First Reviews for ‘The Penguin’ Are In: It Seems We Are Getting a Masterpiece

It has been over two years since Matt Reeves’s ‘The Batman,’ starring Robert Pattinson, hit theaters. The film was well-received by both critics and audiences, who particularly praised its atmospheric tone and emphasis on Batman’s detective skills.

Currently, Reeves is working on a sequel, ‘The Batman – Part II,’ scheduled for release in October 2026. Before that, fans can look forward to the next installment in this dark crime saga: a spin-off series centered on The Penguin, with Colin Farrell returning to his role as the iconic Batman villain.

‘The Penguin’ takes place exactly a week following the events of ‘The Batman Part 1’ and following the death of Carmine Falcone, Penguin rises in an attempt to fill up the newly created power vacuum. Oswald will go up against Sofia Falcone and the show was described by Farrell as “gruesome” and “dark.”

The show features a star-studded cast, with Cristin Milioti appearing as Sofia Falcone, Rhenzy Feliz as Victor Aguilar, Michael Kelly as Johnny Viti, Shohreh Aghdashloo as Nadia Maroni, Deirdre O’Connell as Francis Cobb, Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni, James Madio as Milos Grapa, Scott Cohen as Luca Falcone, Michael Zegen as Alberto Falcone, Carmen Ejogo as Eve Karlo and Theor Rossi as Dr. Julian Rush.

The review embargo for the show has been lifted days ahead of the show’s release and the first reactions are in! The show currently holds an enviable 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 31 reviews!

This HBO show is a fantastic addition to a DC franchise that benefits from this. The rich, textured characters push the show forward, and every time we have more character-centric episodes, The Penguin is at its best.

Jonathan Sim, ComingSoon.net

The Penguin is a masterful look at an iconic character in a way we have never seen before through the most transformative acting performance Colin Farrell has ever done.

Alex Maidy, JoBlo’s Movie Network

Colin Farrell cements his interpretation of The Penguin as one of the greatest live-action comic book villains of all time.

Jacob Fisher, Discussing Film

If you’re familiar with [Cristin Milioti’s] work from Palm Springs and How I Met Your Mother, her charm as an actor will be unsurprising, but it’s the sheer brutality that she brings to her role that really takes everything up a notch.

Fay Watson, Total Film

A superhero spinoff series serving as a Trumpian allegory at all is worth appreciating, as is Farrell burying his disarming charms behind 50 pounds of latex without concealing his considerable talents.

Ben Travers, IndieWire

Based on these reviews, we can expect a solid, if not masterful entry to Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ universe! ‘The Penguin’ premieres on Thursday, September 19 on Max!

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