‘The Penguin’ Drops Midseason Trailer as Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti and Showrunner Dig Into Character Motivations

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As a dedicated fan of the Batman universe, I must say that the insights shared during this panel about the making of “The Penguin” have truly piqued my interest. The showrunner’s inspiration drawn from Rosemary Kennedy’s story for Sofia Falcone is an intriguing twist, adding depth and realism to a character we already know from the comics.

At New York Comic Con on Thursday, lead star and executive producer Colin Farrell was accompanied by showrunner and fellow EP Lauren LeFranc, along with cast members Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell, Michael Kelly, and Clancy Brown. They shared two previews of episode five with the audience, then delved into the driving forces behind each character.

In the initial scene, Oz (Farrell) and Victor (Feliz) have a heartfelt conversation about their unwavering bond, with Oz’s vehicle engulfed in flames in the backdrop. “From now on, it’s you and me, pal, till the very end,” Oz declares, followed by him and his accomplice unexpectedly confronting Sal’s (Brown) son for a rough encounter, then visiting Sal and his spouse in prison to arrange a transaction.

In the second scene, Sofia (Milioti) restrains Johnny (Kelly) in a large, freezing chamber and splashes him with icy water. Instead of warmth, she taunts him when he refuses to disclose information. She queries if he wishes to perish in the darkness, which prompts Johnny to unveil secrets about her parents, such as her mother’s failed attempt to leave her father before returning for their children. Additionally, Johnny implores Sofia to exploit him to gain the recognition necessary for her next strategic move within the criminal underworld.

In the meantime, Oz is observed mobilizing his forces, then instructing Victor to safeguard his mother while they devise their next strategy against the Maronis. However, when Victor arrives at her home, he encounters a disorderly scene and no apparent residents until he opens a bedroom door to discover Mrs. Cobb (Deirdre O’Connell) confined within, resembling a hoarder, and mistakenly identifying Victor as Oz. It’s in this moment that Victor reveals the destiny of the Falcons to her.

The panel coincided with the release of a midseason preview (which came out on Thursday), and new episodes will start airing every Sunday on HBO, or you can stream them on Max.

The Penguin television show has been resonating with audiences, surpassing all other ongoing HBO series (with the exceptions of House of the Dragon and The Last of Us) in viewership since its debut on September 19th.

During Wednesday’s first half of the NYCC panel discussion, Farrell, LeFranc, and Mike Marino – who is responsible for Penguin’s prosthetic makeup design – shared insights about their past connections with Penguin comics, how LeFranc landed the limited series project, and the shift from cinema to television. This included a sneak peek at 40 minutes of Matt Reeves’ Batman film.

Reflecting on the original design of The Batman’s character, I had an incredible experience visualizing his appearance. I believe Colin truly excels in this role and elevates it even further,” Marino shared with the crowd. “There were numerous days when we weren’t able to film [during movie production], where we’d prepare Colin for makeup only to be told, ‘Unfortunately, we won’t be shooting today.’ We didn’t get to delve deeper into it as much as I would have liked. It was a challenging year. Colin texted me and said he’s looking forward to another chance – they’re planning a second round [for the TV series],” Marino continued.

The Max series is marketed as a standalone series, yet there are whispers of a possible spin-off. Lately, Farrell has expressed gratitude for his role but also shared some reservations about reprising it, stating he isn’t certain if he would ever wish to don the suit and the headpiece again. He confided in Total Film magazine, “Let me assure you, I loved it, but it seeped into me a bit. By the end of it, I was complaining and grumbling to anyone who would listen that I wanted it to be over.

At the NYCC panel, Marino shared insights about the work done off-camera, stating, “This project gave us an excellent chance to delve into his character, his appearance, and identify areas for improvement from the movie. We focused on enhancing technical aspects, revising the design for optimal results. Filming took place in a variety of lighting conditions, which meant he spent more time in makeup, so maintaining the intricacies of that magnetic trick became quite challenging over such extended periods.

After showing a second video segment, around halfway through the discussion panel, the group consisting of Kelly, Feliz, Milioti, O’Connell, and Brown joined in. They shared additional information about the show, discussing aspects like filming the scene involving Sofia and Johnny, as well as speculating on what could be driving their characters: a blend of natural traits and nurture-based influences.

