Is The Penguin ashamed to be based on a comic book? Showrunner Lauren LeFranc reveals how Oz Cobb departures from conventions of the genre.
The first episode of The Penguin debuted to near-universal acclaim when it was released last week. However, some fans couldn’t help but notice that Oz Cobb was never referred to as ‘The Penguin’ during the entire premiere. Apparently, this was entirely intentional, with showrunner Lauren LeFranc revealing the villain’s moniker isn’t one that he’ll actively be embracing throughout the events of the limited series:
“I knew that Oz didn’t appreciate the term, and that was something that felt derogatory toward him,” LeFranc explained in a recent chat with Deadline. “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.”
This news may be disappointing to fans who hoped that The Penguin would show Oz Cobb’s transformation into the over-the-top kingpin of crime that fans know and love. Yet it seems Lauren LeFranc and her team are taking a very different approach to the show than many of their contemporaries in the superhero space. In fact, it seems the showrunner doesn’t even consider the project to inhabit the same genre as other comic book shows.
Why The Penguin Isn’t A Comic Book Show
Another hope fans had for The Penguin is that it would serve as a chance to explore the deep crevices of Gotham that The Batman was too high up to reach. The internet seems to be waiting for another big name from the comics to be modernized in the same way as Oz Cobb and The Riddler. Sadly for those fans, in the same chat with Deadline, Lauren LeFranc revealed the focus for the project isn’t on appealing to the comic book fans. Rather, the goal was to try to broaden the appeal to general audiences.
“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. 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.”
Lauren LeFranc isn’t the only helmer of a DC project to try to stray from their comic book roots, with The Penguin following in the footsteps of Todd Phillips’ Joker films. This dismissal of the comic book label has prompted backlash online, with many fans lamenting the seeming distaste for the medium held by those in charge of some of the highest-profile villains. Though given the quality of their projects, it does seem they’re at least doing something right!
The Penguin is now streaming on HBO. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe and make sure to stay tuned to our YouTube channel for more content.
