Comic-Con 2024: 'The Penguin' Trailer Brings Gotham’s Crime to Life

In a rare TV transformation, Colin Farrell underwent 3.5 hours of daily makeup to become the unrecognizable Oz Cobb for HBO’s The Penguin. This extensive preparation is now coming to fruition as the show received its spotlight at San Diego Comic-Con, where HBO premiered a new trailer. The series, set to debut on September 19 on HBO and Max, initially started as a Max original but has been integrated into HBO's broader platform as part of a strategic shift.

The Penguin expands the world of Matt Reeves' The Batman, the 2022 film starring Robert Pattinson. It continues the story of Oz Cobb, a rising crime boss in Gotham. Farrell joined the Comic-Con panel virtually alongside other cast and crew, including Cristin Milioti (Sofia Falcone), Rhenzy Feliz (Victor Aguilar), and Mike Marino, who designed the prosthetics for the show.

Reeves revealed that while working on the lengthy script of The Batman, he initially proposed turning it into a TV show. Although this wasn't feasible at the time due to DC’s separate dealings with HBO, changes in corporate strategy eventually led to the creation of The Penguin.

Farrell described the profound impact of seeing the character's bust, saying it immediately gave him insight into Oz Cobb’s character, history, and pain. Showrunner Lauren LeFranc recalled watching early cuts of the film alone during the pandemic, aiming to honor the world Reeves had created. Despite Oz Cobb’s limited screen time in the movie, the character’s development in the show was a highlight for the producers.

Looking ahead, The Batman II is scheduled for 2026, with The Penguin set to appear in the film. The series, produced by Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios, hints at more TV projects within this universe. The cast also includes Michael Kelly (Johnny Viti), Shohreh Aghdashloo (Nadia Maroni), and Carmen Ejogo (Eve Karlo).