The Batman has been compared to Zodiac, Batman: Year One, and Nirvana. Now add another inspiration to the list: The Godfather.
In a new interview with MovieMaker magazine, actor Colin Farrell drew comparisons between The Penguin, who he will portray in The Batman, and Fredo Corleone — the classic example of a failed older brother. Farrell called Fredo “a bit of a reference” in his depiction of the famous Batman villain.
“There’s a certain amount of brokenness in Oz that, I think, as a reference, not for me performance-wise, but just emotionally, as a reference for Matt — I think Fredo from The Godfather was a bit of a reference,” Farrell explained.
In the Godfather films, Fredo is the embittered older brother who is ultimately surpassed by Michael Corleone. Fredo winds up betraying Michael, leading to one of the most famous death scenes in cinematic history.
“[Director Matt Reeves] was just talking about somebody who had very real and very lofty ambitions, but never really had the opportunity or the chance to explore them, and was maybe looked upon as someone who was handicapped, whether it was psychologically, intellectually — Fredo was frowned upon as less than the other brothers, and maybe Oz as well, in his life, was looked upon as somebody who wasn’t capable,” Farrell said. “And so that’s one of the things that fuels Oz.”
It’s certainly a different take on Oswald Cobblepot, who has gone through a number of iterations through the years. Danny DeVito’s Penguin from Batman Returns, for example, is literally raised by penguins. In other iterations he is an elegant, frequently foppish, crime boss.
Colin Farrell’s Penguin isn’t the only character getting a rethink in The Batman. The Riddler is said to be modeled after the Zodiac Killer, while Robert Pattinson’s Batman is is full of anger. It’s certainly a unique take on DC’s iconic hero.
The Batman will be out March 4. While you wait, find out why Robert Pattinson’s agent was surprised he wanted to play Batman, and check out the three-minute scene posted earlier this week.
Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN
