Matt Reeves’ The Batman might not be the first attempt at making a grounded version of Batman, but his version has managed to be a more interesting take on the mythos of the caped crusader. The breakout performance of the film has to be Collin Farrell’s The Penguin, who was unrecognizable in the role, thanks to the production’s hyper-competent makeup department.
Speaking with Interview Magzine, Matt Reeves revealed what his biggest fear was with Colin Farrell’s The Penguin, given that the actor was going to act through a slew of prosthetics, rather than just normal makeup. While prosthetics often stilt the actor’s ability to act, it seems that Reeves was blessed with cinematic brilliance instead.
Matt Reeves was afraid that The Penguin might not look natural
Matt Reeves talked about how the radically different approach to The Penguin that he took with Colin Farrell had him nervous for one particular reason. Farrell was working with prosthetics, which usually hinder the expressions and acting ability of any actor who is put under them. However, Matt Reeves revealed that the case was quite different for The Penguin. He said:
But my fear was that we hired Colin Farrell and somehow he’s transformed him entirely.” I need to believe that this is a real person, and I need Colin, who’s an incredible actor, to be able to express himself through this. If there’s any moment where it looks theatrical, like a guy in makeup, we’re dead.
But the prosthetics are incredibly soft. It moves like skin. There was something extraordinary about it. So, we started doing some tests, and Colin sent me a video, and he’d been working on an accent. It was suddenly like another person was born. Something about being under that makeup freed him.
The prosthetics that were used on The Penguin for the film and the show managed to help Collin Farrell create a character unlike any other. Not only was the actor able to display his acting chops through the prosthetics, but it was also enhanced by the use of them, which were soft and reacted well to how the actor acted in the role.
Could The Penguin be the antagonist for The Batman: Part II
The Penguin that audiences saw in The Batman was still a small-time crook in a relatively high position in a crime family. However, The Penguin might be shaping up toward becoming a big player in Gotham City. This could put the character back on the radar for Batman, who might target the newly minted gangster again to maintain law and order in the city.
While there are other villains that could be coming the Caped Crusader’s way, the amount of time that is being spent on The Penguin points towards him being a more important character in Matt Reeve’s Batman verse. Collin Farrell is also being praised for the role that he has played in crafting his Penguin persona, which would be a waste to pit against Pattinson’s Batman in earnest.
The Penguin can now be streamed on Max
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