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Uoto's historical mystery manga Orb: On the Movements of the Earth is wrapping up its anime adaptation as the winter season comes to a close. But the story will come to life once again later this year—this time as a stage play! The upcoming stage adaptation will feature talent from around the world, bringing renowned creative minds together to tell the story of scientific discovery in Medieval Europe. A poster for the production has been revealed: Related: Requiem of the Rose King Stage Musical Unveils New Key Visual Six cast members have also been attached, although their specific roles have not yet been confirmed: From left to right, the cast so far consists of: Top Row Masataka Kubota Toko Miura Yusuke Onuki Bottom Row Mitsuru Fukikoshi Songha Mirai Moriyama Israeli actor-director Avshalom Pollak is attached to direct, with Keishi Nagatsuka penning the script. Penguin Highway composer Umitaro Abe...

The Penguin star Colin Farrell is reportedly in talks to star in Sgt. Rock, replacing Daniel Craig after the latter dropped out of the Dcu movie. Daniel Craig was initially going to play the titular hero in Luca Guadagnino's Sgt. Rock movie, but the Queer star exited the project only a couple of months after joining it. Since then, speculation about who could replace Craig put foward many relevant movie and TV stars, including The Bear's Jeremy Allen White. Now, DC Comics' Franklin John Rock may have found its live-action actor.

As reported by Deadline, The Penguin's Colin Farrell is interested in playing Franklin John Rock in DC Studios' Sgt. Rock. Farrell recently won the Golden Globe for his performance as Oz Cobb in DC's The Penguin miniseries. Farrell will reprise his Penguin role in Matt Reeves' The Batman - Part II, and there's a chance The Penguin...

Actor Colin Farrell may soon be playing another DC Comics character after drawing high acclaim for his role in The Penguin. The possible casting would also help further test the actor's range, as it's a role that is far unlike the Batman villain.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Farrell is in talks to star in Sgt. Rock, a World War II action movie in the works at DC Studios. Luca Guadagnino is on board to direct the Justin Kuritzkes-penned film, and there were recent reports that he'd be reuniting with Queer actor Daniel Craig as the star. However, Craig reportedly left the project, which was followed by rumors that The Bear star Jeremy Allen White had also turned down the role.

DC Studios bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran teased back in February that the project would only move forward with production this summer as planned if they "find the perfect actor.

After the disastrous critical and audience reception of 2015's Fantastic Four, writer/director Josh Trank found himself in an inenviable position. At odds with 20th Century Fox after pinning the blame for the film's failure on studio meddling, his blockbuster prospects began to dry up, with a planned Star Wars project getting canceled. Trank claimed it was for personal reasons, but plenty in Hollywood speculated that the failure of Fantastic Four had something to do with it. Whatever the reason, the once promising upstart indie director was at something of a crossroads.

Rather than try and get back in the studio system's good graces, Trank instead poured himself into a passion project about the final days of famed mobster Al Capone, with Tom Hardy attached to star. Originally titled Fonzo after Capone's nickname, the title was later changed to Capone, and the film finally saw release in May 2020. Sadly,...

The Russo Brothers know exactly what makes Kevin Feige tick, and they’re making sure Secret Wars and Doomsday don’t fall into the same trap. While the MCU’s been guilty of a few storytelling misfires, Feige has one particular pet peeve that keeps creeping into major projects.

Kevin Feige at the 2016 Sdcc | Image by Gage Skidmore licensed under Cc By-sa 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Russos have “strategized” a way around it, though. If their plan works, this could be the game-changer the MCU desperately needs.

The Russo brothers’ master plan: Locking down Secret Wars and Doomsday to avoid Kevin Feige’s worst nightmare Anthony and Joe Russo on the set of Avengers: Infinity War | Credits: Marvel Studios

The Russo Brothers are making damn sure Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday don’t become another leaky ship. They’ve “strategized” to avoid the one thing Kevin Feige absolutely hates: spoilers slipping out before time.

Matt Reeves is taking his time with The Batman Part II, so much so that even Robert Pattinson is desperate to hurry up and shoot the sequel. Reeves' offered a fresh take on The Dark Knight with 2022's The Batman by actually making the world's greatest detective be a detective. The Batman was a resounding success, holding an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and grossing $722 million worldwide. The Batman Part II was greenlit quickly after The Batman's success, but development on the sequel has been slower than many fans hoped.

During an interview with Hero Magazine with his Mickey 17 co-star, Naomi Ackie, Robert Pattinson was asked if he will be returning to film The Batman Part II anytime soon. "I f*cking hope so," was his honest response. When The Batman Part II was first announced, it was originally scheduled to release this October. However, considering the film hasn't even begun production yet,...

Glee was a 2009 show that followed a high school Glee club at McKinley High School, Ohio, experiencing various trials and tribulations from teen pregnancy to sexuality and identity. Led by former Glee member Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison), the group faced ostracization from their peers, the bullying of the cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), and numerous slushies to the face.

