As a fan of both John Turturro and Mark Strong, I must say that I was initially disappointed when I heard that Turturro wouldn’t be reprising his role as Carmine Falcone in “The Penguin.” However, after watching Mark Strong’s portrayal of the character, I have to admit that he brings a unique and captivating energy to the role.
In the series “The Penguin,” produced by HBO, we follow the story of Oz Cobb, portrayed by Colin Farrell in a different light, as he strives to ascend the criminal underworld hierarchy in Gotham. His primary antagonist, yet sometimes partner, is Sofia Falcone, played by Cristin Milioti, who relentlessly seeks control of her powerful crime family. In the fourth episode, we delved into Sofia’s backstory for the first time. Interestingly, in the show’s flashbacks to Sofia’s origin story, her father, Carmine Falcone, is alive, even though he has already perished in the present-day timeline of “The Penguin.
However, attentive viewers will spot that Carmine appears somewhat changed from his appearance in the 2022 film The Batman, which intertwines with The Penguin. Unlike John Turturro, who played him in the movie, Mark Strong portrays him in the series. Known for roles ranging from DC’s Shazam movie series to the Kingsman franchise and even a 2020 Oscar best picture nominee, 1917, Strong takes on Carmine in this show. The reason behind recasting Carmine will be explained here.
What Happened to Carmine (and Sofia) in The Batman and The Penguin?
In the movie “The Batman” and its character “The Penguin”, Carmine Falcone is portrayed as a ruthless crime lord who appears almost indestructible. John Turturro took on the role of an aging Carmine Falcone in “The Batman”. At that point, Sofia was confined in Arkham Asylum and failed to make an appearance. However, unlike many of his victims, including Bruce Wayne’s parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne, Carmine met his end at the hands of the Riddler (Paul Dano), who assassinated him with a sniper rifle as Lieutenant James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) was apprehending him. With Carmine’s life coming to an end, it seems that his reign of terror has finally been brought to a close.
In “The Penguin,” Mark Strong portrays Falcone as a slightly younger character, residing in a more domestic environment. Despite this, his body count remains substantial. This version of the character shows a strong affection for his daughter, Sofia, due to her strength and obedience. This stands in stark contrast to his son, Alberto, as Falcone even proposes Sofia as his potential successor, an unconventional choice given that the position is usually held by sons. To Falcone’s delight, Sofia graciously accepts this offer.
Later on, she encounters a journalist who informs her that multiple women, including her mother, appeared to have committed suicide by hanging, yet had defensive injuries on their hands. The journalist seems to suggest that her father was responsible for these deaths, but she remains skeptical. However, that evening, during her ride home, she is detained and charged with the murders the journalist accused her father of, as well as the reporter’s murder. It appears that her father discovered what the journalist was doing and retaliated against both her and Sofia, leading to Sofia’s wrongful incarceration in Arkham Asylum for a decade due to crimes she didn’t commit.
Why Did Mark Strong Take Over the Role of Carmine Falcone in The Penguin?
In different scenarios and appearances, both John Turturro and Mark Strong portray Carmine Falcone with a shared sense of gravity. Initially, the creator of The Penguin, Lauren LeFranc, aspired to have Turturro play the character in her series. However, those plans didn’t materialize as intended. LeFranc later shared this information with Entertainment Weekly.
Initially, we aimed to bring John back to play Carmine Falcone again. He was fantastic in the movie, but when we discovered his schedule wouldn’t align with our series, it became more about finding an actor who could embody the same level of talent, gravitas, and fierce presence that Mark Strong possesses.
It appears that LeFranc doesn’t seem concerned that viewers might overlook Turturro in “The Penguin” if they’ve previously watched “The Batman”. However, she clarified to IGN that this isn’t the case.
Initially, when you first encounter him, you might have thoughts like, “Oh, I’m accustomed to John Turturro from The Batman… but as the episodes progress, particularly episode 4 of The Penguin, I believe you will find yourself thinking, ‘Ah, that’s Carmine Falcone,’ and fully immersed in the unique depth that Mark delivers.
Carmine Is a Bit Younger in The Penguin Than in The Batman
In “The Penguin”, Carmine Falcone appears exclusively in flashbacks set approximately ten years prior to the series, which unfolds shortly after “The Batman” concludes. Consequently, Mark Strong portrays a Carmine who is around a decade younger than the character John Turturro played. According to Le Franc, this was confirmed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
“They’re similar ages, but
a little bit younger
. You’d have to ask Mark, but
I think he did look at the portrayal and the accent [in
The Batman
]
. I keep using the word gravitas, but it was very important that he has a presence, certainly with Sofia, that there’s a hint of warmth, but also something very cold at his center. It felt cohesive to me in watching him. It felt to me like that is her father.”
Ultimately, LeFranc said that Carmine was very important to Sofia’s story.
Without a doubt, we planned to include Carmine in our narrative. We deliberately designed Sofia’s journey to be intricately connected with Carmine’s.
Indeed, although Turturro and Strong present distinct character traits, the captivating performances of their respective roles, spanning a decade in age difference, should encourage viewers to accept them both as the enigmatic Carmine Falcone. Catch them on Max.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-10-21 00:01