The Penguin Season 2: Colin Farrell Will Only Return to the Show Under One Condition and It Could Be Grim News
- Despite receiving love for the role, Colin Farrell has shared the physical and mental toll of playing The Penguin.
- Farrell may return for 'The Penguin' Season 2, but only if it is required and the writing is strong enough.
- Many shows that started as limited series but were later extended due to successful season 1 don't have a great season 2.
It has been quite a transition for Colin Farrell as Oswald ‘Oz’ Cobb aka The Penguin in The Batman spin-off series. Behind the thick accent and layers of prosthetics and makeup, Farrell transformed into a ruthless gangster and gave perhaps one of his best performances ever.
The popularity of The Penguin has sparked speculation of its second season. Also, the first show ended with several unfinished plot threads. However, Farrell’s condition on returning to the franchise might raise some questions about the future of the series.
Colin Farrell’s Complex Relationship with The Penguin
It has not been easy for Colin Farrell to bring Oz Cobb to life. The actor spent hours daily in the makeup seat and applied method acting throughout the shoot. He even wore a ski mask when he was not in the makeup to sustain the character on the set.
In an interview with Total Film magazine (via GamesRadar), Farrell expressed his feelings about the whole process, saying,
Don’t get me wrong – I loved it – but it got in on me a little bit. By the end of it, I was b*tching and moaning to anyone who would listen to me that I f*cking wanted it to be finished. I tried to remind them that I had ‘grumpy gratitude.’
However, in his recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Farrell elaborated on his earlier comments. He said,
Some writer took that out of its energetic context. I was b*tching to anyone who’d listen to me. It’s the way I speak sometimes — “I can’t wait to finish this” — that kind of thing. I get anxious right now just thinking about sitting in the chair for hours.
The Penguin is being loved by both the viewers and critics. The show is currently rated 95% by the critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and the success has shaped Farrell’s view about coming back for another season. However, he has a condition. Farrell told The Hollywood Reporter,
If there’s a great idea [for season two], and the writing was really muscular and as strong or stronger on the page than it was the first season, of course I would do it.
About his future appearance in The Batman Part II, Farrell said he hasn’t read the script yet but is confirmed for “five or six scenes.” He is most concerned with how the character of Oz evolves, as the character goes through some significant changes throughout the series.
The Second Season Doubts Are a Valid Concern for Colin Farrell’s Return
Farrell’s decision to focus on good writing for season two is not entirely wrong. There have been many shows that had successful season one but experienced difficulties in the second season, especially shows that started as limited series but later extended due to their success.
Big Little Lies is one such example. Even if it had some of the biggest names like Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Reese Witherspoon, the show’s second season appeared to be an unnecessary continuation of the complete story.
A similar trend was observed with the series like Killing Eve. The second season failed to maintain the momentum of the first. Some other examples among many include Friday Night Lights, Bloodline, and True Detective. Moreover, changes in showrunners to bring something fresh sometimes lead to narrative inconsistency.
However, there have been some rare cases where the second season elevated the momentum of the first season. Shows like The Office, How I Met Your Mother, and the recent Marvel series Loki have seen better responses for the second seasons than their first seasons.
In his interview with Total Film magazine, Colin Farrell revealed his conversation with The Penguin showrunner Lauren LeFranc.
Lauren said, ‘Look, if I could find a way that makes sense, would you talk about it?’ And I said, ‘Absolutely.’ And maybe in a year I would. But when I finished I was like, ‘I never want to put that f*cking suit and that f*cking head on again.’
Although Farrell’s comments might cause some worries for fans, his willingness to return if the script and story justify his character also lights up hope. However, as of now, fans are assured of seeing him again in the upcoming The Batman Part II.
The Penguin is now streaming on Max.