Like many a TV show, the series' cast of alums has shrunk over the years - though with Glee, those numbers have shrunken surprisingly rapidly despite the relatively young age of its main cast. There’s a great deal of grief in re-watching the series, but also joy, as Glee alum Harry Shum Jr. noted on the Call It What It Is podcast (via Entertainment Weekly).

RelatedThe Penguin Brings a Batman: The Animated Series Character to the Dcu

The Penguin brings a classic Batman: Animated Series to life in...

Is Colin Farrell set to return as The Penguin? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Colin Farrell has made a remarkable transformation into Oswald Cobblepot, better known as the Penguin, in Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe. His time as the infamous Gotham gangster in the 2022 film earned widespread acclaim, leading to HBO Max’s spin-off series, The Penguin, where he reprised the role in a more fleshed-out, character-driven narrative.

With an extensive prosthetic transformation and a performance that captured the ambition of Cobblepot, Farrell brought a new depth to the classic villain. While fans have eagerly anticipated his return, Farrell remains noncommittal about a second season of The Penguin. Despite winning a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award for his performance, the actor revealed he has no urgent desire to revisit the role.

Colin Farrell says he is in no rush for the second season of Penguin

At the SAG Awards, where he was...

The American Society of Cinematographers Awards were handed out Sunday night, with the film prize going to Edward Lachman for Maria.

This is Lachman’s first ASC win. He was previously nominated for Far From Heaven (2003), Mildred Pierce (2011), Carol (2016) and El Conde (2024). He received the ASC’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.

On the TV side, Richard Rutkowski won for Sugar in the episode of a half-hour series category, and Sam Mccurdy won for Shogun in the one-hour regular series category, while the limited or anthology series of motion picture made for television award went to Robert Elswit for Ripley.

The Spotlight Award was awarded to Jomo Fray, cinematographer of Nickel Boys.

The 2025 ASC Career Achievement in Television Award was awarded to Michael Goi, whose credits have included Web Therapy, Glee, American Horror Story and Scream Queens. Pete Romano was honored with the 2025 Curtis Clark ASC Technical Achievement Award for revolutionizing underwater cinematography.

The Penguin has been immensely successful, garnering high praise along with several major awards. That trend has continued at the SAG Awards, as Colin Farrell picked up a new win to add to the accolades given for his work as Oz "The Penguin" Cobblepot.

At the SAG Awards on Sunday, Farrell won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series. The other nominees included Javier Bardem (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story), Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer), Kevin Kline (Disclaimer), and Andrew Scott (Ripley).

Give it up for Gotham’s finest. Cheers to #SAGAwards winner Colin Farrell! 🧠pic.twitter.com/D8SCmnYUjd— SAG Awards® (@SAGawards) February 24, 2025

Related'We Could Get Into Some Real S—': The Penguin Star Wants Sofia & Catwoman Team-Up in The Batman 2

Cristin Milioti comments on a possible team-up with Zoe Kravitz in Matt Reeves' Batverse.

The Penguin had...

Tim Burton's Batman is one of the most important movies of the 20th century. Released in 1989, it's widely credited as one of the world's first modern superhero movies, and you only have to watch it to see why.

Michael Keaton plays the titular superhero in a film that ultimately redefined his career, with many still calling him the best Batman actor to this day (and it's hard to argue with that). He was joined in the film by Jack Nicholson as The Joker and Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale.

The film's success resulted in Warner Bros. wanting a sequel and, in 1992, Batman Returns arrived in movie theaters. Keaton returned as the Caped Crusader, while Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman and Danny DeVito's Penguin served as the new villains in the eerie return to Gotham City. There was, however, one glaring omission.

Tim Burton didn't want to make a direct...

Aside from the peculiar appearance of a certain flightless waterfowl, Saturday night’s WGA Awards were a familiar affair.

“Hacks” won its second trophy in four years for Best Comedy Series, as well as its second trophy in the same span for Best Episodic Comedy, continuing a victory parade that began at the 2024 Emmys when it upset “The Bear” for the top prize. That hot streak has continued into 2025 with wins at the Casting Society of America, Costume Designers Guild Awards, Directors Guild Awards, Producers Guild Awards, and AFI Awards, among others. With Season 4 having wrapped production in January, creators Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky’s Max original should enter the 2025 Emmy season as the presumptive favorite.

The season’s dominant drama, “Shōgun,” won’t be back in time to compete in 2025 — the writers’ room is still plugging away at Season 2 — but its Season 1 winning streak also...

It was a rather curious night at the 23rd Ves Awards, which were handed out Tuesday at the Beverly Hilton.

The Visual Effects Society knelt before The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, handing it the marquee prize for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature — but it was the lone win on six nominations for the 10th film in the venerable franchise.

The bigger winners with four apiece were Dune: Part Two, which came into the night with a leading seven nominations, and The Wild Robot, hot off dominating the Annie Awards over the weekend.

