While The Batman is expected to launch a new series of Batman films, the new movie will also launch a spin-off series based on The Penguin. Colin Farrell, who played The Penguin in The Batman, will reprise his role for the upcoming HBO Max series. Now the actor has even suggested that the new Penguin series could even be R-rated.
He revealed as much while speaking with Rotten Tomatoes, explaining how the film will lead into the new series. Obviously the film won’t have that much time to explore the character, so this new series will delve much more in-depth into the character and his backstory.
Here’s what he specifically had to say:
“His ambition and his vulnerability, his humor. I mean it was just the tip of the iceberg in this film for me, but there were little moments in the scripts that Matt wrote, in relation to Oz, little bits of humor and awkwardness, as well. And his origin, you know why he is the man he is and all that stuff. If we get six to eight hours to do it, I just think the character could be endlessly fun and fascinating and brutal. I hear that we’re going to be allowed to kind of do an R-rated version, perhaps, which would be nice to explore the violence that could permit, perhaps, and the darkness that could allow us to explore. So, all of those things.”
While The Batman was rated PG-13, it makes sense that Warner Bros might want the Penguin spin-off series to be R-rated. Especially with the success of Peacemaker and The Suicide Squad, it’s clear that Warner Bros isn’t hesitant to release R-rated properties at this point in time. As such, fans will have to keep an eye out for how production on this Penguin series based on the iconic villain continues.
In the meantime, fans will be able to see Colin Farrell’s take on The Penguin when The Batman hits theaters on March 4, 2022.