Photo illustration by Slate. Photos by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images, A24, HBO, Universal Pictures, and Everett.
Colin Farrell is no stranger to transformation, and his portrayal of Oswald “Oz” Cobb in The Penguin might be one of his most startling roles yet. The show, set after the events of The Batman, sees Farrell stepping into the role of a club-owning mobster trying to rise to the top of Gotham’s criminal underworld. The prosthetics, fat suit, and gruff accent make it hard to believe you’re watching the same actor who once graced Hollywood as a heartthrob. But on September 19, 2024, when The Penguin premiered, it was clear that Farrell’s reinvention is far from over.
The Penguin draws heavily from the Batman story arc The Long Halloween, with Farrell’s character trying to gain control of the Falcone crime family. His performance is full of unpredictability, showcasing his talent for playing flawed, ambitious characters. Oz Cobb, with his limp, gravelly voice, and scheming nature, is a complex figure—part villain, part underdog. Farrell nails the nuances, making it impossible to take your eyes off him, even when the show falls into predictable Batman tropes.
Colin Farrell’s career has been filled with ups and downs. In the early 2000s, he was the Hollywood “it” boy, with roles in Minority Report and Phone Booth. But by 2004, his turn as Alexander the Great in Oliver Stone’s Alexander was a critical and box-office disaster. Many thought his star had dimmed, but Farrell had other plans.
By 2006, a stint in rehab and a string of flops behind him, Farrell teamed up with director Martin McDonagh for In Bruges. The film, a dark comedy, allowed Farrell to showcase his range, and he earned widespread acclaim for his performance. Since then, he’s become known as an actor who can disappear into any role, whether it’s a charming leading man or a deeply troubled character like Cobb in The Penguin.
Farrell’s role as Oz Cobb in The Penguin is a far cry from his early career, where he was cast for his good looks and charisma. In The Penguin, those features are almost entirely hidden beneath layers of makeup and prosthetics. Farrell fully embodies Cobb’s physical and emotional ugliness, creating a character who is both repulsive and oddly sympathetic. He’s not just a villain—he’s a man desperate for respect and power, despite his obvious shortcomings.
What makes Farrell’s performance in The Penguin stand out is how he balances the absurdity of the character with genuine emotion. Oz Cobb isn’t just a caricature; he’s a man who, despite his grotesque appearance and criminal ambitions, is relatable in his desire to be seen and valued. There are moments in the show where Cobb’s vulnerability seeps through, making him a more complicated figure than your average comic book villain.
This isn’t the first time Farrell has embraced a role that required a complete physical transformation. In 2021’s The North Water, he gained weight and bulked up to play a brutal arctic explorer. And in Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster, he packed on the pounds to play a sad, lonely man trapped in a dystopian future. But while those roles required physical changes, Oz Cobb in The Penguin is a different kind of transformation. Farrell’s facial expressions and voice work are just as important as the makeup, creating a character that feels both exaggerated and grounded.
Farrell’s return to mainstream recognition has been gradual, but steady. After his well-received roles in indie films like The Lobster and After Yang, Farrell has made a name for himself as one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors. While he may never return to the heartthrob roles of his early career, he seems more than happy to continue reinventing himself, taking on roles that challenge him in new and exciting ways.
The Penguin may not be breaking new ground in the Batman universe, but Farrell’s performance makes it worth watching. His portrayal of Oz Cobb is darkly funny, tragic, and utterly captivating. For fans of Farrell, it’s a reminder of just how far he’s come as an actor. For those new to his work, it’s an introduction to one of the most exciting performers working today.
Colin Farrell has come a long way since his early days as Hollywood’s next big thing. From the disastrous Alexander to the critically acclaimed In Bruges, Farrell’s career has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. But if The Penguin proves anything, it’s that Colin Farrell is far from finished reinventing himself. Whether he’s playing a charming rogue or a grotesque mobster, Farrell’s commitment to his craft makes him one of the most interesting actors in Hollywood today.
#ColinFarrell #ThePenguin #CareerTransformation #HollywoodReinvention #MustWatchTV