That raises a question: Which film has the inside track for the Oscar next month?

Well, the Ves Awards and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences haven’t followed the same script much during the past decade-plus, with only five of the Visual Effects Society’s marquee winners since 2013 going on to score the FX Oscar.

This post contains spoilers for "Nosferatu."

What better way to celebrate the festive season of 2024 than with a supernatural horror nightmare. With "Nosferatu," director Robert Eggers resurrected a vampire classic in the form of a scary fever dream just in time for Christmas of last year, reimagining the original 1922 film as a stylish horror with a sort of perverse fairy tale at its center. In Eggers' film, the titular vamp, played by Bill Skarsgård, lusts after Lily-Rose Depp's Ellen Hutter, eventually traveling from his decaying castle in the mountains of Transylvania to her hometown of Wisburg, Germany. There, he feeds on her blood in a pseudo-sexual embrace that ultimately results in his death when the sunlight interrupts the pair's perverse tryst.

If upsetting vampire love affairs aren't your thing, Eggers made sure to do what he does best by constructing a world that absorbs you so fully, you genuinely...

Daisy Ridley has worked with the Force in the Star Wars franchise, but that doesn't mean she wouldn't like to branch out to other popular franchises. The actress would love a switch over to the MCU, and even the Dcu.

Ridley has chosen exciting projects after her breakout role as Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy films. She appeared in several critically acclaimed films, as 2024 appeared in Young Woman and the Sea and Magpie. With more exciting projects, including the Die Hard-inspired Cleaner and the zombie film We Bury the Dead, Ridley has attempted many different genres. In an interview with ComicBook to promote her upcoming role in Cleaner, Ridley teased she would be interested in a role in the MCU or Dcu.

Related'It Can Be About Real Things:' Daisy Ridley's Star Wars Movie Writer Teases Story Direction

New Star Wars screenwriter, George Nolfi, hints at his vision for the film.

With Oscar nominations firmly set and multiple guild award shows every week between now and the big show in March, the race to the Academy Awards has entered its final leg. This weekend is a crucial one for award watchers, with the Producers Guild of America and Directors Guild of America both giving out their annual prizes at ceremonies that could predict the Best Picture and Best Director race.

The 77th annual DGA Awards, which took place at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday, February 8, honored the year’s finest achievements in feature filmmaking, episodic TV, and commercial directing. The evening’s top prize, Theatrical Feature Film, went to Sean Baker for “Anora,” while other nominees included Jacques Audiard (“Emilia Pérez”), Edward Berger (“Conclave”), Brady Corbet (“The Brutalist”), and James Mangold (“A Complete Unknown”).

It remains to be seen what Baker’s big win means for his Oscar campaign — but last...

Having played the iconic DC character the Flash longer than anyone, Grant Gustin has now given insight into how he kept the Scarlet Speedster fresh for so long. Gustin played the Barry Allen incarnation of the character in The CW's The Flash for nine seasons and also appeared in crossovers and other shows across the Arrowverse.

Gustin told Cbr at Megacon that the show retained its freshness because he took the responsibility of playing the Flash seriously. "It was never an intentional thought about how to keep it fresh," he began. "I'm a very scene-by-scene actor. I wanted to keep it realistic. The only reason I did a decent job with the show is I took it very seriously. Try not to suck." Gustin's dedication to playing the Crimson Comet has always been evident in interactions with fans throughout his years of playing the character in the show that ended its run two years ago.

The Penguin had a great night at the Critics' Choice Awards, picking up two major acting wins. This follows a plethora of previous accolades garnered by the hit HBO show.

The event, which marked the 30th annual ceremony for the Critics' Choice Awards, was held in Santa Monica, California, on Feb. 7. The Penguin was up for four awards, ultimately picking up big wins for two. It was up for Best Limited Series, an award that went to Netflix's Baby Reindeer. Deirdre O'Connell had also been nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Francis Cobb, the mother of the titular supervillain, but Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gunning nabbed that award.

RelatedThe Penguin Creator Finally Weighs in on Batman's Absence in the Spinoff Series

That should settle the debate over Bruce Wayne's whereabouts when that bomb exploded at Crown Point.

Meanwhile, for his role as Oz Cobb, Colin Farrell...

Tim Burton’s Batman films were certainly quite iconic. Although fans had their fair share of criticisms for them, the movies certainly had their moment and became memorable for fans in their own way. Another aspect that made them so much different from Christopher Nolan’s or Matt Reeves’ films was that they were a product of their time.

Batman and Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman | Credit: Warner Bros.

Having several aspects that made them defined by the era they were released in, the films have a special essence to them. During an interview, Kim Basinger revealed her favorite scene from her time in 1989’s Batman and why it would not work today.

Kim Basinger reveals her favorite moment from Batman

While Tim Burton’s Batman films are beloved in their own way, there are certainly some aspects that would not work in today’s time. Be it costume designs or jokes,...

