The crime series "The Penguin," a spin-off from the 2022 DC film "The Batman," officially premiered on Max (formerly HBO Max) on September 19, 2024. The show has garnered critical acclaim, earning an 8.8 rating on IMDb and a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
While Colin Farrell's portrayal of The Penguin is undeniably rooted in the DC Comics villain, international media outlets suggest that this "Batman" spin-off series doesn't primarily draw inspiration from the original comics. Instead, it is heavily influenced by HBO's acclaimed series "The Sopranos," seeking inspiration and featuring significant homages.
/Film points out that the first episode of "The Penguin" clearly borrows elements from "The Sopranos." This includes Colin Farrell's attempt to mimic James Gandolfini's accent; the scenes with his mother also strongly evoke Tony Soprano and his troublesome mother, Livia Soprano, from "The Sopranos;" and The Penguin's recruitment of young criminals as his assistants, which /Film believes mirrors Tony's mentorship of Christopher Moltisanti in "The Sopranos."
Of course, this isn't the first time a "Batman" story has paid homage to epic crime narratives. For instance, the classic 1996 comic "Batman: The Long Halloween" was heavily influenced by Francis Coppola's iconic gangster film "The Godfather," drawing significant story elements from it.
via： /Film