The Penguin fans slam creator's 'annoying' decision over key character

The creator of the hit TV show The Penguin has left some fans disgruntled after addressing queries about Colin Farrell's titular character.

The series is a spin-off from Matt Reeves' The Batman film, where Robert Pattinson took on the role of the caped crusader against The Riddler. The Penguin continues the narrative post-film, but viewers have been informed not to anticipate Batman's appearance in any episodes.

Fans' expectations were further managed when it was revealed that Farrell's character would not actually be referred to as The Penguin, despite it being the show's title.

Oswald Cobblepot, Batman's well-known adversary, is often simply called Oz in the HBO series. Unlike previous live-action portrayals of the character, which embraced the nickname and even used physical penguin traits, the new series' showrunner has taken a different approach, reports the Mirror.

Lauren LeFranc explained her decision to use the name sparingly and expressed scepticism about using elements associated with the Penguin from the comics, such as a top hat, cane or monocle.

Speaking to Deadline, she said: "I knew that Oz didn't appreciate the term, and that was something that felt derogatory toward him. Gangsters in mobs often they have these nicknames for people. So it made a lot of sense that his nickname from others would be the Penguin. But it's not a term that he embraces."

Those who have witnessed the first episode have already observed that Farrell has embraced a limp so pronounced it compels his character to waddle akin to a penguin. A touching moment ultimately discloses this is due to a club foot, which undeniably inflicts substantial torment on the character.

In an initial scene, he is spotted with an umbrella, an iconic staple for the Penguin in comic lore, yet LeFranc elaborated on her reservations about adhering too closely to the comic imagery. "I wanted to make sure that we could appeal to people who didn't see it or didn't think it was for them, who wouldn't necessarily be interested in a comic book show," she stated.

She continued: "I don't view our show as a comic book show. I view it more as a crime drama ... certainly a character-driven drama. I wanted to make sure we could appeal to more people because we're trying to tell stories that are relatable and a bit different. I do hope that people who aren't necessarily fans of the genre would be interested in this show."

LeFranc's approach has not resonated with all of the show's enthusiasts. One disgruntled fan took to social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, to vent: "Stupid to say 'I don't want this to be a comic book show yet uses comic book characters.' I wish they can make these things without having to put down the medium that inspired it or derived it from."

Another echoed this sentiment, stating: "I like the show but it's getting annoying how much the creators keep talking about how much they're trying to get away from the comics Just call it Sopranos since clearly that's the show you wanted to make."

"They sound so damn embarrassed by the comic book lore man. It's a sad state of affairs," lamented another fan.

Even Colin Farrell, who stars in the series, has admitted there was a point in the script where his character was referred to as The Penguin, a reference which was later removed, much to his disappointment.

He revealed: "There are kids who say to me, 'you're a penguin.' And I say, yeah, 'that's right'. I got the sense that Oz was actually stepping into the moniker and into his own kind of mythos. It's not essential, but I like that idea that by the end, he's okay with it. He sees the power in having a moniker like that."

The Penguin is available to watch on Sky and NOW TV, with new episodes released weekly