At the SAG Awards on Sunday night, Colin Farrell may have picked up yet another honor for his work as the villainous titular character in “The Penguin,” but the actor insists he isn’t currently inclined to do a second season.
“I don’t want it. I don’t not want it,” he told me exclusively backstage at the SAG Awards. “We all left it in the ring in those eight hours. I would hate to, just because of a quote-unquote success, have to go again and for it to be a diluted version of what people seem to feel it is, majoritively. So I’m in no rush. I have no deep desire to do it. … Sure, if they think of something that works in conjunction as a parallel to Matt Reeves’ cinematic universe and it’s a good idea, I’m open it. But it’s not something concerning me.”
In a joint interview with Variety‘s Adam B. Vary published Monday morning, DC Studios co-chiefs Peter Safran and James Gunn said of a second season, “We don’t know. … There are a lot of moving pieces — probably most important Colin himself.”
“And 800 pounds of makeup,” Gunn added, alluding to Farrell’s extensive transformation for the role.
Farrell is expected to appear in Reeves’ “The Batman” sequel, but Reeves hasn’t shared details with him. “He keeps his cards to his chest,” Farrell said.
That said, Farrell still can’t believe he gets to play one of Gotham’s most well-known villains.
“I was six, seven, eight or nine, watching Meredith Burgess as the Penguin on ‘Batman,’” Farrell said. “If you would have told that six-, seven- or eight-, nine-year-old, ‘You’re going to play that character someday. And you know the Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’ video? You’re going to have the makeup done by a student of the guy, Rick Baker, who did that makeup on Michael Jackson.’ It’s just madness. So these moments are beautiful. I’m very grateful for them. And this show has been extraordinarily thrilling.”
Farrell had no plans to celebrate his SAG Awards win late into the night. “It’s just a really lovely moment in time,” he said. “Enjoy it as such, and then move on. I’ll be in my pajamas in exactly 105 minutes from now, ordering Postmates and watching Episode 10 of ‘Shōgun’ with my kid while the after-party is on.”
Farrell also explained the COVID-related banter he had with Jamie Lee Curtis when she presented him with his SAG Award. When Curtis opened the envelope, she read, “And the Actor goes to… the man who gave me COVID at the Golden Globes: Colin Farrell.” On stage, Farrell responded with, “Guilty as charged. But Brendan Gleeson ****ing gave it to me! So I was just spreading the love.”
Farrell told me he believes he contracted the virus when Gleeson gave him a congratulatory kiss after winning a Golden Globe in 2023 for “The Banshees of Inisherin.” “Brendan started the day by saying, ‘I feel a bit of a ping in me throat, but I think I’m OK,’” Farrell recalled. “I didn’t pick up on it, but then the next day he had COVID. And then the day after, I tested positive.”
Even if you're not into Batman or comic book stuff, it's a great series.
I was just saying this to someone the other day. Half the time I even forgot it was Batman-related. It was just such a well-crafted show, period - it deserved the accolades. I honestly wouldn't change a thing about it - it's about as nearly perfect a season of a TV show as can be.
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