When it comes to Batman villains, few have the same level of intrigue and complexity as The Penguin. Known for his distinctive appearance, crime syndicate leadership, and larger-than-life personality, Oswald Cobblepot has been a staple in Gotham’s underworld for decades. But with the 2022 movie The Batman, director Matt Reeves and actor Colin Farrell reimagined the character, bringing a grittier, more grounded version of the Penguin to the big screen.
While this approach was bold and refreshing, one unexpected influence seemed to shape The Penguin’s portrayal in the film: The Sopranos. Yes, you read that right. The character of The Penguin borrows heavily from the iconic mob drama, and it begs the question: is this gritty, mobster-inspired take the right fit for The Batman?
In this article, we’re going to break down how The Sopranos has influenced the portrayal of The Penguin in The Batman, what this means for the character’s future, and whether this grittier approach fits within the larger vision of Gotham’s dark and noir-filled universe.
The Penguin’s New Look: A Shift Toward Realism and Grit
When most people think of The Penguin, they probably picture a larger-than-life villain with a top hat, monocle, and a penchant for birds and umbrella-based weaponry. This version of Cobblepot was made famous by characters like Burgess Meredith in the 1960s Batman TV show and Danny DeVito in Tim Burton’s 1992 Batman Returns. Both versions were flamboyant, almost cartoonish, and over-the-top. But when Matt Reeves cast Colin Farrell as the character in The Batman, they decided to take a much different route.
Rather than the typical, extravagant portrayal, Farrell’s Penguin is a far more grounded and gritty character. He’s not the ridiculous, campy villain you might expect, but a dangerous, scheming mobster trying to rise through Gotham’s criminal underworld. This version is far more inspired by real-world mafia figures than the cartoonish villain we’ve seen in previous Batman adaptations.
So, how does this gritty, mob-inspired Penguin connect to The Sopranos?
A Mobster’s Mindset: The Sopranos Influence
One of the main reasons this new take on The Penguin feels so different from what we’ve seen before is the inspiration drawn from The Sopranos. The hit HBO show is widely considered one of the greatest television dramas of all time, and its portrayal of mafia life in New Jersey—complete with a complicated mix of violence, family dynamics, power struggles, and betrayal—has become a blueprint for mob characters across all genres.
In The Batman, The Penguin isn’t just a villain trying to conquer Gotham. He’s a ruthless, calculating figure who, much like Tony Soprano, is constantly trying to balance his criminal empire with his personal ambitions and desires. His rise to power isn’t about grandiose plans to take over Gotham’s streets with gimmicky weapons; it’s about moving pieces in the shadows, manipulating rivals, and getting his hands dirty to secure his position.
Let’s look at a few key ways the Sopranos connection is made clear in The Batman’s version of The Penguin.
1. The Penguin’s Subtle Power Play: A Mob Boss in the Making
In The Sopranos, Tony Soprano is a complex character. He’s a mob boss who rules his empire with an iron fist, but he’s also a family man dealing with personal struggles. Much like Tony, The Penguin in The Batman is shown to have a duality to his character. He’s ruthless and violent, but there are hints that there’s more to him than just a simple gangster.
The Penguin’s introduction in the film is as a secondary character in the criminal underworld, serving as a right-hand to Carmine Falcone. However, by the end of the movie, it’s clear that Cobblepot is more than just a thug. He’s shrewd, calculating, and sees the big picture. He’s positioning himself to take control of Gotham’s crime scene, much like Tony Soprano worked behind the scenes to rise through the ranks of the DiMeo family.
This power-play dynamic, where the character works in the shadows and makes calculated moves without overtly declaring his ambitions, feels like it could have come straight out of The Sopranos. Tony, too, often dealt with the issue of who could be trusted, and his internal struggle for power—against both rivals and his own family—mirrors the subtle way Penguin manipulates his way to the top. He’s playing the long game.
2. A Sense of Loyalty and Betrayal: Mob Family Drama in Gotham
A hallmark of The Sopranos was its exploration of loyalty and betrayal within the mob world. The characters, while hardened criminals, were still deeply connected to a sense of family—even if that family was filled with backstabbing and deceit.
In The Batman, Penguin is seen navigating a similar web of alliances. He’s a loyal underling to Carmine Falcone, but it’s clear he’s positioning himself to take over. This tension between loyalty and betrayal is central to The Sopranos’ storytelling, and it plays a significant role in The Penguin’s evolution in The Batman.
Throughout the film, Penguin’s alliances are tested, especially as Falcone’s empire begins to crumble. Just like the characters in The Sopranos, Penguin knows that in the world of crime, loyalty is often transactional. But where The Sopranos takes us deeper into the emotional cost of betrayal—particularly Tony’s relationship with his family—The Batman uses the Penguin’s ambition and ruthless pragmatism to create a compelling narrative of betrayal for personal gain.
Penguin’s willingness to kill or backstab for power shows his survival instinct. It’s not just a power grab; it’s a way of life, a strategy for survival in a dog-eat-dog world where trust is fleeting. It’s the exact kind of mentality that made Tony Soprano one of the most memorable characters in television history.
3. The Penguin’s Personality: More Than Just a Mobster
Colin Farrell’s portrayal of Penguin isn’t just about mob tactics or a simple rise to power; it’s about showing the human side of a man who’s lost his way in Gotham’s chaotic world. While the show’s gritty approach draws from The Sopranos, the Penguin isn’t a perfect reflection of Tony Soprano; instead, his personality feels like a more tortured and flawed version of the classic gangster.
Farrell’s Penguin is both charming and menacing. He’s got an almost comic quality at times, especially when he downplays the danger of the criminal empire he’s trying to lead. But his bravado hides the cracks in his exterior. Like Tony, Penguin seems to be a man constantly struggling with control—of his emotions, his empire, and his future.
The character’s lifetime of simmering rage is something Farrell brings to the forefront with subtlety. He’s not over-the-top or cartoonish. There’s no snappy one-liners or grandiose speeches. Instead, the Penguin in The Batman is far more nuanced, showing a man who’s trying to climb to the top of Gotham’s criminal ladder in a city filled with corruption and betrayal.
This grittier, less flamboyant version of The Penguin taps into the same emotional complexity The Sopranos did with Tony Soprano, who was at once deeply violent and deeply vulnerable. By doing this, The Batman’s Penguin becomes a much more human character—an unsettling reminder that Gotham’s criminals are not just larger-than-life figures, but people shaped by the system they live in.
Is the Gritty Penguin Right for The Batman?
So, is this more grounded, The Sopranos-inspired Penguin the right fit for The Batman? The answer is a resounding yes, for several reasons.
1. It Fits the Tone of the Movie
The Batman is a noir-inspired film that leans into the detective genre, emphasizing mystery, corruption, and moral ambiguity. This darker tone demands characters that feel grounded, multi-dimensional, and capable of existing in such a harsh world. By focusing on a more realistic, mobster-inspired Penguin, the film effectively keeps the stakes high without resorting to over-the-top theatrics.
2. It Adds Depth to Gotham’s Underworld
A mob-driven Penguin provides a perfect antagonist to Robert Pattinson’s Batman, who is struggling to understand his role in Gotham’s deeply entrenched corruption. The Penguin, rising through the criminal ranks with a slow and methodical approach, is a natural adversary for a Gotham that is only beginning to wake up to its need for justice.
3. It Shows the Human Cost of Crime
By focusing on Penguin’s internal struggles and complex relationships, The Batman paints Gotham’s criminal underworld as a web of human emotions, not just mindless villainy. Like The Sopranos, this approach adds emotional depth to a character who might otherwise be seen as just another mobster.