The Penguin told a very compelling story for one Gotham villain, but fans still thought that the near-perfect season had glaring plot holes. Series creator Lauren LeFranc finally addresses one highly-contended discrepancy in the show.

Showrunner Lauren LeFranc offered a very grounded reason for Batman's absence in The Penguin. Fans pointed out that the show's escalating events should have eventually caught Bruce Wayne's attention, even if he was preoccupied with the chaos of The Batman's aftermath. Speaking to Empire Magazine (via The Direct), LeFranc hinted that Bruce was oblivious to (or at least ignored) the radical shakeup happening in Gotham's criminal underground. That could explain why he didn't investigate the Falcone massacre or the Crown Point explosion.

RelatedThe Batman Director Confirms Bruce Wayne Almost Appeared in The Penguin

The cameo would have confirmed Batman hadn't left Gotham and was fully aware of what was happening.

"What [Director] Matt [Reeves] reiterated to me...

Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell are two of the biggest names in Hollywood, and when they team up for a movie, it’s bound to grab attention. Their upcoming film, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, has created quite a buzz, and for good reason. This intriguing project brings together not just these two megastars but also a brilliant director and a talented creative team.

With its unique concept, a mix of fantasy and romance, and an exciting ensemble cast, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated films of 2025.

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey | Credit: Imperative Entertainment

If you’re curious about its release date, cast details, and what the story is all about, well, here you go!

What is the release date of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey?

Fans won’t have to wait too long to see Margot Robbie back on...

Cristin Milioti broke out in a big way last year by playing mob heiress Sofia Falcone in The Penguin, but if you're a fan of Netflix's sci-fi anthology show Black Mirror, you already knew her. In the show's fourth season, she played Nanette, an employee at a video game company who's DNA was borrowed without her consent by her boss (Jesse Plemons), who then used it to create a digital copy of Nanette. In fact, he did that with several coworkers, whom he recast as crew members on the USS Callister. Inside a digital world, he used these people to play out his Star Trek fantasies.

The resulting episode, "USS Callister," was a disturbing, hilarious story about high tech slavery. It was so popular that the upcoming seventh season of Black Mirror will feature a direct sequel episode, something the show has never done before. Milioti will return as Nanette,...

While the cutting-edge Netflix series Black Mirror is known for its anthology-style episodes that each cover a new, supremely messed-up story, Netflix has already confirmed that one special episode will be getting the chance to live long and prosper in the series' first ever follow-up. The award-winning "USS Callister" episode of Season 4 was packed with star power from actors including Jesse Plemons, Cristin Milioti, Billy Magussen, and Jimmi Simpson, but more importantly featured an enthralling, dark take on the colorful sci-fi series Star Trek. Like all great Black Mirror episodes, "USS Callister" left audiences wanting more, and now, that's exactly what they're getting.

Gearing up for the release of the seventh season of the immensely popular anthology series, Netflix gave fans a tiny glimpse at Milioti's return to the series in the sequel episode. The Penguin actress will be reprising her role as Nanette in the video game simulation, picking...

A direct continuation of the beloved Netflix series, Daredevil: Born Again will finally see the Man Without Fear back in New York City in his ever-lasting fight against crime and corruption. It’s been a long wait for diehard fans of the original show and the character, but every indication thus far points to a worthy follow-up that expands upon the world of Daredevil in the MCU. Although it has lofty expectations to live up, Daredevil: Born Again has also set its sights on surpassing another critically-acclaimed and award-winning series — The Penguin.

During an interview with SFX Magazine (via GamesRadar), Daredevil: Born Again showrunner Dario Scardapane compared the upcoming Disney+ series to HBO's hit drama The Penguin. Scardapane, who admits Born Again was conceived well before Penguin aired on television, says that his series will rival the tone of the DC show. Additionally, he tells audiences to expect Born Again to be "more grounded,...

It turns out that The Penguin's Dr. Julian Rush isn't the Scarecrow of Matt Reeves' Batman franchise, and I'm actually quite glad that showrunner Lauren LeFranc debunked the prevailing DC theory. Julian Rush is introduced in The Penguin as an Arkham State Hospital psychiatrist assigned to Sofia Falcone during her incarceration before developing deeper feelings for her. He plays an emergent role in the series as he moves on from being a lower-level Arkham State Hospital employee to becoming Sofia's romantic partner and de facto adviser as she swiftly ascends to power in Gotham's underworld.

While Julian Rush is ostensibly an original character for Matt Reeves' Batman trilogy, given there is no such character in DC Comics, that hasn't stopped theories aplenty emerging from the fanbase tying his true identity to long-established Batman villains. I don't find this to be surprising, given how he ends the show as a...

Warning: This list contains discussion of extreme violence and sexual assault.

