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There have been talks that the character of Colin Farrell’s Oswald Cobb has been inspired by notable characters like Vito Corleone, Tony Soprano, and more. Naturally, The Penguin and The Sopranos fandoms are not on good terms.

Colin Farrell in a still from The Penguin | Credits: DC Studios

Well, there is one connection between the two very different shows that will unite the fandoms for good. An iconic actor has been a part of The Sopranos as well as The Penguin and she is remarkable.

The Sopranos‘ connection The Penguin Connection

Created by David Chase, the iconic 1999 show starred legendary actor James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano. Following the story of the Italian-American mafia head, The Sopranos is probably one of the finest series in television history.

James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano in The Sopranos | Credits: HBO

Following on similar notes (but being completely different) is Colin Farrell’s The Penguin.

When you think of killer TV dramas, Breaking Bad and The Sopranos are always in the ring, ready to rumble. But here’s the lowdown from Vince Gilligan himself: he’s got a secret sauce that makes Breaking Bad stand out. While Tony Soprano’s all about that morally gray life, Gilligan’s got a different vibe.

Vince Gilligan | Image by Magnus Manske, licensed under Cc By-sa 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

He dives straight into the crazy transformation of Walter White—from mild-mannered teacher to full-on drug lord. It’s all about watching the chaos unfold as Walter makes some seriously bad choices. That clear-cut moral compass? It keeps us hooked.

Why Vince Gilligan Believes Breaking Bad Triumphs Over The Sopranos James Gandolfini in the final scene of The Sopranos | Credits: HBO Entertainment

When it comes to TV dramas, Breaking Bad and The Sopranos are like the heavyweight champs of the ring,...

Breaking Bad is a show that a lot of fans remember fondly, given the impact that it had on TV audiences. One of the few shows that were at the center of the cultural zeitgeist throughout its run, there were a lot of facts that contributed to its status as a pop culture phenomenon.

Breaking Bad || Credit: AMC

However, there is one show that had an influence on Breaking Bad, without which it would not have been possible for the show to reach the heights that it did. It is almost common knowledge that Breaking Bad owes a lot to another television phenomenon, The Sopranos. The creator of the show, Vince Gilligan talked about how without The Sopranos, Breaking Bad would have a very tough chance of getting on television.

The Sopranos made the anti-hero more palatable to the television audience The Sopranos || Credit: HBO

Speaking with Newsweek, Vince Gilligan...

The Sopranos is frequently remembered by TV fans as being one of the greatest crime shows ever. The series delved into the life of an angsty mobster Tony Soprano and his day-to-day struggle as he reluctantly agreed to go to therapy.

James Gandolfini transitioned from a movie star to featuring on the small screen, but it was not an easy road to success. The actor had to face several inconveniences and struggled a lot during the filming period. One interview revealed that he wanted to quit the hit show daily until he managed to find the strength to appear in front of the camera again.

Commit, Quit, Reappear: The repeated cycle

Tony Soprano became a legendary character due to his convoluted personality and relatable life struggles. Few fans, however, are aware of the actor’s rocky journey when he started The Sopranos and struggled under the weight of the fame.

It’s not unusual for actors with big stature to get typecast into physically dominating roles, and similar has been the case for Domenick Lombardozzi throughout his career. Since hitting it big in the early 2000s, following his stint in the highly acclaimed The Wire, the actor has continued to star in projects that fed into his tough guy onscreen persona.

Ray Donovan | Credit: Showtime

Interestingly, the actor has been able to turn this around, thanks to his performance in Ray Donovan, and is doing the same thing with Taylor Sheridan‘s Tulsa King.

Domenick Lombardozzi Continues To Evolve With Tulsa King Tulsa King | Credit: Paramount Plus

After years of being relegated to playing physically imposing characters, Ray Donovan served as the turning point in Domenick Lombardozzi‘s career. Reflecting on the show’s impact, The Wire star stressed that it changed the conversations around him as an actor, adding...

Saul Goodman did not get to headline his own show without good reason. The superstar lawyer from the Breaking Bad universe who found his niche in the morally grey no man’s land was simply too good to be true. But now it seems as though the universe has finally found a real-life alter ego for the character played by Bob Odenkirk in Young Thug’s lawyer, Brian Steele.

Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman [Credit: AMC]

Young Thug was recently released from prison and the terms of his release were nothing short of miraculous. Even more fantastical was the fact that the rapper’s lawyer almost gambled away his client’s whole life and career on a move that could have, for all we know, gone very wrong at the last minute.

The Universe Delivers a Real-Life Saul Goodman Better Call Saul [Credit: AMC]

Lawyers have been glorified since the era of Boston Legal.

Fans’ perceptions of certain characters in Tulsa King have reasonably changed after the last few episodes, especially in the case of Jay Will’s Tyson and Neal McDonough’s Cal Thresher. While the show initially attempted to paint Thresher in an intimidating light, especially after he persuaded Armand into taking his offer, this no longer seems to be the case.

