Fans hoping for a second season of The Penguin just got a worrying update from its main star as questions about its future on HBO grow. Lead actor Colin Farrell revealed he still hasn’t heard any clear news about Season 2 and even said he’s unsure if the show should continue.
In a chat with Deadline, Farrell gave an honest update on the chances of The Penguin returning, saying he has “no idea” what’s next. Still, no matter what happens, Farrell admitted part of him feels the The Batman spinoff series should be left as it is.
I have no idea if it’s happening. I know that I heard rumblings that they were thinking they’d like to do a second season, but I don’t know if it’s a good idea. I don’t know the way you go back to the trough… And part of me wants to go, ‘Just let it go people. We got away with it. Leave it as it is.’
he said
However, Farrell said he’s open to returning for The Penguin Season 2 if a “fantastic” storyline comes along.
But, look, if they came up with a fantastic idea or something like that, of course, I’d be open to it.
he said
After first playing Oz Cobb/The Penguin in 2022’s The Batman alongside Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne, Farrell took the lead in his HBO spinoff, which premiered last September and was set one week after The Batman. Joining him were Cristin Milioti (Sofia Falcone), Rhenzy Feliz (Victor Aguilar), and Deirdre O’Connell (Francis Cobb), as the series followed Cobb’s rise to power in Gotham City’s criminal underworld.
Farrell’s take on the Batman villain earned him a Golden Globe. Meanwhile, Milioti’s standout role as Falcone, the unstable daughter of Cobb’s former boss, earned her a Saturn Award and a Golden Globe nomination. The Penguin also racked up 24 Emmy nominations, including ones for Farrell and Milioti.
Given the show’s success (95% critic rating, 85% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes), talk of a second season was inevitable, even though it was billed as a miniseries. Creator and showrunner Lauren LeFranc has hinted at the possibility, and there have been behind-the-scenes discussions at HBO about continuing the story.
Despite his success as Penguin, Farrell has openly struggled with the idea of returning as Cobb. He complained about the heavy preparation required for the role, including hours of makeup and prosthetics. Farrell has also shared mixed feelings about continuing The Penguin, pointing out that a major character’s death would make Season 2 “more difficult” to pull off.
While the future of The Penguin Season 2 is still uncertain, Farrell will reprise his role as Cobb in the long-awaited The Batman Part II. Director Matt Reeves, who produced The Penguin, recently finished the script for the sequel, which is set to begin filming next spring. The Batman Part II is scheduled to hit theaters on Oct. 1, 2027.
Fans can stream every episode of The Penguin on HBO Max.
Source: CBR