Heroes are nothing without their villains, and that is especially true under the DC Comics banner. How much the audience loves its protagonist is often decided by how much it hates the antagonist. When it comes to the "heels" of DC, they offer plenty of reasons for readers to hate them.

DC Comics has a tendency to go darker than its superhero universe counterparts, and that darkness offers more opportunity to deliver stories where the villains can be downright despicable. Rather than just plant bombs or indulge in cartoonish plots, DC's villains often commit despicable, even disgusting acts of villainy. Batman's rogues gallery alone is a threat to the entire DC Universe, but the universe at large is filled with grimy evildoers who have committed crimes that would make anyone clutch their pearls.

The Joker Tortures the Gordons Batman: The Killing Joke...

Batman is one of the most popular superheroes in the DC Universe and, despite not receiving a live-action film, the character had many incredible appearances throughout 2024. Batman is beloved as a brilliant, rich martial artist with incredible dedication to his city and his craft. After a series of live-action Batman performances in the past, it appears that even more are ahead. Updates on The Batman Part II confirm it is scheduled for 2026, with another iteration in The Brave and the Bold to follow sometime in the years that follow.

With confirmation of a Clayface movie at DC Studios, more and more iterations of Batman and his villains appear to be ahead. While Joker: Folie à Deux did not live up to all expectations, it is incredible to see so much ancillary Batman content being made. While Batman is the heart of his own franchise, the roster of characters that...

The drug war between Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) and Sofia Falcone (Cristin Millioti) in The Penguin may have blown a literal hole in Gotham City, the show itself has been a major boon for Gotham's real-life counterpart, New York City. While critics and audiences sung the praises of the show when it was released earlier this year, and guilds and awards bodies are prepping to give the show all the awards in the world next year, New York City's Mayor has praised the show for bolstering the city's economy.

According to statistics released by the Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment, The Penguin shooting in New York contributed over $134.7 million to the city. Calling all box office junkies, prepare to get nerdy, because the figure has been broken down into detailed categories. Over $73 million went to the wages of over 2,200 local cast and crew. Another $60.8 million went towards local economic activity.

It's a great day for Batman fans and bird enthusiasts, because HBO's The Penguin could be getting a second season. The hit 8-episode series followed Colin Farrell's Oz Cobb a week after the events of The Batman. With a power vacuum consuming Gotham's criminal underbelly, Cobb weasels his way to the top of the food chain, competing against Sofia Falcone (Cristin Millioti), the daughter of his former-boss, Carmine Falcone. Season 1 received rave reviews, and is expected to sweep up come next year's awards season. Fans are worried it might be one-and-done for The Penguin, but Matt Reeves has now suggested otherwise.

Speaking to Zoë Kravitz for Variety, Matt Reeves dropped some major bombshells about the future of The Penguin and The Batman. Fans were expecting a Season 2 renewal after The Penguin's heartbreaking eighth episode was released... but nothing came. Like Batman swooping down from a gargoyle, Reeves revealed.

Quick Links Phone Booth Made Colin Farrell a Tragic Hostage Cellular Turned Chris Evans Into a Detective

The following contains spoilers for Carry-On, now streaming on Netflix.

With the holiday season winding down, Netflix has released Carry-On, an action film with a Christmas twist. It stars Kingsman's Taron Egerton as Ethan, a Tsa agent at Lax who finds an earpiece during the Christmas Eve rush. As he puts it on, he becomes embroiled in a scheme to sneak a terrorist weapon through the scanners.

Most of the film depicts Ethan obeying orders from the villains in order to keep his girlfriend, Nora, and other innocent people alive. Interestingly, this idea of the unwitting accomplice who has to follow instructions via technology has been done in previous films. This plot is found in Phone Booth starring The Penguin's Colin Farrell, and a year later, in Cellular starring Captain America's Chris Evans.

Actress Angelina Jolie rose to prominence during the 1990s and her acting prowess and star status grew exponentially during the 2000s. Aside from her filmography and humanitarian work, Jolie has also been in the news because of her personal life. Before her famous relationship with Brad Pitt, the actress was rumored to be dating one DC star.

Angelina Jolie starred in 2004’s Alexander (Credit: The Tonight Show | NBC).

According to reports, Jolie and The Penguin star Colin Farrell were rumored to have romantic interest in each other. However, Jolie rubbished these rumors during an interview. Nonetheless, the rumors of a supposed romantic interest between the two stars refuse to subside decades after their alleged fling, and here is what you need to know in that regard.

Angelina Jolie revealed why she wasn’t dating The Penguin star Colin Farrell

Angelina Jolie made headlines for her then-rumored relationship with actor Brad...

Gotham City Police Department (Gcpd) officer James "Jim" Gordon has always been Batman's connection to legal, sanctioned law enforcement throughout the franchise's history, and in Matt Reeves's 2022 film "The Batman," Jeffrey Wright's portrayal of a younger Lieutenant Jim Gordon reminds us all why he's the Mvp. Wright's Gordon isn't just a cop that's helping the Caped Crusader (Robert Pattinson) from inside the police department, but he's also basically Batman's best friend, too. The relationship between Gordon and Bats is, simply put, one of the best parts of "The Batman."