Tulsa King | Credit: Paramount

Episode 7 has especially been a wake-up call for fans, as not only did it highlight Tyson’s incompetence in the criminal world, but it also proved that Thresher is way over his head.

Neal McDonough Has Little Agency in His Criminal Empire Neal McDonough in Tulsa King | Credit: Paramount

While Tyson ends up initiating a potential war following his suspicion over Bill’s involvement in his father’s bombing, it’s later revealed that the assassination attempt links back to Cal Thresher’s partner Jackie. Upon confrontation,...

House of the Dragon features a talented ensemble cast, with several actors delivering mindblowing performances in their respective roles. Actor Ewan Mitchell plays one of the most complex characters in the show in the form of Aemond Targaryen. However, Mitchell took inspiration from a surprising actor’s most iconic performance.

Ewan Mitchell plays Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon (Credit: HBO).

During an interview, Mitchell admitted to drawing inspiration from the legendary James Gandolfini. The actor explained how he was inspired by the latter’s turn as Tony Soprano in the hit HBO drama The Sopranos. At the same time, Mitchell also highlighted a parallel between his and Gandolfini’s character. Here is how James Gandolfini inspired Ewan Mitchell’s House of the Dragon role.

House of the Dragon Ewan Mitchell Was Inspired By James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano

Actor Ewan Mitchell rose to prominence with his performance in...

Drea de Matteo and James Gandolfini portrayed the role of Adriana La Cerva and Tony Soprano in the iconic HBO show The Sopranos. However, de Matteo and another crew member soon developed a crush on the lead star.

Michael Imperioli and Drea de Matteo in The Sopranos | Credits: HBO

Having a crush on a film or TV star is completely normal. However, the ballsy joke that Drea de Matteo and her friend made every time they walked by Gandolfini was quite a daring flirt.

Drea de Matteo Used to Make Faucet Sounds With James Gandolfini

A weird way to flirt but it is a way to flirt for sure. The Sopranos ran for 8 years before airing its controversial finale in 2007. During that time, the cast and crew of the show had bonded quite well and James Gandolfini and Drea de Matteo had become good friends.

James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano...

The second season of HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us is set to air sometime in the first half of 2025, and fans were given their first peek into what it would hold when the official trailer was released this past September. While there were a number of easter eggs hinting at how the show’s producers were staying true to and/or veering away from the franchise’s roots, the most fascinating element of the trailer was its narrative framing device: a conversation between lead character Joel (Pedro Pascal) and a therapist played by Catherine O'Hara. This raised some eyebrows, as Joel never goes to therapy in the show’s source material: The Last of Us video games from developer Naughty Dog.

That got gamers asking: would Joel as a character choose to go to therapy at all? The video game community’s consensus is that their version...

Created by David Chase for HBO, The Sopranos has been one of the most prestigious shows ever created for television. Starring James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli, Tony Sirico, and Edie Falco among others, the series not only embedded the viewers into the lives of the Soprano family but also made them invested in their day-to-day comings and goings like no other show did.

The Sopranos [Credit: HBO]

Without a basis for a mob drama and with only the Martin Scorsese movies as a reference point, The Sopranos quickly became a household favorite among the audiences of the new century. Amid the chatter of late-night television and the laugh tracks of countless sitcoms, The Sopranos hit a home run with its grounded and unique storyline.

The Sopranos Contains a Huge Meta Reference The Sopranos Season 4 Episode 10 – Christopher’s intervention “The Strong, Silent Type”[Credit: HBO]

The Sopranos might have redefined television drama, elevating the medium to...

Bob Odenkirk, the mastermind behind Better Call Saul, found himself wrestling with a familiar feeling—one that echoed James Gandolfini’s struggles with the iconic Tony Soprano. Imagine carrying the weight of a character whose moral compass spins wildly; it can get heavy!

Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul | Credit: Sony Pictures

Odenkirk understood the desire to escape the shadows of such complex personas, realizing that sometimes, walking away isn’t just a choice—it’s a necessity for one’s sanity. Let’s unpack how these two brilliant actors grappled with their roles and the fine line between art and personal truth.

Bob Odenkirk Reflects on the Emotional Toll of Playing Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul James Gandolfini in The Sopranos | Credits: HBO

Bob Odenkirk dropped some serious truth about the emotional grind of playing Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul. In a raw chat with the New York Times,...

In the history of crime drama and television shows, only a few have managed to leave an everlasting mark on the audience. This genre is definitely hard to crack, but of Breaking Bad, as soon as it was released in 2008, it quickly garnered a huge fan following. It was created by Vince Gilligan and showcased Bryan Cranston as the antagonist, Walter White. The character started from being an underpaid high school chemistry teacher.

