Colin Farrell has expressed mixed feelings about reprising his role as the Penguin in the upcoming HBO show, reflecting on the intensity and challenges of the part. Although he enjoyed the role and felt honored to be part of the Penguin’s storied history—following actors like Burgess Meredith and Danny DeVito—Farrell admits the experience was grueling.
In a recent interview with Total Film, Farrell revealed that by the end of filming, he found himself complaining about the demanding nature of the role. He noted that while he was still grateful and recognized the privilege of working with talented creators like Matt Reeves, Lauren LeFranc, and Mike Marino, the process took a toll on him. His enjoyment of the role was overshadowed by the physical and mental strain it involved.
Farrell described his experience with the role as both powerful and challenging, particularly highlighting the discomfort of the prosthetics and costume. The physical transformation required for the role was intense, and by the end of filming, he felt a strong aversion to the suit and makeup, making him question whether he would be willing to go through it again.
Despite his current reluctance, Farrell indicated that he might reconsider if there were a compelling reason to return. He mentioned that if Lauren LeFranc could find a way to make a potential second season work in a way that made sense, he would be open to discussing it. However, his immediate reaction after finishing the first season was a firm desire to avoid the role for the time being.
The new HBO show, “The Penguin,” is set to premiere on September 19 in the US and September 20 in the UK. Farrell’s reflections and the full story behind his experience with the role will be featured in the upcoming issue of Total Film, available on September 12.
