Key Takeaways:
– The Penguin, the newest HBO spinoff of The Batman, will star Colin Farrell.
– Craig Zobel, director for The Penguin episodes, impressed by The Batman, corresponded with Matt Reeves, expressing his admiration.
– In effort to mirror the style of The Batman, the TV show will incorporate the same technical setup.
– Farrell expresses his thoughts on the transformation his character undergoes for the new HBO series, and the effort put into every detail of its creation.
Actor Colin Farrell is gearing up to step into the shoes of Gotham’s infamous gangster in The Penguin, HBO’s latest spinoff from Matt Reeves’s film The Batman. This version of DC’s much-loved superhero earned rave reviews, with one admirer, Craig Zobel, directed towards the helm of The Penguin.
Craig Zobel, Impressed by The Batman
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Zobel, who directs episodes of The Penguin, was so taken by The Batman 2022 movie that he felt compelled to reach out to Reeves. Zobel shared, “I reached out to say, ‘Hey, [The Batman] was the superhero movie I wanted to see right now. You killed it.’ That was the first time I’d ever reached out to Matt.”
Zobel, Emulating Reeves’ Style
Wanting to mimic the cinematic style on a show of his own, Zobel and his team thoroughly picked Reeves’ and Director of Photography (DP) Greig Fraser’s brains. They wanted to know everything about the film’s technical aspects, so they could replicate the same on The Penguin. Zobel said, “We used all of the same camera gear and lenses that are in the movie, and as far as lighting styles and stuff like that, I think we carried that through, even if the scenarios were slightly different.”
Colin Farrell’s Unique Experience
Farrell has recently been all over the news, discussing his intriguing experiences getting into character for the series. In a chat with People Magazine, he spoke about a scene where his character appears naked. There was even a specially-designed penguin penis costume that was part of his transformative get-up. Farrell found the costume both interesting and hilarious, confessing that without Mike’s ingenious designs, The Penguin TV Show would not have been the success it is.
Colin credited the show’s success to Mike’s innovative design sense. A far cry from the traditional cartoonish caricature of a villain with a top hat, cigarette, and a machine-gun umbrella. Farrell’s character transformation is meticulously detailed, including fake ears, body prosthetics, and yes, even a bespoke penguin penis.
Farrell said, “If it wasn’t for Mike’s design, I’m telling you now, if it was just me with a cigarette and a top hat and a limp and an umbrella that was a machine gun, we wouldn’t have had the HBO show.” His transformation was so thorough that only his hands and feet remained visible. He candidly shared, “Everything else, including ears, were pieces. Everything was covered.”
This upcoming HBO series, The Penguin, promises to be an interesting watch, with so much effort going into the technical aspects and character design. Stay tuned for more updates from Gotham’s famous villain as we await the release. Remember, even the smallest details make a big difference when creating a spectacular viewing experience.
