As a fan who has followed Colin Farrell‘s career for quite some time now, I must say that his involvement in designing the sets of “The Penguin” has taken my admiration for him to new heights. The detail and thoughtfulness that went into creating Oswald Cobblepot’s apartment are truly remarkable, and it’s a testament to Farrell’s dedication to his craft.
Since “The Penguin” premiered on the 2024 TV lineup, viewers have gained insights into Colin Farrell’s portrayal of Oswald Cobblepot – a new take on the famous Batman antagonist presented in Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” a while ago. Interestingly, although the character isn’t fond of his nickname, it seems that Colin Farrell is quite proud of his role, as evidenced by the fact that he collaborated on designing the apartment for the rising Gotham crime lord in the HBO series, as TopMob recently discovered.
Not long after the debut of Lauren LeFranc’s series, I had a fascinating conversation with production designer Kalina Ivanov. In this discussion, she revealed an amazing tale about an Academy Award-nominated actor contributing to the design of his character’s Diamond District loft, which was anatomically correct. Ivanov spoke candidly about a “delightful collaborative effort” they had.
During our extremely productive brainstorming session, Colin joined us as the producer. We discussed his loft in detail, presenting the ideas and designs we’d been working on. He was thrilled with our work. Later, he provided us with fantastic references, which were actually suggestions for Oz’s artistic bed decor. However, instead of bed art, Colin shared a couple of examples of abstract paintings, finding them amusing. One of these paintings included shades of purple, and I found it hilarious that I immediately thought Oz would adore such a vibrant, abstract painting.
The painting Ivanov mentioned is featured during a significant part of the third episode in “The Penguin,” specifically where Oz Cobb and his protégé Victor, played by Rhenzy Feliz, are discussing business in an apartment. This painting also serves as the cover image for this story. Notably, the production designer, who’s currently working on Season 2 of “Peacemaker,” elaborated that the intricate collaboration between her team, the writers, showrunner Lauren LeFranc, and Colin Farrell led to carefully crafted and distinct sets tailored to the character.
The disordered artwork, adorned with purple and black abstract motifs, might symbolize the character’s complex nature quite aptly. However, it’s not the sole symbolism present in this loft. Earlier in our conversation, Ivanov recounted an intriguing tale about designing Oz’s living space, particularly a striking, hard-to-miss symbol that represents a significant metaphor:
As a gamer, I stumbled upon an ornate jewelry vault and suggested to Lauren that the Penguin, known for his love for shiny objects and cluttered documents, would find this the perfect hideout for his treasures. The idea made perfect sense, considering he’s always on the hunt for the next shiniest trinket, and the vault comes equipped with drawers to keep his countless papers organized. But it was more than just a place to store his belongings; it offered him a way to organize his emotions, almost like a metaphor for his soul, providing compartments for each feeling he carries within.
Throughout our conversation, Kalina Ivanov also touched on how she channeled first-hand experiences during Hurricane Sandy to design the show’s version of Gotham City, which grapples with the aftermath of The Riddler’s flood. The veteran production designer also continually stressed the importance of collaboration during the planning process of the series and how conversations like those with Mr. Farrell made it even better.
It’s impressive how much care and consideration went into designing the sets for the award-winning crime series. Plus, it’s noteworthy that Colin Farrell played an active role in shaping the environment for his character, demonstrating his dedication to the part.
Every Sunday at 9 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), fresh episodes of “The Penguin” are broadcast on HBO. If you have a Max subscription, you can watch them right away. In the interim, don’t forget to explore TopMob’s unique interviews with the cast and crew of “The Penguin” for additional insights.
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2024-10-15 16:37