Bryan Cranston as Walter White in Breaking Bad | Credits: AMC

But his life took a completely different turn when he got diagnosed with lung cancer. So, with limited time in his hands, he enters the world of crime to secure his family’s future. On the same subject, Cranston shared an idea that Gilligan had for his character, which even he knew that the network would oppose.

Vince Gilligan Had a Daring Idea for Bryan Cranston’s...

Despite Tulsa King‘s entertainment value, which has proven to be the next big thing for Paramount in the realm of television after Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone, the show hasn’t been immune to writing mishaps. The shortcomings are more noticeable in the second season, especially with the narrative surrounding Jay Will’s Tyson.

Tyson in Tulsa King | Credit: Paramount Plus

With episode 6 already painting Tyson in a stupid light, as he doesn’t even register the risk of gifting his father a car that was being followed by hitmen all day, episode 7 has certainly doubled down on his rash demeanor.

Rationality Is Out of the Cards for Tyson in Episode 7 Tulsa King | Credit: Paramount

While his father Mark survives the explosion, episode 7 sees Tyson being hellbent on exacting vengeance against the people responsible for the bombing. Even though earlier episodes presented the character as a pretty likable accomplice of Dwight,...

Heard of strange Hollywood feuds? The Sopranos had one of its own. James Gandolfini didn’t just play a tough guy on the 1999 drama series—he was one, on and off-screen. But while he faced fictional foes on set, he was also wrestling with real-life demons.

James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano in The Sopranos | Credits: HBO Entertainment

And here’s the kicker: Gandolfini’s personal struggles took a surprising toll, sparking an unexpected grudge against a certain co-star. The reason? Odd as it gets!

Behind-the-Scenes Battles: James Gandolfini’s Addiction Sparked Tension with Edie Falco on The Sopranos Set James Gandolfini in the final scene of The Sopranos | Credits: HBO Entertainment

James Gandolfini wasn’t just The Sopranos’ brooding mob boss; behind the scenes, he was wrestling with real-life demons that bled into his work. Turns out, Gandolfini’s struggle with addiction led him to clash with his on-screen wife,...

Breaking Bad is easily one of the most popular shows of all time, but when it first debuted back in 2008 it was considered a risk even by the standards of cable television at the time. During an interview, lead star Bryan Cranston who played the role of Walter White described the series as an experiment and a dark one at that.

Breaking Bad is considered one of the best television shows (Credit: AMC).

Cranston explained how the show broke the conventions of traditional television in some aspects that made the audiences essentially guinea pigs concerning the content they were being fed. Creator Vince Gilligan resonated with Cranston’s comments and agreed that the show was designed as an experiment. Here is everything you need to know about the Breaking Bad experiment.

Bryan Cranston Revealed How Breaking Bad Was Designed as the Darkest TV Experiment

Bryan Cranston won 4 Primetime Emmy Awards...

The Sopranos is often praised for kickstarting the Second Golden Age of Television or Prestige TV. An extensive section of viewers and critics even consider it the greatest TV show ever. Even Steve Buscemi, the Tony B actor and one of the show’s significant directors, agreed to it. But he claimed that the HBO show had to end early as it took a toll on the late James Gandolfini.

James Gandolfini with Steve Buscemi in The Sopranos | Creative: HBO

It is notable that The Sopranos, with 86 episodes, is bigger than shows like Breaking Bad (62) and Game of Thrones (73). Still, many viewers wondered what forced the show to end when most of the co-stars wanted to continue the show. Steve Buscemi confessed that it was due to the late Tony Soprano actor who thought he had done more than enough with The Sopranos.

The late James Gandolfini could not withstand...

When Ryan Gosling swam into view in Denis Villeneuve’s muted blue-and-grey-hued frames of Blade Runner 2049, fans of the sci-fi genre already discerned a classic in the making. Not only did Villeneuve respect Ridley Scott’s original vision but he committed it to a higher standard, elevating the story to a refined and finely-tuned cinematic tale that directly followed in the footsteps of the first story.

Analyzing Phillip Dick’s dystopian world and the repercussions of one man and his actions in light of the first movie’s events, Gosling presented a narrative that was driven by a greater emotional complexity on top of the moral dilemma that already dictated Harrison Ford’s 1982 film. Now, Blade Runner 2049 takes its story one step further, cracking open a meta-narrative with the real world and into Elon Musk’s technological machinations.

Elon Musk Might Be Our Very Own Tyrell Corp Blade Runner...

The Sopranos is one of the most critically acclaimed TV shows in history, ending its grand run in 2007 with season 6. Throughout its run, it set a benchmark for how crime drama series were supposed to be, enticing, chilling, exhilarating, and exasperating all at the same time.