Milioti stated that the decision was up to the dealer, suggesting that there may have been a reason her father believed she was the right one to inherit the family business. However, he also noted that the circumstances that occurred in her life likely played a significant role in shaping this outcome,” (paraphrased from your statement)

He expressed doubt,” he stated, “I believe he’s spent his entire life burdened by existence. People crave uniqueness, yet when individuality is thrust upon you, or it doesn’t align with societal norms of ‘cool’ and ‘acceptable,’ it often leads to turmoil. His eight-hour rise was more like a fall for him, not the ascension into power as intended, but rather a plunge into a form of madness that stemmed from the pain he’s carried throughout his life. Delia, portraying his mother figure, has been supportive and loving, but it seems even her presence hasn’t been enough to shield him.

In Victor’s eyes, Oz was more than just an inspiration; he saw him as a blend of a supportive sibling or father, imparting difficult truths while also presenting something more enticing. As Feliz explained, “He had recently lost his family, so for him, this meant being a part of something greater than himself. Money, being scarce, served as an additional motivator. Victor seems to admire the bold, self-assured demeanor of Oz, a trait he might aspire to emulate and experience more of in his own life.

During the course of the discussion in the panel, various interpretations of Batman characters like The Penguin were brought up, with Farrell expressing appreciation for the performances of Adam West, Danny DeVito, and the universes created by Christopher Nolan and Tim Burton. When asked about what influenced her portrayal of Sofia Falcone, a character that Milioti’s performance has garnered significant acclaim, the showrunner attributed it to American aristocracy.

The showrunner of Penguin shared that Rosemary Kennedy’s life story inspired them. Often overlooked, she was placed in an institution by her father during her twenties and underwent a lobotomy. Unfortunately, much about her experiences remains unknown. To create a character like Sofia and bring her to life, the showrunner wanted to connect her to something genuine and authentic, as they felt that such a character would have resonated with them when they were younger.

LeFranc and Farrell often delved into the unique aspect of Oz’s relationship with his mom, Francis, during their discussions throughout the panel. Farrell expressed his fascination with this connection, mentioning that it was one of the reasons he wanted to reprise his role as Penguin in the limited series. He found the way it unveiled Oz’s psychology through his mother to be both intriguing and distinctly off-kilter.

In the gaming world, I delved into how different characters perceive Oz and their comprehension of it during our panel discussion. The question about Francis Cobb’s mother, whether she was proud of her son’s ventures in Gotham’s criminal underworld, was also brought up. O’Connell hinted that she might be proud of some of his actions but always equipping him for battle, using him as a weapon.

In the movie, whenever there were five consecutive scenes, they were all quite light-hearted. The character Oz served as a distraction, a misdirection. We didn’t delve deeply into his past or his inner thoughts. Colin mentioned that with eight hours of television time, there would be an excellent chance to explore the intricacies of the character more thoroughly.

Going beyond discussing character and makeup designs, LeFranc also shared thoughts on the casting process and her delight in writing for the land of Oz.

The showrunner acknowledged the series’ casting directors, praising them for their exceptional work, before commending the performers for their resilience in bringing the characters to life amidst numerous hurdles during production. She expressed that even though the content was often gruesome or disturbing, it was a pleasure to work on such a challenging project. “The casting truly elevates each script,” she said. “Despite its tough subject matter and demanding schedule, everyone pulled together to create something truly extraordinary.

Apart from expressing that she found it entertaining and exciting to write Oz’s character and his world, she mentioned that writing the initial episode was a solitary process. She often went for long walks during this time to ensure she captured Oz’s unique sense of humor accurately. Each script and scene contained unusual, subtle moments that might not have been central to the scene but added an undercurrent of humor or a quirky detail or expression.

The TV series “The Penguin” is overseen by executive producers Matt Reeves, Dylan Clark, Farrell, along with writer-showrunner Lauren LeFranc, director Craig Zobel, and Bill Carraro.

According to characters crafted by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, “The Penguin” is brought to life by Reeves’ 6th & Idaho Productions and Dylan Clark Productions in collaboration with Warner Bros Television, where both Reeves and 6th & Idaho have an ongoing deal. This production also falls under the umbrella of DC Studios, with Daniel Pipski serving as an executive producer.

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2024-10-17 20:26