman. The cast also includes Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, James Madio, Scott Cohen, Michael Zegen, Carmen Ejogo and Theo Rossi.

    Based on characters created for DC by Bob Kane with Bill Finger, The Penguin is produced by 6th & Idaho Productions and Dylan Clark Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Executive producers, Matt Reeves, Dylan Clark, Colin Farrell, Lauren LeFranc, Craig Zobel, Bill Carraro, and Daniel Pipski; writer and showrunner, Lauren LeFranc.

  • Mark Strong Confirmed to Appear in a Mystery Role in ‘The Penguin’

    Mark Strong Confirmed to Appear in a Mystery Role in ‘The Penguin’

    In a now-deleted Instagram post, Mark Strong‘s personal trainer, Giacomo Farci, confirmed that the star has a role in the upcoming MAX streaming series, The Penguin. While it’s not the first time the actor’s name has been associated with the project, Farci’s comments are much more believable than when Strong was listed as part of the cast on IMDB a couple of months ago. Now, the real question is, of course, who will the actor be playing?

    With Shazam! baddie Doctor Sivana and Green Lantern goober Sinestro among the roles on his resume, Strong already has a notable history portraying DC villains. While there’s no indication by Farci who Strong will be playing in The Penguin, it seems more likely than not that it will be yet another villain given what’s known about the project. Given that the streaming series will serve to bridge the gap between 2022’s The Batman and 2026’s The Batman Part II, it’s also possible Strong’s character could appear in the Matt Reeves‘-helmed sequel and though he didn’t share the identity of Strong’s character, Farci did leave one hint for fans to decipher.

    When asked which character his client was playing, Farci said he was unable to answer the question but then encouraged the fan who posed the question to “watch Gotham” which he then said was “a good series for DC lovers.” Then, to make sure the fan caught the hint, Farci capped off the sentence with a cute winky face emoji.

    Over 5 seasons, the Fox series Gotham used a whole slew of villains from Batman’s rogues gallery. Some of those make more sense for Strong than others, such as psychopath Victor Zsasz, Mr. Freeze, Hugo Strange or even Clayface; however, given that The Penguin seems very mob-centric, it’s also possible Strong might play any number of mafioso types who could be vying for power after Carmine Falcone’s death. We’ll all find out together when The Penguin streams on MAX later this year.

  • First Look at Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone from the Set of ‘The Penguin’

    First Look at Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone from the Set of ‘The Penguin’

    The HBO Max streaming series The Penguin will see Colin Farrell suit back up as Oz Cobblepot and navigate a Gotham in chaos following the events of 2022’s The Batman. It’s been reported that the series will take place almost immediately after the final act of The Batman and a new batch of set photos may prove just that.

    The new photos not only provide the first clear look at Cristin Milioti‘s Sofia Falcone but also seem to be taken outside of a church. Sofia’s father, Gotham crime boss Carmine Falcone, was murdered in The Batman so it’s possible the scene filmed today is his funeral. The photos also seem to confirm that Berto Colon has joined the cast as an associate of Falcone’s.

    Farrell was on set for the potential funeral as well. Given Cobblepot’s less than stellar opinion of Falcone and his involvement with him on the night of his death, it’s safe to assume he won’t be getting along well with Sofia and her brother Alberto, played by Michael Zegan.

    https://twitter.com/assisteagora/status/1638247442641481750?t=ImtVzM9oJ740ueR9LgGjDA&s=19

    The Penguin currently has no time table for release but should be ready to stream by mid-2024.

  • Scott Cohen, James Madio and Michael Zegan Join Colin Farrell in ‘The Penguin’

    Scott Cohen, James Madio and Michael Zegan Join Colin Farrell in ‘The Penguin’

    The HBO Max series The Penguin has added to its cast as it moves through the early stages of production. The series, set in Matt Reeves‘ Gotham-verse, will see Colin Farrell’s Oswald Cobblepot navigate the organized crime scene which was greatly disrupted by the death of Carmine Falcone in The Batman and a few more gangsters have joined the party.

    According to Variety, Michael Zegan has joined the production as Alberto Falcone, son of the late Carmine and brother to Sofia, played by Cristin Milioti. Alberto and Sofia are likely to serve as antagonists to The Penguin’s opportunism. Scott Cohen and James Madio are reported to have joined the cast as well, though their roles were not revealed; however, often times when bulk castings are announced, the talent involved ends up working a significant amount of time working together on the project.

    The Penguin marks the first of multiple projects and sequels planned by Reeves within the Gotham introduced in 2022’s The Batman. The projects all survived the purge that followed the announcement of James Gunn and Peter Safran‘s new DC Studios and will be produced under an Elseworlds banner which will signify that they stand apart from the main DCU continuity.

    Source: Variety

  • Leaked Set Photos Show Colin Farrell’s Oz Back in Action in ‘The Penguin’

    Leaked Set Photos Show Colin Farrell’s Oz Back in Action in ‘The Penguin’

    As James Gunn and Peter Safran empty the cupboards of the old DC Universe, Matt Reeves‘ Gotham-verse remains alive and well under the newly formed DC Studios Elseworlds banner. That expanding universe includes The Batman-Part II, scheduled for a 2025 theatrical release, and multiple streaming projects in different stages of development. Among those, the Colin Farrell vehicle, The Penguin, was always known to be the furthest along and now it seems production has kicked off on the project.

