Colin Farrell put on layers of prosthetics, costumes, and mannerisms to portray Oswald “Oz” Cobb in the 2022 superhero feature The Batman and its HBO spin-off The Penguin. So, he is probably one of the best people to understand the psychology of his character. Recently, Farrell reflected on the circumstances that might have transformed Oz into a villain.
Colin Farrell on what damaged The Penguin as a person
Farrell delved deep into Oz’s psychology during a press conference for The Penguin, sharing his views on how Oz is shaped by his circumstances. The Penguin takes place a week after the events of The Batman and follows Oz as he gradually accumulates power in the criminal underbelly of Gotham.
Farrell underscored the impact Oz’s “physical limitation” had on his psychology. “He’s born with a physical limitation that was, and pardon the pun, but really emotionally crippling for him, and psychologically crippling,” he said. “And he felt other in a way that wasn’t great. It wasn’t an aspirational other. He felt subjugated by his own limitation and what he was told his limitation was,” the Sugar actor added. (via The Direct)
Farrell also pointed out that Oz was bullied and suffered cruelty from almost everyone except his mother. He clarified that he wasn’t justifying Oz’s actions before adding, “But Oz certainly has a back catalog of a lot of pain and a lot of uncertainty in his past.”
The Academy Award-nominated actor continued, “And that was the beautiful thing about getting to do this show, was not just having something that was cool and violent and rock and roll, which at times it is cool, at times it is very violent, at times it is rock and roll. But all of the characters are kind of – nothing’s justified, but we get to have a look at why people are the way they are.”
In the same press conference, Farrell hinted that “redemption” might not be waiting for Oz at the end of the series. “And is there forgiveness and is there redemption and is there a point where you’ve gone too far,” he explained. “I think by the end of the show, no spoiler alerts, but Oz has gone too far and there’s no coming back. He has dropped into a certain psychological place in his life, and that’s where he belongs now,” he further stated.
The Penguin premiered on September 19, 2024, on Disney Plus.