Led by James Gandolfini as mob boss Tony Soprano, its finale still continues to spark debate and speculation despite all this time. A drama that ran successfully for six seasons, blending themes of brutal crime with deep psychological and family themes, The Sopranos was never destined for a seventh season it seems.

The Sopranos | Credit: HBO

The creator David Chase always had a clear vision of how the series was supposed to end despite the common belief that HBO might have something to do with its end. The series apparently had run its course and had reached its peak, so continuing it would have potentially negatively impacted the narrative.

Does Hollywood have an unhealthy fascination with a DC universe without Batsy? It’s not a bizarre claim by any stretch of the imagination. While little is seen of the Caped Crusader himself, we are mostly served corners of Gotham that this grungy version of Batman seldom inhabits. The latest entrant from HBO, The Penguin, doesn’t buck this trend; instead, it embraces it fully.

This is, however, not the hot mess of a Joker: Folie à Deux or Suicide Squad, (almost forgot about Birds of Prey here) but rather a look at a grimy Gotham in the aftermath of Matt Reeves’ 2022 film. More often than not, the show does not feel like it is DC or Batman; it feels like a flippin’ gangster series and a Frank Miller comic-book delight.

Colin Farell plays a mob boss who smells opportunity | Credits: HBO/Sky

Many may feel the urge to casually...

As Walter White, Bryan Cranston has done some truly horrific things in Breaking Bad. The Emmy-winning actor played the downfall of the antiheroic character to perfection and has made White a.k.a Heisenberg a pop cultural icon. He stands with characters like Don Draper from Mad Men and Tony Soprano from The Sopranos as the best antiheroes on TV.

While White has caused a lot of harm to others trying to safeguard his dr*g empire, the truly shocking part was probably him poisoning a child. In th fourth season, it is revealed that White poisoned Brock Cantillo with a lily of the valley plant. However, fans are still clueless about the logistics of the act and how White managed to do it.

How Did Walter White Poison Brock Cantillo In Breaking Bad? Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad | Credits: AMC

Vince Gilligan’s Breaking Bad sees Walter White, a...

The Office fans will forever remember the way the show tried to fill the tremendous void left by Steve Carell, when he quit his role as Michael Scott, after seven seasons. Although writers initially tried to focus the show on prominent ancillary characters like Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), they quickly realized that the series needed a new boss.

Steve Carell as Michael Scott in The Office | image: NBC

That’s when James Spader was plucked from the “Search Committee” episode to play Robert California and become the actual replacement for Steve Carell. However, before Spader was cast, Ryan Howard actor B.J. Novak revealed how he and the rest of the cast members had an unexpected actor in mind, as a replacement for Carell’s Michael Scott.

The Office Cast Had an Unexpected Replacement for Steve Carell

Following Steve Carell‘s heartbreaking departure from The Office, James Spader took on the...

Actor Idris Elba stepped foot in Baltimore for the first time after he was cast in The Wire. But when he first arrived in the city, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

What Idris Elba liked about Baltimore Idris Elba | Stephane Danna/Getty Images

Elba was alredy familiar with living in America by the time he was cast as The Wire’s Stringer Bell. He’d lived in New York City for four years where he had a difficult time getting stable work as an actor. Being cast as drug dealer and business man Stringer Bell gave the actor a stable income and noticeable attention in the film industry. But being on The Wire also introduced Elba to another side of the country he hadn’t experienced before. The Wire would be the first time Elba visited Baltimore, which was a new world compared to New York.

“Well,...

Thanks to the movies, superheroes are a cultural force. That glut hasn't exactly come with critical respect for the genre, though. On one hand, it's because these are innately simple stories for children. The other reason, I feel, is because the people who make these movies are embarrassed by that fact. Sometimes that manifests like in the "X-Men" films, where the movies run as far away from the comics as possible to "elevate" the story. Then there's the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which undercuts all its weirdness with "self-aware" humor about how none of its own world makes sense. Some rare filmmakers take superheroes seriously enough without trying to make them into something they're not (e.g. Sam Raimi) but it's rare.

The latest example of this is "The Penguin" showrunner Lauren LeFranc downplaying the series' Batman roots. No, this is a serious crime drama, hence why Oz (Colin Farrell) can't...

HBO’s “The Sopranos” has one of the most divisive series finales of all time. Since it aired in 2007, it’s caused heavy debate and interpretation among fans over the years. Now, star Lorraine Bracco, who played Tony Soprano’s therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi, is revealing her thoughts on the controversial ending.

“The Sopranos” ended with an abrupt cut-to-black scene that implied the sudden death of protagonist Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini). The final scene shows Tony seated in diner booth as he awaits his family. The door to the restaurant opens, but we never get a glimpse of who enters when all of a sudden the show cuts to black and ends — sparking controversy ever since over its lack of closure. Throughout the show, Melfi and Tony developed a close bond; the psychiatrist was aware of his crimes as a mobster but continued to meet with him as a therapist.

