The Penguin was a particular present and probably the greatest to grace the 2024 TV schedule. Not solely did it inform a compelling story, it additionally expanded upon the world established in Matt Reeves’ The Batman. It is truthfully superb that I cherished the sequence regardless of how a lot it made me hate Oswald Cobb once more, however I did have one gripe. I’d’ve cherished to have seen Jeffrey Wright seem as Jim Gordon and, whereas I used to be initially shocked to search out out why he wasn’t within the present, I now suppose his exclusion could have been for the perfect.
Wright, who will presumably return to play his character within the upcoming The Batman Half II, was utterly absent from The Penguin. This baffled me, particularly contemplating the character’s place as a rising lieutenant within the Gotham Metropolis Police Division in addition to his standing as energetic standing on the pressure. Wright not too long ago spoke with Inverse about why he wasn’t concerned, and I used to be scratching my head.
Why Jeffrey Wright Wasn’t In The Penguin
Whereas the GCPD did not have an enormous presence inside The Penguin, there have been a number of scenes during which Jeffrey Wright’s character may’ve simply appeared. The sequence may’ve scripted in a scene during which Jim Gordon investigated Sofia or Oz’s dealings inside the present. Nonetheless, the Oscar-nominated Wright defined that he by no means heard something about him probably showing on he present:
There was no discuss of my being on this first season.
It is wild to suppose that the staff behind The Penguin did not contact Jeffrey Wright about an look. As one of many many actors who’ve jumped between film and TV roles, he appeared destined to seem within the sequence. In some methods, it might appear to be a missed alternative however, then again, I suppose I am at peace with it now.
Why Jeffrey Wright’s Exclusion From The Penguin Might Have Been For The Greatest
When you will have a profession as various as Jeffrey Wright’s, you are likely to obtain a variety of affords for work. Even when he weren’t part of the Batman franchise, he’d haven’t any scarcity of roles on the way in which, each in live-action and animation. This is perhaps why he did not categorical an eagerness to be concerned in a possible second season of Penguin:
Who is aware of? We’ll see what occurs down the road, however I am juggling sufficient balls as it’s.
It is doable that Jeffrey Wright was busy amid manufacturing on The Penguin, and showrunner Lauren LeFranc and co. had been conscious and opted to not attain out. Or perhaps there have been merely no plans to incorporate Gordon, and the staff did not need to danger shoe-horning him in?
What also needs to be mentioned is that an actor of Mr. Wright’s caliber deserves an ample quantity of display time, and his presence could have been restricted on this present. As talked about the GCPD did not issue into the present in a serious approach as it’s. On condition that, it is in all probability finest that he did not seem, as he could have solely popped in for a second in what may’ve been a glorified cameo.
That apart, there’s at present purpose to be optimistic that The Penguin Season 2 will occur and, if it does, I’d like to see Wright’s Gordon seem. Hell, there are a variety of characters I might wish to see present up in a sequence adjoining to The Batman. However, with the Colin Farrell-led present having set such a excessive bar, I am genuinely curious if any subsequent reveals will ever measure up. However, ought to a second season occur, I am recreation for Gordon to be again within the combine and hopefully, in a considerable position.
The Penguin is now obtainable to stream with a Max subscription. Additionally, be looking out for information on upcoming DC TV reveals.