Colin Farrell and Danny DeVito exchanged texts debating 'the best Penguin' before Farrell reprised the role

This week marks Colin Farrell's return to the screen as Oz Cobb in "The Penguin." The Oscar-nominated actor revisits the role of the ambitious mobster first introduced in 2022's "The Batman." Farrell's portrayal reimagines the notorious DC Comics villain, The Penguin, a character immortalized by various performers, most notably Danny DeVito in Tim Burton’s 1992 classic, "Batman Returns."

As Farrell prepared to reprise the role, he revealed in a West Hollywood press gathering that he reached out to DeVito, his co-star in Burton's 2019 film "Dumbo." Their conversation, conducted through text exchanges, revolved around playful banter about who might be the superior Penguin, a nod to their history of jesting.

"The Penguin" delivers a gritty narrative exploring the sinister depths of Gotham's underworld, spotlighting Farrell's morally bankrupt antagonist. Although Farrell admired DeVito's rendition and Burgess Meredith’s from the 1960s "Batman" series, his interpretation drew from more somber inspirations. He cited influences such as Dustin Hoffman's Ratso Rizzo from "Midnight Cowboy," Robert De Niro's portrayal of Al Capone in "The Untouchables," and James Gandolfini in "The Sopranos."

Farrell absorbed these influences, noting, "They're all part of the mix. I've watched 'Untouchables' a couple of times, 'Midnight Cowboy' even more. Every experience as an actor, every melody you hear, it all converges within, influencing each character you embody in varying degrees."

Embodying such a dark persona proved challenging. "I ended up quite irritable," Farrell admitted. "The character's relentless cruelty weighed heavily on me. By the conclusion, I was relieved it was over."

To escape this oppressive mindset, Farrell turned to lighter fare. "I'd retreat to my hotel room and watch Pixar movies," he confessed. "'Finding Nemo' was my go-to. I needed something uplifting to counterbalance the darkness."

"The Penguin" debuts Thursday on Max, a platform under Warner Bros. Discovery, alongside CNN.