    Via the Daily Mail, videos and pictures from the set of The Penguin have arrived and show Farrell once again unrecognizable as Oswald Cobblepot.

    The events of The Penguin are reported to pick up right where The Batman left off and tell the story of how Farrell’s Oz rises to power in Gotham following the death of Carmine Falcone. Things won’t be easy for Oz, however as Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Maroni and her father, Gotham gangster Salvatore, played by Clancy Brown, will be standing in the way.

    Source: The Daily Mail

  • Clancy Brown Joins ‘The Penguin’ as Salvatore Maroni

    Clancy Brown Joins ‘The Penguin’ as Salvatore Maroni

    After being referenced in The Batman, Gotham mob boss Salvatore Maroni is set to appear in the HBO Max streaming series The Penguin and will be played by Clancy Brown. The eight-episode series will be set in the aftermath of the events of The Batman and is rumored to chronicle the rise of Colin Farrell‘s Oswald Cobblepot through the ranks of Gotham’s organized crime.

    Maroni’s appearance in the series could complicate things for Cobblepot. As explained in The Batman, Maroni ended up in prison after fellow gangster Carmine Falcone, played by John Turturro, ratted him out, which allowed Falcone to fill the void. With the death of Falcone in the last act of The Batman, Cobblepot looked poised to repeat the pattern and make moves through the organized crime scene in Gotham. However, with Salvatore Maroni and his daughter, Sofia, played by Cristin Milioti, in the mix, things won’t be easy for Oz.

    In comic book continuity, Salvatore Maroni was responsible for the disfigurement of Harvey Dent that led him down the road to becoming Two-Face. Though Dent isn’t known to be appearing in The Penguin, there have been rumors of him appearing in The Batman-Part II. If the events of The Penguin serve as a bridge between the two films, it’s possible Brown could reprise the role of Maroni in the sequel.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘The Penguin’ Adds ‘Runaways’ Alum

    ‘The Penguin’ Adds ‘Runaways’ Alum

    HBO Max’s The Penguin series has added a Marvel alum. Variety revealed on Monday that Rhenzy Feliz has joined the cast. Feliz, who previously headlined Marvel Television’s Runaways for Hulu, will join the previously announced Cristin Milioti who will star as Colin Farrell. They’ll both star alongside Colin Farrell who is reprising his role as the titular character following The Batman. Details regarding Feliz’s character are currently unknown.

    Feliz starred as Alex Wilder on Hulu’s Runaways which ran for three seasons on the streaming service. Since then, he has appeared in American Horror Stories, The Tender Bar and The Same Storm. Feliz also voiced Camilo in Disney’s Encanto. Other credits to Feliz’s name include MTV’s Teen Wolf series, Kevin (Probably) Saves the World and Casual.

    The eight-episode series is expected to take place following the events of The Batman. Lauren LeFranc is the writer, executive producer and showrunner on the series, which is also being executive produced by The Batman‘s Matt Reeves. Craig Zobel, who is also an executive producer on the series, will direct the first three episodes.

    Source: Variety.

  • Filming Schedule and Details for ‘The Penguin’ Revealed

    Filming Schedule and Details for ‘The Penguin’ Revealed

    Following the release of The Batman in theaters earlier this year, fans have long anticipated what the future could have in store for the future of this world. While it may apparently be a bit of time before a theatrical sequel, Matt Reeves has been in the midst of creating multiple spin-off shows for HBO Max to follow different facets of Gotham City. One of which is The Penguin, which will focus on Colin Farrell’s Oswald Cobblepot trying to gain control of the crime syndicate of Gotham after the new opening power vacuum following The Batman. While not much has been known about when audiences should expect the series, new details have come to light about the production that should leave people interested.

    According to The Illuminerdi, The Penguin will be filming in New York City between January to August 2023. This is a logical filming location for the show given the city’s ties to mafia-based projects in the past. As well, this filming schedule would seemingly indicate that the anticipated Batman-based show won’t release on HBO Max until early 2024 at the earliest.

    As well, “Boss” will be the working title for the series, which fits with the central theme of attaining control of the Gotham crime syndicate. It’s recently been revealed that Cristin Milioti will be playing Sofia Falcone, the main antagonist of the series who will have recently been released from Arkham Asylum. She will be joined by her brother Alberto Falcone, who will be the new don of the family following the death of their father in The Batman, and other relatives Johnny Viti and Consigliere Milos Grapa. No actors have been attached to these roles as of yet.

    In addition, it’s been revealed that The Penguin will also cover family turmoil for the Cobblepots as matriarch Francis will be struggling with Lewy Bodies Dementia. This will force the main family to deal with losing control and stability from within.

    Ultimately, it will be interesting to follow if The Penguin can match the creative and commercial success of The Batman and help further build this new universe. It certainly would be helpful for James Gunn and the newly revamped DC Studios as they seek a fresh start for the franchise.

    Source: The Illuminerdi