Explore the captivating behind-the-scenes stories from HBO Max’s The Penguin, where the cast shares their experiences and challenges.
Gotham’s Underworld at HBO Max’s FYC Panel for The Penguin
The cast and creatives behind the Emmy-nominated limited series The Penguin shared shocking behind-the-scenes stories, emotional character arcs, and impressive prosthetic work that left Colin Farrell amazed.
24 Emmy Nominations
With 24 Emmy nominations, including Best Limited Series and acting nods for Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, and Deirdre O’Connell, the panel was filled with buzzworthy moments — including the revelation that Sophia’s survival was almost not guaranteed.
Colin Farrell on Becoming Oz: “What the f–k is that?!”
One of the biggest crowd-pleasers came when Farrell recounted his first encounter with the prosthetic design for Oz Cobb. “Matt Reeves opened his laptop … and it was Oz, the version in the show and the film,” Farrell said. “I went, ‘What the f–k is that?!’ And he said, ‘That’s going to be you.’”
Farrell was initially hesitant but ultimately embraced the transformation: “It was a glorified magic trick. I’ve always loved practical effects in cinema. … I struggle with CGI. This makeup gave me total freedom — emotional and psychological.”
Marino’s Challenge
Marino explained that perfecting Farrell’s Penguin was challenging, especially for a TV series where viewers see closer details. “We had to adapt everything for the show — we did it almost 90 times,” he shared. “Seeing Oz in daylight was brutal; that’s where you see the seams. Colin even got rashes from the extreme glues, so we scheduled shooting around letting his skin rest.”
Keeping Sophia Alive
Series creator Lauren LeFranc revealed that Sophia’s survival was not guaranteed. “I never wanted to kill Sophia,” she confirmed. “My plan was to have her go back to Arkham because it’s a fate worse than death. Writers kept saying, ‘She should die,’ and I said, ‘She’s not going to die.’”
For Milioti, playing Sophia was a dream role: “I love that no one has superpowers; it’s just their own rage and pain. Gotham is grounded in reality but heightened and sometimes campy.”
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Francis’ Chilling Moment
O’Connell shared an emotional story about filming a haunting scene where Francis feels an icy shift in her relationship with Oz. “He came over to the bed and asked how I was doing … and I felt Oz withdraw his love from Francis,” O’Connell recounted. “It was really scary.”
Life After The Penguin
Filming the series was intense, and wrapping production left a lasting impact. Farrell admitted he needed time to decompress. “At the end, I was relieved but also down. There’s just an immediate vacuum. … I watched Pixar movies to chill out.”
Milioti, on the other hand, jumped straight into Black Mirror 10 days later: “Months later I realized I was just … exhausted.”
The Penguin earned 24 Emmy nominations this year, including Best Limited Series. The 2025 Emmys will air on September 14 on CBS and stream live on Paramount+.
