“This will be the best recast in recent times”: The Penguin Almost Fooled Everyone With Mark Strong Replacing John Turturro and No One Noticed
- Mark Strong has replaced John Turturro as Carmine Falcone in 'The Penguin.'
- Showrunner Lauren LeFranc thinks Strong will bring a fresh and exciting style.
- Fans also seem to love Strong’s performance and see him as their new favorite.
The excitement around The Penguin is palpable. DC fans are eager for more exciting stories from Gotham’s crime scene. Just when everyone thought they had their casting choices nailed down, new surprises started to emerge. In a turn that surprised many, the beloved crime boss Carmine Falcone has a new face: Mark Strong stepping into the shoes of John Turturro.
But why the switch? It turns out Turturro had a scheduling conflict that made it impossible for him to reprise his role from The Batman. As the show premiered, all eyes were on Strong to see if he could win over hearts going forward. And it looks like he has already!
Mark Strong Takes the Reins of Carmine Falcone
Mark Strong is no stranger to villainous roles. He’s played some memorable baddies over the years, including Frank D’Amico in Kick-Ass and Sinestro in Green Lantern. So, stepping into the shoes of Carmine Falcone feels like a natural fit. Lauren LeFranc, the showrunner, also spoke candidly about the change.
She’s over the moon about Strong taking over. In an interview with IGN, LeFranc described Strong’s take on Carmine as “different” but with a “specific gravitas.” In simpler terms, that means he’ll bring his own flair. She also reassured fans that there are no hard feelings and that Strong was the perfect choice. Even fans seem to agree!
However, this casting has almost gone unnoticed by many.
It’s clear that fans are happy with the casting. After all, who wouldn’t want a crime boss with a British accent? Fans might be wondering if they’ll miss Turturro’s version, but Strong’s performance might just make them forget he was ever gone. Plus, flashbacks in The Penguin will keep some continuity alive.
John Turturro’s Scheduling Conflicts Lead to Mark Strong’s Carmine Falcone Debut
John Turturro, the original Falcone, is swamped with work on different projects. It seems his role as Irving Bailiff in Severance might be what kept him from returning to Gotham’s shadows. It’s quite possible that both shows were filming at the same time, forcing Turturro to choose which gig to take.
And who can blame him? Sometimes you have to pick your battles—or in this case, your TV roles! Lauren LeFranc also addressed the elephant in the room. As she explained in the same interview:
Well, practically, John was just unavailable to us. He had scheduling conflicts, and we couldn’t make it work, but honestly, I’m so thrilled that we brought Mark Strong on.
Fans of The Batman loved Turturro’s charming yet menacing Falcone. But with Strong stepping in, we can expect a new take on the character that might just impress everyone. LeFranc is optimistic about fans coming to terms with the change.
By the end of the episode, she hopes viewers will think, ‘That’s Carmine Falcone!’ and not ‘Who is this guy?’ As the show premiered yesterday, it remains to be seen whether Strong can deliver the goods in the long run. But it looks like this new crime boss might just become your new favorite villain.
The Penguin is available to watch on HBO and Max.