The results are in, and we at TV Fanatic have concluded that The Penguin Season 1 Episode 1 fully lived up to the months of hype surrounding Max’s new mob drama.

Yes, we said “mob drama.” Despite its connection to DC’s Batman franchise, Colin Farrell’s gangster antihero has more in common with Tony Soprano than the Joker.

And that’s not the only surprise for viewers who come into this show knowing little about its tone or premise.

(Photograph by Macall Polay/HBO)

In its first hour, The Penguin offered surprises with both its twisty storyline and its refreshing tone. (A “gritty” drama with a sense of humor! Our prayers have been answered!)

TV Fanatic staffers Whitney Evans, Thomas Godwin, Lisa Babick, and Tyler Johnson recently gathered to discuss the inaugural outing of this exciting new series.

Did you watch The Batman before checking out The Penguin? If so,...

When the screen went black and “Don’t Stop Believing” cut out, everybody watching The Sopranos wondered: Did my cable just cut out?! But after that, we wondered what happened to Tony Soprano. Was he whacked inside of an ice cream parlor or did he finish his onion rings? Did the man in the Members Only jacket do him in or will he constantly live in state of uncertainty? David Chase has given his final say before but that doesn’t stop the theories, be it from fans or Sopranos cast members. Now, Lorraine Bracco is giving her own hopeful ending for The Sopranos.

Bracco – who played therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi throughout The Sopranos – said she thinks that Tony survived his tense night out with his family. And despite her final scene of closing the door on her patient of seven years, she imagines Melfi and Tony would have kept in touch.

Mr. Freeze Spinoff Set in The Batman Universe Reportedly in Development - Main Image

Matt Reeves The Batman was able to do a lot of heavy lifting when it came to bringing Gotham to life, being able to introduce four major Batman villains with Riddler, Penguin, Catwoman, and Carmine Falcone; five if Barry Keoghan’s Joker cameo is considered.

Reeves is still hard at work with the second movie’s pre-production, but word has gone out that another spinoff could be in the works, and Reeves is attached to the project.

Is a Mr. Freeze Movie in the Works?

According to ComicBookClubLive, there was a listing on Production Weekly for a movie called Mister Freeze, and what’s more, the project is coming from 6 & Idaho, the production company of Matt Reeves, and Reeves, James Gunn, and Peter Safran are all listed as producers, including DC Studios, DC Entertainment, The Safran Company,...

When it comes to iconic TV characters, only a few have left as indelible a mark as the anti-heroes brought to life by actors like Bryan Cranston and James Gandolfini. From the morally complex Walter White in Breaking Bad to the iconic Tony Soprano in The Sopranos, these figures have continued to captivate audiences.

The Sopranos | Credit: HBO

However, the actors behind these roles often grapple with the weight of their characters, as revealed by Jon Hamm, who masterfully portrayed the chain-smoking, booze-guzzling high-profile ad exec Don Draper in the period drama, Mad Men.

Jon Hamm Reflected on the Burden of His Mad Men Character

Jon Hamm took on the role of the advertising executive Don Draper in 1960s New York, who tries to balance his personal and professional life, in Mad Men. While it’s been quite popular, Hamm has not been too pleased with how his character has...

The Penguin: Why Series Removed Oz's Wealthy Backstory from the Comics - Main Image

The Penguin has been adapted time and again over the decades of Batman’s existence, and his backstory always has him as a washed-up, former wealthy citizen of Gotham who turns to crime to take back what’s his.

When it comes to the Penguin series though, they’ve tossed out the wealth and given “Oz” more humble beginnings, but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to be the next Kingpin of Gotham City. As it turns out, the ‘coming from wealth’ backstory didn’t work for this version of the character.

Oz and Missing Cobblepot Fortune

In a recent featurette for the series, the showrunners and producers talk about how they developed the show and wanted to make it a ‘rise to power’ story for Oz, who starts out as a middle-man...

Cristin Milioti Auditioned for 'A Lot of Superhero Stuff' Before Landing The Penguin Role - Main Image

How I Met Your Mother star Cristin Milioti has been killing it as Sofia Falcone in The Penguin, and this is her first comic book role after multiple artsy parts in series like Black Mirror and Palm Springs.

As it turns out, Milioti has actually tried very hard over the years to get into the superhero genre, but she just hasn’t been having any luck until the Batman spinoff started coming around.

Cristin Milioti on Landing Sofia Falcone

In a recent interview with Showsha, Milioti talked about wanting to land a superhero role ever since she was a kid. She says, “It’s like a dream of a lifetime. I’ve dreamt of being, not just a villain, but like a Batman villain since I was so small, since I started watching movies.

“The Chosen” creator Dallas Jenkins has launched 5&2 Studios and has unveiled a slate of projects in the works — including an animated series, an unscripted show with Bear Grylls and a multi-season take on the story of Moses.

