Colin Farrell’s incredible Penguin makeup even shocked costar Cristin Milioti

Colin Farrell's incredible Penguin makeup even shocked costar Cristin Milioti

As a lifelong fan of Gotham City and its dark knight, I have to say that Colin Farrell’s transformation into the Penguin is nothing short of breathtaking. Mike Marino’s makeup work is truly a testament to the power of artistry in storytelling, creating a character that is as menacing as he is vulnerable.


In the movie “The Penguin”, Colin Farrell plays the leading role as Oswald Cobb, a cunning and ruthless criminal. His performance has received much acclaim for portraying an ambitious man with hidden vulnerabilities. However, it’s not just Colin Farrell bringing Oz to life; Mike Marino is instrumental in the remarkable makeup that alters the dashing Farrell into the pockmarked Oswald Cobb.

In an interview with USA Today, Marino mentioned that while designing the Penguin’s makeup, he focused on the fact that “despite his human-like appearance and endearing personality, he is a villain in Batman’s universe, operating in a treacherous underworld.” The duality of Oz is evident in his face, with one side appearing relatively natural, while the other side showcases extreme violence. His teeth are broken, and at some point, flesh may have been torn off his face, only to be sewn back together again. Additionally, Marino drew inspiration for the Penguin’s sharp nose and “animalistic” eyebrows from the distinctive V-shaped features he observed in real-life penguins when viewed head-on.

The outcome is an exceptional metamorphosis that seems almost certain to earn Marino and Farrell Emmys during award season. It’s quite possible that Farrell will acknowledge Marino in his upcoming acceptance speech, as he credits Marino for influencing his performance. As Farrell first looked at himself with the makeup, he was deeply moved, saying it conveyed so much about him as a man – his resilience and also a specific vulnerability, what it would be like to navigate the world appearing that way, covered in pockmarks and scars.

I felt like I was free to throw paint at the wall as aggressively as I could. And some of that was the liberation that was afforded me by not seeing myself.

As a fan, I find myself in awe of Farrell’s extraordinary transformation in the show. He masterfully portrays his character’s descent into madness and ultimate psychopathy, leaving even his co-star Cristin Milioti (Sofia Falcone) bewildered. Filming with him for eight months, she admitted to only seeing him once without makeup. Hearing his voice was like experiencing a Freaky Friday switch, such was the strangeness of it. Up close, you’d never guess there was any makeup involved – it’s simply incredible!

Colin Farrell's incredible Penguin makeup even shocked costar Cristin Milioti

The Penguin crushes it in the ratings

It appears that many people are currently appreciating the work of Farrell, Milioti, and Marino, as indicated by The Hollywood Reporter. In its first eleven days, the initial episode has garnered 10.4 million cross-platform viewers for HBO, surpassing most other series on HBO during the same time frame, with exceptions being shows like House of the Dragon and The Last of Us. Furthermore, Sunday’s second episode attracted 1.6 million viewers across platforms, representing a 17% increase compared to the series premiere.

Speaking as a game enthusiast, let me share my thoughts on the latest updates about “The Batman” series. It’s shaping up quite nicely, which is promising for Matt Reeves’ vision, dubbed The Batman Epic Crime Saga. Now, “The Penguin” series is being helmed by Lauren LeFranc as showrunner, but Reeves envisions it as a piece of a larger universe. I’ve always been wary when producers talk about cinematic universes because they can become bloated, but so far, both “The Batman” and “The Penguin” are solid – I have to say, “The Penguin” seems particularly strong. So, for now, everything looks good.

As for the current discussions about ratings, the fresh episode of “The Penguin” coincided with the season finale of “Industry”. Interestingly, this season’s “Industry” has attracted about 33% more viewers compared to its second season. Moreover, “Industry” is garnering a lot of praise from critics. It seems we have an HBO-like scenario with the innovative and critically acclaimed series “Industry” airing alongside the polished genre show “The Penguin”, ensuring success for both.

New episodes of The Penguin drop Sundays on HBO and Max.

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2024-10-04 16:41

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