The Penguin Star Discusses Playing Iconic DC Villain ‘The Hangman’

The Penguin Star Discusses Playing Iconic DC Villain 'The Hangman'

As a seasoned critic with a soft spot for gritty crime dramas and a keen interest in strong female characters, I must say that the upcoming HBO series, “The Penguin,” has piqued my curiosity in more ways than one. The casting of Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone, a character known for her ruthlessness and complexity in DC Comics lore, is an exciting development that promises to breathe fresh air into the often male-dominated crime genre.


In the upcoming HBO series titled “The Penguin“, Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) will encounter Cristin Milioti’s character, Sofia “The Hangman” Falcone. This series unfolds a week after the occurrences in “The Batman“, where crime boss Carmine Falcone was killed and half of Gotham City submerged underwater. With no clear leader among Gotham’s criminal network post-crisis, several contenders vie for control over the turbulent city. Among them is Sofia Falcone, freshly released from Arkham Asylum, who is Carmine’s own daughter.

In an interview with TotalFilm, Cristin Milioti spoke about her part in the film “The Penguin.” She shared how she prepared for her role as a member of Gotham’s infamous crime family, Sofia. To convincingly portray such a complex character, Milioti delved into some challenging emotional territories. With Sofia spending considerable time in Arkham Asylum, Milioti’s performance demanded nuance to showcase both Sofia’s controlled and unstable aspects. To flesh out the character, Milioti collaborated with movement coach Julia Crockett to create Sofia’s unique movements and physical appearance. She stated:

I collaborated with an exceptional acting and movement coach named Julia Crockett, delving into numerous physical exercises. Character Sofia is always simmering with intensity, residing in the most perilous situation she could find herself in. To what depths will she suppress this turmoil, enduring on top of a volatile mountain, until it eventually explodes?

In the world of comics, Sofia Falcone is infamous as a serial killer, often referred to as The Hangman. Her most recognized role can be found in Jeph Loeb’s “Batman: The Long Halloween”. As a shadowy figure called “Holiday” sets out to punish Gotham’s crime families, Sofia is released from prison by Carmine with the aim of using her brutal nature against “Holiday”. The storylines from “The Long Halloween” may not appear in the upcoming series titled “The Penguin”, given that Robert Pattinson’s Batman won’t be part of it. However, the ruthless traits demonstrated by Sofia Falcone in the comics form a strong foundation for fans curious about which comics to read before “The Penguin” premieres on HBO Max this month.

Sofia Falcone Introduces “Interesting” Female Character to the Crime Genre

The Penguin Star Discusses Playing Iconic DC Villain 'The Hangman'The Penguin Star Discusses Playing Iconic DC Villain 'The Hangman'The Penguin Star Discusses Playing Iconic DC Villain 'The Hangman'

In a fresh take on the crime genre, Sofia Falcone is set to offer an intriguing challenge to Farrell’s Penguin in the series. Initially, fans anticipated a traditional Batman versus Penguin tale narrated from Oz Cobb’s viewpoint. But by positioning Sofia and Oz against each other, the series can delve deeply into its unique reinterpretation of the crime genre.

In my role as a dedicated movie enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: As a groundbreaking female showrunner helming a crime series, I, Lauren LeFranc, decided to challenge the status quo by crafting Sofia as the primary antagonist. Unlike the usual male-dominated genre, I wanted to breathe life into compelling females characters with “The Penguin” serving as the perfect platform for their introduction. In my own words, I aimed to inject intrigue and complexity into the genre through these strong female characters.

Few female writers have tackled movies or TV shows like these. My viewpoint on Oz and masculinity in particular is unique, which led me to populate his world with intriguing, multi-dimensional women. In typical crime dramas, the female characters are often less engaging than their male counterparts. I saw this as a chance to examine what had already been done and pay homage to the genre while also pushing its boundaries.

The Penguin
premieres on HBO and Max on September 19, 2024.

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2024-09-14 18:02