The HBO series "The Penguin" is a spin-off of "The Batman" that serves as a bridge between the events of "The Batman" and "The Batman Part II," with Colin Farrell starring as the titular Penguin, also known as Oswald Cobb, a violent but surprisingly charming crime lord on the rise following the death of his boss, Carmine Falcone.

Ever since HBO announced their plans for a more book-accurate TV reboot of J.K. Rowling’s beloved Harry Potter novels, in the form of a “decade-long series”, fans have simply lost their minds. There has been a surge in rumors and discussions surrounding the cast of the highly anticipated project.

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone | image: Warner Bros.

That’s when a controversial choice of cast emerged online, after Deadline speculated that the Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein might be in talks to play the role of Rubeus Hagrid originated by Robbie Coltrane. But while Goldstein’s talent is undeniable, many fans are finding it hard to envision him as the lovable giant, especially when Game of Thrones star Mark Addy seems more fit.

Ted Lasso Star Brett Goldstein is Rumored to Play Hagrid in Harry Potter Reboot

Gather around the great hall,...

The second half of 2024 has been quite tumultuous for the DC universe. While Joker 2 turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments in Cbm history, on the flip side, we received The Penguin, which has been an impeccable addition to Matt Reeves’ The Batman Epic Crime Saga.

The Penguin | Credit: Max

Not only does the show do a villainous character right (cough cough Ssu), but following its roaring success, it is now one of the leading shows ahead of the Awards season, alongside the Emmy-winning Shogun.

The Penguin and Shogun Dominates the Critic Choice Awards Shogun | Credit: Hulu

After dominating the Emmys with a record-breaking 18 nominations, Shogun is now leading the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards with six nods, which includes the prestigious best drama series. Things aren’t too doom and gloom for The Penguin too, as following its limited-series status, the show is leading all the limited-series...

With a DC franchise and films from Christopher Nolan, Robert Eggers and the Safdie brothers under his belt, some people will still always know Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen.

The actor, who made his breakout performance in the 2008 feature adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight, had a recent fan encounter with someone who thought he’d gone into early retirement after the five-film franchise concluded in 2012.

In an interview with The New York Times, Pattinson recalled an airport employee recently asking him, “Hey, you’re the guy from Twilight. Why’d you stop acting?”

“I was like … ‘I’m Batman?'” he recounted. “She just laughed.”

Pattinson and Kristen Stewart starred as 104-year-old vampire Edward and his teen girlfriend Bella Swan in the book-to-film saga, which included New Moon (2009), Eclipse (2010), Breaking Dawn — Part 1 (2011) and Breaking Dawn — Part 2 (2012).

Robert Pattinson in The Batman.

After making his DC debut as Bruce Wayne...

It’s not always easy to portray a character for whom the world loves you. Jack Gleeson found hatred from the entire world for his role as Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones. Tom Cavanagh found worldwide fame for his portrayal of Wells on the iconic CW show The Flash.

Grant Gustin in a still from The Flash | Credits: DC Entertainment

However, Cavanagh didn’t just play one character in the show as his character of Wells turned out to be a different persona entirely. The actor also portrayed the villainous role of Reverse-Flash for which he loved the show!

Why Tom Cavanagh Loved The Flash

For obvious reasons, the world fell in love with Grant Gustin’s The Flash which ran for 9 seasons. From some iconic storylines, character arcs, and a plethora of cinematic scenes, The Flash reached unprecedented levels of fame for a TV show.

Tom Cavanagh...

The 2022 version of The Caped Crusader has just landed on Prime Video on Dec. 1. The Batman, directed and co-written by Matt Reeves, starring Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/The Batman, is new to the platform in December. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards in 2023 and spawned the HBO original series, The Penguin.

The Batman co-starred Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle, Jeffrey Wright as Lieutenant James Gordon, Paul Dano as The Riddler, Andy Serkis as Alfred, and a nearly unrecognizable Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb/The Penguin. It earned more than $772 million worldwide against a budget of $185-200 million and currently has a “Certified Fresh” 85% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Related The Batman's James Gordon Actor Pitches Surprising Idea for Next Villain

The Batman's James Gordon actor Jeffrey Wright has an interesting pick for the villain he wants to see the Dark Knight take on next.

The Penguin is Almost Perfect

The Penguin,...

The Penguin series made it clear that Oz Cobb is a top tier villain, but it also mapped out multiple ways for his character to fall from power. The Dcu Elseworlds most exciting universe is the Matt Reeves Batverse that revolves around Robert Pattinson's Batman. While this universe only has one film and one series to date, the quality of the storytelling, and the presentation of a dark and dangerous Gotham has made it one of the most compelling sub-franchises to follow.

