The Penguin Hid Many Comic Book Easter Eggs Into Its Production Design

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The Penguin Hid Many Comic Book Easter Eggs Into Its Production Design

As a film enthusiast who’s spent countless hours poring over comic books and their silver screen adaptations, I must say that “The Penguin” has truly outdone itself when it comes to Easter eggs. The attention to detail is simply mind-boggling, and as someone who’s always had a soft spot for the character, it’s been an absolute joy to witness this meticulous love letter to Oswald Cobblepot’s history.

In the world of comic book movies, it’s well-known that they often include Easter eggs referring to the original comics, their creators, and past adaptations. Recently, Kalina Ivanov, the production designer on “The Penguin” series, has shared insights into the making of the show, revealing how the team cleverly concealed numerous Easter eggs within the scenes themselves.

In an interview with MovieWeb, Kalina Ivanov shared insights about incorporating Easter eggs throughout the sets of “The Penguin.” While Ivanov contributed some personal ideas, she emphasized that it’s a collaborative effort among the entire team to fill Gotham city with hidden gems and details. When asked about her role, Kalina Ivanov stated, “I must admit, I couldn’t do it alone; I need a whole community to help me.” The production designer further explained that crew members would offer ideas which were then presented to showrunner Lauren LeFranc before being integrated into the sets.

In our team, the graphic artists, Steve Brown and Katia Austin – who are actually husband and wife – have a shared passion for comics. Steve is always brimming with creative ideas for these comic projects, and more often than not, we find ourselves presenting them to Lauren. To our delight, these ideas usually take flight, and we end up bringing them to life, thanks to Steve’s enthusiasm.

The Penguin Episode 1 References the First Live-Action Penguin

In its debut, the show “The Penguin” delights audiences with numerous Easter Eggs right from the start. Unlike the Falcones, who reside in the opulent mansion of Gotham Heights, Cobb makes his home in Crown Point, specifically the district known for its diamonds. The episode highlights Cobb’s extravagant apartment, which stands atop an old diamond store. Keen-eyed viewers will recognize the store’s name, “Burgess Diamonds.” This is a nod to Burgess Meredith, who portrayed the first live-action version of The Penguin in the 1966 Batman TV series, alongside Adam West’s Caped Crusader.

In our conversation, Kalina Ivanov shared a fascinating tidbit about the Easter eggs in her work – she particularly enjoys weaving the “Burgess Diamonds” into her creative process when it comes to the show.

What I love most is when we signed for the Diamond District, it turned out to be Burgess Diamonds. We experimented with several descriptions for the business, but the connection to Burgess Meredith, who brought the original Penguin to life, is incredibly special to me. He’s an exceptional actor and his portrayal of The Penguin remains unforgettable.

Spectators will likewise pick up on Cobb’s questionable interior design choices in his living space, which includes a remote-controlled fireplace and a petite poker table. Moreover, this setting mirrors certain DC Comics, often portraying the Iceberg Lounge with a poker table. For Kalina Ivanov, this was a subtle hint to Oz Cobb’s aspiration to emulate Carmine Falcone, as she pointed out.

“He aspires to be like Carmine, and when he finds himself surrounded by pool tables and poker tables, he eventually decides to purchase a budget-friendly poker set. In essence, he feels that with his new poker table, he has achieved something significant.

New episodes of
The Penguin
will be released weekly on Max and HBO.

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2024-09-28 17:01