THE PENGUIN Showrunner Talks Mark Strong's Carmine Falcone, Likens Sofia's Story to Rosemary Kennedy

The most recent episode of The Penguin, titled "Cent'Anni," was top-notch storytelling as it dove into the past of Sofia Falcone and revealed the truth behind The Hangman and Carmine Falcone's role in Sofia being locked up in Arkham Asylum.

Mark Strong took on the role of Carmine, who was previously played by John Turturro. While the creative team wanted to bring Turturro back for the series, the actor’s schedule wouldn’t allow for it.

While talking with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Lauren LeFranc explained: "Initially, did we want to be able to have John come back and be Carmine Falcone? Of course.

“John's a really talented actor and was exceptional in the film, but once we realized that his schedule wasn't going to work out for our show, it became quickly about who has that sort of gravitas and ferociousness, that Mark Strong actually does have."

She added: "It was really exciting to see how those scenes turned out because he was so seminal to Sofia's story. We certainly weren't going to not have Carmine in our story. We very specifically plotted Sofia's arc to be interwoven with Carmine's arc, as well."

When talking about the recasting and what Strong brought to the role, LeFranc said: "They're similar ages, but a little bit younger. You'd have to ask Mark, but I think he did look at the portrayal and the accent [in The Batman].

“I keep using the word gravitas, but it was very important that he has a presence, certainly with Sofia, that there's a hint of warmth, but also something very cold at his center. It felt cohesive to me in watching him. It felt to me like that is her father."

As for Sofia’s story arc in this episode, LeFranc compares it to that of Rosemary Kennedy, the sister of President John F. Kennedy who was lobotomized at 23 on her father's orders. 

She said: "It's unclear how mentally ill she was or if she just did things that they felt were inappropriate and made the Kennedys look bad.

“We're digging deeper into who [Sofia] is and why she is the way she is, but at the same time acknowledging flaws in our institutions, for instance, and the power that some men hold over young women. Who has a voice and who doesn't? Whose voice is silenced?"

I’m loving this series so far and it’ll be interesting to see how the story continues to play out and set up the future of The Batman franchise.