Colin Farrell has recently celebrated a significant milestone in his career with his first-ever Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category for his role in The Penguin. However, there was a period of uncertainty regarding the show’s production. The WGA strike of 2023 and the unpredictable management style of Warner Bros. Discovery under David Zaslav raised concerns that the character of Oz Cobb might remain confined to the universe of The Batman without further development. The potential for the project to be shelved added a layer of tension for both the cast and crew, making the eventual progress all the more gratifying.
In an interview with Variety, when questioned about his doubts regarding the continuation of The Penguin, Colin Farrell candidly expressed that there were indeed moments of concern. He also commented on the surprising cancellation of Batgirl, stating, “Yeah, a couple, like during the strike. And in a world where they can make a ‘Batgirl’ film and then just can it. I don’t understand it — the debits and credits and ledgers and, f*cking, all that stuff — but they can decide that it’s economically advantageous to just shelve a $90 million film that people have put so much effort into it. You better believe it. When we were in the middle of the strike, I remember saying to my sister, ‘I don’t know if we’re gonna go back to this. I don’t know if we’re gonna finish it.’ I did get nervous.”
Fortunately, after nearly five months of intense negotiations, the WGA strike came to an end, and the mood surrounding The Penguin shifted positively. Farrell described the experience as a heartfelt reunion, saying, “But seeing everyone at the end of the strike and going back to pick up where we left off, it was such a f*cking deeply heartfelt reunion. It was unbelievable. It was such a joy to see everyone, and everyone was so relieved and gung-ho and just wanted to finish it. I’m thrilled for the whole crew and the cast. It was such a communal effort.” This shared sense of purpose and enthusiasm played a crucial role in revitalizing the project and enhancing team morale.
Despite the positive developments, Farrell remains cautiously optimistic about the future of The Penguin. Although the series has garnered an impressive total of 24 Emmy nominations, particularly in the limited series category, he is not entirely convinced that a second season will follow. In the competitive landscape of television, he finds himself up against formidable talents like Adolescence’s Stephen Graham, Presumed Innocent’s Jake Gyllenhaal, Dope Thief’s Brian Tyree Henry, and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’s Cooper Koch. The uncertainty that lingers over potential future seasons reflects the volatile nature of the entertainment industry, making each recognition all the more valuable.
