Colin Farrell Says of THE PENGUIN Season 2: "I'm In No Rush. I Have No Deep Desire To Do It."
The HBO series The Penguin, which takes place in the dark and grimy world created by director Matt Reeves in his acclaimed film The Batman, is doing pretty well this awards season.
It has picked up some key awards at the Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild Awards that were held this past Sunday.
Most of the accolades have been directed toward the show’s star, Colin Farrell, who played Oswald “Oz” Cobb, aka The Penguin, who went to great physical lengths in the costume and makeup chair to bring this character to life.
But aside from its stellar reviews and love from fans, Farrell says he’s in no rush to return for a second season, at least not until there’s a really good reason to.
The Academy Award-nominated actor told Variety backstage at the SAG Awards, “I don’t want it. I don’t not want it. We all left it in the ring in those eight hours. I would hate to, just because of a quote-unquote success, have to go again and for it to be a diluted version of what people seem to feel it is, majoritively.
“So I’m in no rush. I have no deep desire to do it. … Sure, if they think of something that works in conjunction as a parallel to Matt Reeves’ cinematic universe and it’s a good idea, I’m open to it. But it’s not something concerning me.”
Farrell is expected to appear in Reeves’ The Batman sequel, but Reeves hasn’t shared details with him. “He keeps his cards to his chest,” Farrell said. That said, Farrell still can’t believe he gets to play one of Gotham’s most well-known villains.
“I was six, seven, eight or nine, watching Meredith Burgess as the Penguin on Batman,” Farrell said. “If you would have told that six-, seven- or eight-, nine-year-old, ‘You’re going to play that character someday. And you know the Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’ video?
“‘You’re going to have the makeup done by a student of the guy, Rick Baker, who did that makeup on Michael Jackson.’ It’s just madness. So these moments are beautiful. I’m very grateful for them. And this show has been extraordinarily thrilling.”
Farrell and the show’s writers, directors, creators and co-stars told an incredible story. We will just have to see what the future holds for Reeves and Farrell’s Penguin.