Colin Farrell says he is “absolutely” open to coming back for more seasons of ‘The Penguin,’ but he has one condition.
While speaking at the season 2 premiere of his show ‘Sugar‘ in Los Angeles last week, the 50-year-old opened up about continuing the DC crime drama that won him a Golden Globe in 2025. Farrell thinks “there’s a potential to explore more” with his character Oz Cobb. However, he also had a warning. “Should we? Can we get there? Could we justify a second or a third season when the first season was as strong as it was?” Farrell asked.
Why ‘The Batman’ Part II Comes First for Colin Farrell
Farrell said any serious talks about more seasons will have to wait until they finish work on the next Batman movie. The actor will return in ‘The Batman: Part II‘, which serves as the foundation of Matt Reeves’ crime saga. “The powers that are working very hard on bringing Batman to life now, the second film, so there’s no time to get into [another season of The Penguin],” Farrell explained. “But maybe when the shooting on that is completed, maybe we’ll start thinking about a second and third season of Penguin.”
Related: ‘The Penguin’ Is Back For ‘The Batman Part II’ But Not In The Way Fans Expected
Farrell’s condition is quite simple: any new season “would have to justify itself.” It would have to be “amazing because Lauren LeFranc and her team did such an extraordinary job in the first season.”
The Physical Toll of Playing Oz Cobb
The first season of ‘The Penguin‘ came out in 2024. It followed Oz Cobb as he rose through Gotham’s criminal world after the Riddler’s attacks. The eight-episode show got great reviews, and people really liked Farrell’s performance and the show’s gritty style.
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The role has been hard on Farrell physically. He spent up to three hours in the makeup chair every day, while the team used prosthetics to create the character’s pockmarked skin, sagging chin, and crooked nose. He also wore a 30-pound bodysuit. On set, they had a special tent with air conditioners to keep him from overheating. “It was an undertaking, man,” Farrell previously told IndieWire. “It took a year.“
There have also been reports that HBO and DC might not make a second season. The show might stay a limited series that bridges the Batman films, but Reeves has said he wants to continue the story. “I always said we’re going to continue [the Penguin’s] story,” Reeves told Esquire in November.
Colin Farrell and Co Stars Weigh In on Show’s Future
Farrell’s co-star, Cristin Milioti, who played Sofia Falcone, also wants to come back. “I feel like I have zero chill about it because every time I’m asked, I’m like, ‘Sign me up!’” she told Variety.
The makeup process has become a big part of how Farrell sees the character. Even though it is hard, he said the experience changed him. “I lost track of who I was… The feeling of being submerged beneath all this stuff was so significant,” Farrell recalled. “It was so present in my body and thereby in my psychology, as well.“
Marino, who designed the prosthetics, said Farrell was very committed. “I never met an actor who’s this patient, understanding, talented, and expressive once the makeup is on,” Marino told IndieWire. “He really used the makeup. He really made his character come through subtleties.“
Farrell has been acting for over 25 years. He knows what it takes to make a character work. “It always takes a village to bring a character to life,” Farrell noted in a previous interview.
For now, Farrell is working on ‘The Batman: Part II’. The future of ‘The Penguin‘ is still up in the air, but Farrell has made his position clear. The story has to be amazing.
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