Colin Farrell Teases Return as the Penguin in Upcoming Batman Sequel
With Season 1 of The Penguin nearing its finale, Farrell hints at reprising his Gotham villain role in Matt Reeves’ The Batman trilogy continuation
As The Penguin wraps up its first season, fans may not have to wait long to see Colin Farrell’s iconic villain back in Gotham. Following the successful HBO spin-off series—which has already generated Emmy buzz—Farrell could soon be reprising his role as Oswald ‘Oz’ Cobblepot in the anticipated sequel to The Batman (2022).
Speaking on The Jess Cagle Show with Julia Cunningham on SiriusXM, Farrell discussed his excitement for the potential return but admitted he hasn’t seen the script. “I have no idea what the second film is gonna be. I heard Penguin features in it. I haven’t read it,” he shared. “It’d be interesting to see where we pick up from. There’s been so much groundwork laid. It’d be interesting to see where it goes from here, you know? But he would be quite different.”
In The Penguin series, set just one week after The Batman, Farrell’s character embarks on his rise through Gotham’s criminal underworld. It showcases a far cry from the imposing kingpin we know from the comics, with Oz still mocked and underestimated by others.
Director Matt Reeves has confirmed plans to continue The Batman as a trilogy, with filming for the sequel slated for next year. Reeves shared his vision with Collider, explaining, “Yes, that is still the plan. I mean, it’s sticking very closely to the path we envisioned.”
Reeves explained how The Penguin series evolved from this plan, giving Cobblepot’s origin story depth. “I always intended to continue Penguin’s story, showing his early rise to power,” Reeves noted. He wanted to capture the evolution of this overlooked figure into Gotham’s feared crime lord, which will serve as a foundation for the next film. While The Batman wasn’t Batman’s origin story, Reeves emphasizes that Cobblepot and other villains in the Rogues Gallery will have their own arcs, further enriching the Gotham universe.