According to 5&2 Studios’ mission statement, the indie studio plans to “produce Bible-inspired stories through uniquely human and authentic storytelling and audience engagement.” Jenkins was set to announce the new studio and his upcoming programming plans — as well as the roll out of the final two seasons of “The Chosen” — during this weekend’s “ChosenCon” in Orlando, Fla. That two-day gathering of fans features cast members and producers behind the series, which began as a crowdfunded indie short in 2017 but since has become a global smash.

Earlier this year, an arbitrator ended the relationship between Jenkins’ The Chosen LLC and former partner Angel Studios, giving Jenkins oversight of “The Chosen” as he now builds out 5&2 Studios.

Many fans were initially skeptical when Colin Farrell was cast as Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a. The Penguin, in Matt Reeves’ The Batman. Concerns arose over whether Farrell fit the character’s look, but the costume designers worked wonders, and Farrell delivered an outstanding portrayal of the villain. His performance was so well-received that HBO quickly greenlit a standalone spin-off series.

Titled The Penguin, the show premiered on September 19, 2024, and has garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews from both viewers and critics. It’s been hailed as a worthy sequel to Reeves’ film and an exceptional example of world-building, with fans even declaring it the best pilot episode of all time.

Despite facing strong competition from Disney’s Agatha All Along, Gotham’s infamous criminal managed to outshine the competition and has become one of the biggest hits on television, earning an impressive score and a “Certified Fresh” rating.

The Penguin premiered on September 19, 2024, on HBO Max,...

Many fans were dubious when Colin Farrell was chosen to play Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a. The Penguin, in Matt Reeves’ The Batman. The fans were worried that Farrell did not look the part, but the costume designers did a tremendous job of making him look like the real deal, and Farrell made up for a fantastic villain. The role became so successful, in fact, that HBO ordered a standalone spin-off series right away.

The television series, simply titled The Penguin, had its premiere on September 19, 2024, and it has received nothing but positive reviews from viewers and critics. They call it a worthy sequel to Reeves’ film and an amazing example of world-building, with fans claiming that the series showed them the best pilot episode of all time.

The Penguin faced solid competition in Disney’s Agatha All Along, but Gotham’s criminal managed to beat out the competition, and...

Even if you’ve never seen more than a few episodes of The Sopranos, you’ll probably still get something from Alex Gibney’s affectionate, inquisitive exploration of the justly celebrated show. This isn’t just a ‘making-of’; it’s also the story of its creator, David Chase, working through many of his neuroses — not always consciously — via the life of a violent mobster. And Chase is a very engaging subject.

There’s much to be said for the nosy appeal of spying on somebody else’s therapy session.

Cutely, Gibney interviews Chase in a set-up that exactly mimics the room in which Tony Soprano unpacked his issues with his psychiatrist. Gibney doesn’t labour the symbolism, but it’s apt because Chase holds little back when talking through his connection to Tony. His hangdog expression may initially suggest he’d rather not be here, but he answers almost every question with a revealing anecdote,...

DC Fans Are Convinced The Penguin is Just A Take on The Sopranos - Main Image

As Colin Farrell reprises his role as Oz Cobb aka the titular The Penguin, DC fans couldn't help but compare the show's themes and dynamics to the likes of another cult classic, The Sopranos.

Spoiler Warning: This article contains major spoilers for The Penguin premiere, so proceed with caution.

The Penguin Mimics the Art That Is The Sopranos

Part of the Golden Age of Television is knowing how the latest shows could pay homage to past series that share similar elements, and The Penguin is no different.

Right off the bat, Oz Cobb's (played by Colin Farrell) story shows his rising career within Gotham City.

However, things take quite a turn when he gets in trouble for "impulsively" killing Sofia Falcone's brother, Alberto, after being belittled for even thinking someone like the Penguin could take over Gotham.

Spoilers for "The Penguin" episode one follow.

"The Penguin" has officially landed (read /Film's mixed review here). Picking up a week after "The Batman," Gotham kingpin Carmine Falcone is freshly dead. Our lead (not hero) Oz/The Penguin (Colin Farrell), once Falcone's right hand, is in a power struggle with his boss' heirs for their father's underworld empire.

Oz's main rival is Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti), but her brother Alberto was announced to be in the series as well. Would the Penguin be facing a Falcone sibling alliance? Nope, Oz takes Alberto off the board before Sofia even enters the game.

After a news montage recapping where "The Batman" left Gotham City, "The Penguin" picks up with Oz waddling into the Iceberg Lounge. He digs into Falcone's safe for his blackmail documents, only to be ambushed by Alberto holding a gun. Oz plays the part of a good soldier, handing over the files,...

