Summary
The Penguinspin-off officially changes the name of the iconic Batman villain ahead of the new series, and it makes a lot of sense. Ahead of the release of Matt Reeves’The Batmanin 2022, news broke about a distinct universe being built around the character through spin-offs likeThe Penguinseries (viaVariety). When the film debuted, and Farrell’s performance in the role was finally unveiled, excitement for the new series exploded, but precious few details about the show and what could be expected were released.
Then, when the DCEU was retired and the upcomingDCUspearheaded by James Gunn was announced, the future of all other DC projects was thrown into question. Fortunately,The Penguinand Reeves’TheBatmanUniverseremains intact, andThe Penguinwill begin streaming on HBO Max in September. And with the release date fast approaching, the first details about the new series are trickling through, including asurprising name change for the titular characterthat could work in the show’s favor.
The Penguin TV Show: Cast, Story Details & Everything We Know So Far
Matt Reeves continues his The Batman universe with some spinoff TV series, and the first to release is HBO Max’s The Penguin starring Colin Farrell.
Penguin’s New Name In The Batman Universe Explained
Separating The Penguin From Oswald Cobblepot
According to official press releases forThe Penguin,Colin Farrell is listed as playing the character of Oz Cobb. This is a distinct change from the commonly used name of Oswald Cobblepot that has appeared in comics and popular media up to this point. However, this doesn’t interfere with anything that has been set up inThe BatmanUniverse to date, as the character has only been referred to as either “The Penguin,” or “Oz.”
It may be a subtle change, but the impact on the future of the character can be significant and avoid any confusion which could arise in the future.
While this name change may be unexpected, it is a great way to distinguish the character and create some distance from previous versions. With the DCU in active development, and a newBatmanfilm,The Brave and the Bold, expected to take the character in a new direction, it helps to create a clear line between the two universes. It may be a subtle change, but the impact on the future of the character can be significant andavoid any confusion which could arise in the future.
Wait, Is Penguin’s New Name a Story Point?
Establishing New Origins For Oz Cobb
At present, it isimpossible to say if this name change will play an active part in the storyofThe Penguin. The series is clearly establishing the character as a dominant power in Gotham City, and his rise to power following the events ofThe Batman, with The Riddler and his disciples wreaking havoc on the city and creating a power vacuum. Considering the series' focus on the present and future of Gotham, it is unlikely that it will spend a considerable amount of time looking back at The Penguin’s origin story, and thus, where his name came from.
However, removing the traditional name, Oswald Cobblepot, could have far more positive implications for the character moving forward. Without the weight of the name and the associated legacy, thecharacter has more freedom and flexibilityto create a new story. It may be a minor change, but the original name comes with decades of baggage that would almost certainly inform the way the character is portrayed, or shape how the audience views him regarding his past.
Simply Known As The Penguin
The Penguin was first introduced inDetective Comics #58. This comic was published in December 1941, and the master thief soon became a regular within the comic series. As the years went by, the alias for the character remained his only known title, and itwasn’t until nearly five years later that the character was given an official namein 1946. Despite the christening of the character, however, he remained largely a mystery until the 1980s when his story was fleshed out in greater detail.
With this, some of the most detailed accounts of the characters' background come fromfilms likeBatman Returnsin 1992, and video games where there is more space to explore his origins. As a villain, The Penguin also never had a title series where he starred until 2023, when Tom King and Rafael de Latorre were assigned to create a new series starring the character. Now,The Penguinhas the opportunity to explore the character even further with a new name, as he claims power in a broken Gotham City.
The Penguin
Cast
Created by Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin is a crime-drama spin-off television series of 2022’s film The Batman. Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, A.K.A. the Penguin, begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family’s empire.