The Batman followed a younger Dark Knight, who had just made his debut as a vigilante hero, alongside some terrifying villains who wanted to reshape Gotham in their desired image. However, while Paul Dano's Riddler managed to inspire an army of criminals, the organized crime portion of Gotham ran in very different circles. And after Riddler disposed of Carmine Falcone, there was a power vacuum that...

“The Penguin” might be over but there are a lot of shows about criminal dirtbags to help fill the void.

HBO’s spinoff of Matt Reeves’ “The Batman film didn’t really have any right to be as good as it was but award-contending performances by Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti helped make it one of the most talked about shows of 2024. Now that it’s finished, people are likely clamoring for another crime drama that ticks the same boxes as “The Penguin.”

Below are seven options for shows like “The Penguin” to try if you’re trying to capture the same vibes that made it such a great watch.

HBO The Sopranos

The parallels between “The Penguin” and “The Sopranos” were talked about ad nauseam throughout the show’s run that this recommendation is a no-brainer. Oz and Tony share a number of similarities from a need to climb...

Warning! This post contains Spoilers for The Penguin

A major war between The Penguin and The Riddler has been set up for The Batman - Part II. While both classic DC villains were introduced in 2022's The Batman as foes of Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne, It's hard to see Edward Nashton (Paul Dano) and Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) ever working well with each together. Furthermore, The Penguin has potentially set up a way in which they could even become direct rivals in the upcoming sequel.

As seen in The Batman by director Matt Reeves, Edward Nashton was put behind bars after killing mob boss Carmine Falcone (whom Oz Cobb worked for). However, The Penguin has confirmed that Riddler's followers are still out there, even after they tried killing Mayor-Elect Bella Reál and triggered Nashton's flood which caused city-wide devastation at The Batman's ending. To that end, it's been suggested...

James Gunn is tired of the "charades" surrounding the status rumors surrounding the long-awaited superhero sequel, The Batman Part II. The DC Studios co-ceo hits out at more speculation that the upcoming big-screen installment of Matt Reeves' Bat-verse will be canceled.

On his Threads page, Gunn responded to a fan who suggested that there was no script in the works for Part II while claiming that the Bat-verse "is just a myth" as no actors have been contacted by Reeves. The DC Studios boss blasted the "rando on social media" for his claims, saying that if Part II was going to be canceled, it would have been announced already. He also insisted that he's been "one of Matt's biggest cheerleaders for years" and reiterated his recent confirmation that he and the cast are awaiting Reeves' script.

Related ‘It's Really a Tragedy’: James Gunn Warns Creature Commandos Will Be More...

The Best Limited/Movie Actress race at the 2025 Golden Globes has had the same two frontrunners all season long: Jodie Foster (“True Detective: Night Country”) and Cate Blanchett (“Disclaimer”). But there’s a brand new challenger in the third place position in the form of Cristin Milioti (“The Penguin”). Can she pull out a victory when the 82nd annual Golden Globes air on Jan. 5, 2025, on CBS?

Foster, Blanchett, and Milioti are expected to be joined by Sofia Vergara (“Griselda”), Naomi Watts (“Feud: Capote vs. The Swans”), and Nicole Kidman (“The Perfect Couple”) in this year’s nominations lineup, per our combined odds. Foster recently won the Emmy for “True Detective: Night Country, with Vergara and Watts being co-nominees. Blanchett, Milioti, and Kidman star on new programs that will be eligible at next year’s Emmys.

“The Penguin” is HBO’s take on the classic DC Comics “Batman” villain, with Colin Farrell playing the titular role.

Everyone is still talking about The Penguin, but now that it's over, how are people supposed to fill the void left behind by the brutal crime story? The HBO show didn't hold back from Oswald Cobblepot's worst side, but are there any comics that can satisfy fans of the Penguin?

The good news is that there are plenty of stories that similarly focus on Gotham's notorious crime boss and yes, they are just as grim and violent as Colin Farrel's epic portrayal of the Penguin. From stories that focus on Oswald rebuilding his empire to tales that showcase his utter lack of humanity, The Penguin fans are absolutely going to want to read these five comics.

Batman - One Bad Day: Penguin Shows Oswald Come Back From His Lowest Point Batman - One Bad Day: Penguin by John Ridley and Giuseppe Camuncoli

Batman One Bad Day was a...

The Batman's version of Clayface was already repeatedly shown to viewers throughout The Penguin, according to one striking theory for the DC universe. The Batman has only introduced a small handful of actual DC supervillains in its run thus far, preferring to largely focus on Gotham's organized crime factions in order to showcase its version of the city and its underworld. Its few supervillain depictions have been carefully handled, balancing the removal of some comic canon elements with great depth of characterization that makes these figures still distinctive and fascinating takes on the antagonists.