When director Matt Reeves was writing “The Batman,” and effectively taking the franchise reigns with what was expected to be the first of a trilogy of films featuring Robert Pattinson as the caped crusader, he knew he wanted his Gotham to be a more grounded cinematic world. Inspired by the tone of Frank Miller’s comicbook series “Batman: Year One,” in which the chaotic real world of 1970s New York was a recognizable underpinning, Reeves wanted his Gotham to be recognizable to a modern audience — a direct reflection of our own broken and divisive times. That tone, more so than interlocking narrative, would be the glue.

It’s a vision Reeves had always imagined could neatly spin-off into an HBO-like series, especially when switching out of Batman’s point-of-view in the movies, and exploring the world through the eyes of one of the Rogues Gallery villains.

“They are, even more than Batman,...

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The Penguin is a gritty crime drama series created by Lauren LeFranc. Based on the DC Comics character of the same name created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the HBO series is set in the world of Matt Reeves‘ The Batman and it follows the story of Oswald “Oz” Cobb aka Penguin a few weeks after the events of The Batman as he tries to gain power after the death of Carmine Falcone, but Carmine’s daughter Sofia Falcone is also thinking of doing the same. The Penguin stars Colin Farrell in the lead role with Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Mark Strong, Michael Kelly, Deirdre O’Connell, and Clancy Brown starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the gritty criminal world, compelling characters, and a thrilling story in The Penguin here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Jon Hamm has been in the acting business for several decades now. Currently, the actor is among the top performers in the industry, but even he had to go through a tough phase early on in his career. He was down on his luck, with only a few supporting roles to his name. That’s when the American period drama Mad Men changed everything for Hamm, and he became an overnight sensation for his portrayal of Don Draper.

Jon Hamm in Mad Men || Credits: AMC+

The show ran successfully for seven seasons from 2007 to 2015. Draper himself is quite a complex character, but there’s one thing that even he fears the most.

Matthew Weiner Revealed What Terrified Jon Hamm’s Don Draper in Mad Men

Just after college, the creative visionary behind Mad Men, Matthew Weiner, moved to New York with dreams of working as a writer. But soon he faced several challenges,...

In the world of television, some moments occur off-camera that are just as unforgettable as those captured on screen. For fans of The Sopranos, one of the most iconic shows in television history, the intense character dynamics, the gripping storytelling, and the raw emotion stand out. Yet, not all memorable moments revolve around the plot twists.

Michael Imperioli and James Gandolfini in The Sopranos | Credits: HBO

Behind the scenes, there are stories of camaraderie, humor, and in some cases, indulgence that make a great lighthearted anecdote. One such incident involving James Gandolfini, the beloved actor who portrayed Tony Soprano, had everyone in stitches. What started as an ordinary shoot turned into a chaotic situation after Gandolfini’s binge-eating episode left him in a ‘sugar coma.’

James Gandolfini’s Dessert Binge That Halted The Sopranos Shoot Edie Falco and James Gandolfini as Carmela and Tony Soprano in The Sopranos | HBO

James Gandolfini,...

After Western cowboy flicks and heavy action movies, the world had found its new favorite genre to watch. Drug lords or mafia bosses. Some would say that David Simon’s The Wire was the best of both worlds.

Idris Elba as Stringer Bell in The Wire | Credits: HBO

The Wire narrated the story of Detective James McNulty and his team as they investigate drug lords, detective agencies, and more, in the city of Baltimore. The series found critical acclaim and worldwide fame upon its release.

David Simon Hasn’t Watched The Sopranos

Similar to The Wire, a series titled The Sopranos was released in 1999 and starred James Gandolfini. The series dealt with Tony Soprano, an American-Italian mafia head in New Jersey.

James Gandolfini in the final scene of The Sopranos | HBO Entertainment

The Wire and The Sopranos were somewhat similar in nature. The only difference between the two series was the point of view.

Starring James Gandolfini, The Sopranos has been one of the most iconic TV series. Following the life of an Italian-American mafia boss balancing his criminal empire and family struggles, the show captivated millions and became a cultural phenomenon.

Tony Soprano | Credit: HBO

In a memorable instance, the show’s popularity became so overwhelming that an open casting call drew a massive 13,000 people, forcing the police to intervene due to the sheer size of the crowd.

David Chase Recalled the Overwhelming Response to The Sopranos Open Casting Call

As The Sopranos celebrates its 25th anniversary marks its 25th anniversary, David Chase has shared new insights into the show’s creation in Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos, revealing intriguing stories about the show and its impact.

The Sopranos | Credit: HBO

The show’s creator reflected on one such incident in his interview with Empire while discussing the show’s influence on the Italian-American community,...

Next week, HBO debuts The Penguin, a spinoff of The Batman centering around Colin Farrell's take on Oswald Cobblepot, the iconic Batman villain better known as the Penguin. Farrell is covered under layers of makeup and prosthetics he apparently hates wearing, but the show is itself is getting high marks from critics. As of this writing, it has a 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with 46 reviews counted so far. That could change after the premiere, and it's always hard to predict what the audience score will be, but that's extremely good.

The description "spinoff show about a minor character from a Batman movie" doesn't inspire a ton of confidence, but HBO isn't in the habit of doing sloppy work and I'm glad to hear that it's followed through with The Penguin. Here are some sample reviews:

London Evening Standard: "This is a five star series that mafia film fans will adore.

Ever wondered if Robert De Niro kicks himself every time he watches The Sopranos? Here’s the scoop: De Niro reportedly passed on the lead role in this mob masterpiece, and it’s got fans and critics alike speculating about his regrets. At the time, mob comedies were considered so last season, but boy, did Tony Soprano shake up the TV landscape.

Robert De Niro in Heat | Warner Bros. Pictures

Imagine De Niro in the iconic role of a conflicted mob boss—it’s a tantalizing what-if that’s been haunting the corners of Hollywood ever since. Was he too early to reject mob drama or just plain wrong? Either way, the missed opportunity’s as legendary as the show itself.

Robert De Niro’s Missed Shot: Passing on The Sopranos That Changed TV Forever James Gandolfini in the final scene of The Sopranos | HBO Entertainment

Robert De Niro’s...

What really happened after the cut to black at the end of "The Sopranos"? It's a question that's plagued fans of the HBO mob drama for close to two decades now, but it sometimes seems like a question without an answer. The abrupt end to Tony Soprano's story, which came as he and his family sat down for a fairly normal-seeming dinner at Holston's, was for years presented by series creator David Chase as a sort of Schrodinger's Cat situation. Either Tony (James Gandolfini) is dead, or he's not, but we can't know since we weren't given that information. The end is what it is, and all we can do is make peace with it.

But the fact that so many "Sopranos" fans naturally took the cut to black to mean Tony could've been killed must mean something, right? This interpretation wasn't random, as there were details in the...

The Penguin's Colin Farrell is Sick of His Costume: “I Never Want to Put that F*cking Suit On Again” - Main Image

Batman fans may have to wait a while before Part II starring Robert Pattinson comes to theatres, but HBO is bringing back Matt Reeves’ version of Gotham in the upcoming spinoff The Penguin starring Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb.

Farrell had to wear a fat suit and prosthetics to pull of the character for the movie and the series, and now he’s hoping that he never has to put it on ever again.

“I F*cking Wanted it to be Finished.”

Talking to Total Film (via Variety), Farrell opened up about how he eventually grew tired of having to wear the costume for the Penguin and how he was just waiting for production to end so he would never have to wear it again. He says,...

This past weekend, HBO released a two-part documentary called "Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos" that delves into the life of the creator of one of the most pivotal shows in television history and also covers the creation and production of the acclaimed series. By director Alex Gibney's own admission, it's not a definitive deep dive into every aspect of the sprawling mafia/family drama (there are books and podcasts that do that). But as someone who just watched "The Sopranos" for the first time a couple of years ago and never explored any behind the scenes materials or sought out any oral histories, this doc provided a bunch of cool revelations and fascinating, dramatic moments I'd never seen or heard about before.

It also makes some interesting decisions about how to present information visually, the most obvious being that the primary series of lengthy interviews between Gibney...

David Chase, the creator and writer of The Sopranos, reflected on his journey and creative process behind the award-winning show in HBO’s Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos, a two-part original documentary. Starring James Gandolfini, the television behemoth ran for six seasons from 1999 to 2007, and because of its popularity, a prequel came to life.

Credits: David Chase in Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos / HBO

Unlike the highly acclaimed series, 2021’s The Many Saints of Newark was slammed by critics and fans, and Chase admitted he was responsible for the mistakes, though he also pointed his finger at the marketing department.

David Chase Opened Up About The Failure Of The Many Saints of Newark

The Many Saints of Newark was promoted as the origin story of young Tony Soprano and his mentor, Dickie Moltisanti. David Chase initially did not want to make a movie based on...

Even Bryan Cranston was shocked at one despicable act committed by Walter White in Breaking Bad. The character turned into the true evil criminal mastermind Heisenberg when he poisoned a kid just to keep Aaron Paul’s Jesse Pinkman by his side. Interestingly, Cranston revealed that he had no clue that he actually poisoned the kid.

Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad Season 1 | Credits: AMC

The scene in question happened in the Season 4 episode End Times, where Brock Cantillo, son of Jesse’s girlfriend Andrea ends up in the hospital. An angry Jesse confronts Walter with suspicion, but he convinces Jesse that Gus Fring must have planned the poisoning to manipulate him into killing Walter.

Bryan Cranston Was Shocked When He Found Out His Character Had Poisoned The Kid In Breaking Bad Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad | Credits: AMC

Bryan Cranston went deep into the morale of his...