The Batman's Joker has scarcely been seen yet, but the universe's two main supervillains so far - the Riddler and the Penguin - have both been the subject of much audience excitement, even if the conventionally bird-obsessed Oz has yet to be seen near any of the creatures, and Edward's super-intelligence appears to have been...

The Batman's Commissioner Gordon actor, Jeffrey Wright, shared that he has yet to have any serious conversations with director Matt Reeves about The Batman Part II. The star appeared alongside Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Colin Farrell, and Paul Dano in the first installment in the series, which aimed to take a more realistic look at Batman's early career.

In a recent interview with Inverse, Wright said he was "excited about getting back there," while adding that audiences know about "as much as [he] does," given that he hasn't "read anything" or "talked to Matt for a while." Per Wright, both have been "off doing [their] thing." Despite the potential setbacks in filming, the actor persists that he is looking "foward to getting back there."

With Reeves' creative direction, Wright is optimistic about the potential this iteration holds. The actor stated: There's a lot to explore... I think the vision that [Reeves] has...

When "The Batman" dropped back in 2022, Colin Farrell's Penguin became an instant fan-favorite, mainly because he provided some of the only comic relief in Matt Reeves' relentlessly dingy neo noir. So popular was Farrell's wise guy rogue that he was given his own show, with Warner Bros. and Reeves doubling down on the character's appeal as a way of expanding the universe established in the film. "The Penguin" debuted two years later, beating Marvel at its own game with a series that stands on its own as an HBO premium drama but which also provides valuable connective tissue between "The Batman" and the upcoming "The Batman: Part II."

For Farrell, it seemed as though inhabiting a character he clearly had a ball playing in Reeves' film was going to be equally enjoyable. The actor spoke about having "unbridled fun" playing The Penguin in "The Batman" and had a...

The Batman's version of Scarecrow was teased weeks ago, and I've only just noticed it. By the time of The Penguin episode 8's ending, I was just as excited as anyone for The Batman - Part II. The show did an excellent job of continuing to flesh out the version of Gotham established in The Batman's ending, all while offering a deeper insight into the characters - more aptly, the villains - of this iteration of the franchise.

From Oz Cobb himself to Sofia Falcone's Hangman, The Penguin's DC Easter eggs were rife regarding connections to iconic Batman villains. Naturally, this got many, myself included, wondering about the story of The Batman 2, and which elements from The Penguin would be included in Matt Reeves' upcoming film. Now, weeks on from The Penguin's initial air date, I cannot believe I have only just noticed teases for a potential villain in The Batman 2,...

Warning! This article contains spoilers for the season 1 finale of The Penguin.

The Penguin introduced an incredibly dark and twisted version of the titular villain, Oz Cobb, but it's hard to believe that the series exceeded even Gotham's most twisted moments from Oswald Cobblepot. It was clear from the first 10 minutes of Matt Reeves' The Batman that his universe was considerably darker than any version of Gotham seen before. Between the Riddler's brutal murder of a man, and Batman's first battle with some thugs, the world of these films was brutal, gritty, and twisted to another degree.

However, the 2014 TV series, Gotham also delivered a dark and lawless version of the city with some of the most comprehensive explorations of the villains seen in live-action. Particularly for the character of Oswald Cobblepot, who grows from a shriveling shadow of a man, to a monstrous, vicious crime lord. While exploring this Oswald's backstory,...

After an electrifying run of eight episodes, The Penguin wrapped up on November 10, 2024. This spin-off series, chronicling the Penguin’s meteoric rise and ruthless elimination of his rivals, earned critical acclaim and captured the hearts of both fans and critics alike. It’s clear that Matt Reeves continues to excel in crafting compelling stories within the DC universe.

As anticipation builds for the next chapter in Reeves’ saga—the sequel to The Batman, which picks up where The Penguin leaves off—fans are left with one burning question: where was Jim Gordon?

While it’s understandable why Batman didn’t appear, the Gotham City Police Department played a significant role throughout the series. Given the scale of crime portrayed over the eight episodes, Gordon’s absence felt glaringly conspicuous.

Fortunately, we have an answer. Jeffrey Wright, who portrays Jim Gordon in The Batman franchise, shed light on the character’s...

The Batman featured a tense exchange between Lieutenant Jim Gordon and Oz Cobb, and we're sure the incorruptible Gcpd officer will be as shocked as anyone to learn that the mobster is now Gotham City's Kingpin.

The Penguin TV series was a 10/10 series in the eyes of most fans but the absence of characters like Batman and Gordon was undeniably distracting. While The Batman Part II might explain their absence, a cameo from one of both in the HBO series would have been welcomed and gone a long way in creating a greater feeling of connectivity.

Talking to Inverse, Jim Gordon actor Jeffrey Wright confirmed, "There was no talk of my being in this first season." Asked if he'd be on board for a potential second season, the actor replied, "Who knows? We'll see what happens down the line, but I'm juggling enough balls as it is."

HBO is said...