Colin Farrell’s Tiny ‘The Batman Part II’ Role Could Set Up a Bigger Return for Penguin

When HBO’s ‘The Penguin’ arrived, it handed Colin Farrell a rare gift for a supporting player: the spotlight. Over the course of 8 episodes, Farrell took center stage as Oswald “Oz” Cobb. It was a long way from the film that introduced the character.

That earlier outing was brief by design. Farrell worked great in ‘The Batman’ and stole everyone from his scenes, but only a little. The spinoff then gave fans the full-length version of that scene-stealing energy.

The series also left the door ajar. The finale teased another showdown with The Dark Knight, who was noticeably absent throughout the spinoff. Naturally, fans have been waiting to see where Oz goes next, and Farrell has now offered 2 pieces of news that point in different directions.

First, the bad news for anyone hoping for a big Penguin showdown. Farrell has confirmed he appears in just 2 scenes in ‘The Batman Part II,’ a detail IGN highlighted in its post on the actor’s comments. He first said so while speaking to ScreenRant while promoting ‘Sugar’ Season 2, and he told ScreenRant that being in only 2 scenes “means I can enjoy the rest of the film.”

The small role doesn’t mean he is unimpressed. Farrell confirmed he has read the entire script co-written by Matt Reeves and Mattson Tomlin, and he described the sequel as “dark” and “terrifying.” That is a strong endorsement from someone who knows exactly how little screen time he has.

There is also a timeline detail worth noting. Farrell explained that ‘The Batman Part II’ picks up just weeks after the HBO show concluded. So even a brief appearance should carry the weight of everything Oz did at the end of the series.

Then came the hopeful part. According to IGN, Farrell would love to play the character again in a potential Season 2 of the HBO show, insisting “there’s a conversation to be had.” He was talking with London’s ‘This Morning’ and was asked whether there is any hope for the series, especially with so much changing at DC Studios and Warner Bros., which now sits under the Skydance umbrella.

That enthusiasm hasn’t always been so consistent. At various points, Farrell has sounded pessimistic enough to say he would “bet against” a second season ever happening. More recently, he told People he is “absolutely” open to returning, but only if a continuation can match the quality of the debut season.

The creative team has been just as careful. Executive producer Dylan Clark told TVLine that he would have to talk to his friend Farrell about putting on the full get-up again, which he called no small feat. Putting Farrell back in the prosthetics is clearly part of the discussion, and not just a creative one.

A smaller film role may even work in the character’s favor. Den of Geek argues that the HBO series didn’t find its footing until it gave more attention to Cristin Milioti, who had more to work with as Sofia Falcone. The same piece suggests ‘The Batman Part II’ seems to understand the value of using Farrell sparingly.

The sequel has plenty of other names to build around. ‘The Batman Part II’ stars Robert Pattinson, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Colin Farrell, Andy Serkis and Jeffrey Wright, among others. That is a crowded Gotham, and 2 scenes may be all Penguin needs to leave a mark.

For now, fans should treat Farrell’s comments as an invitation to keep the conversation going rather than a promise. ‘The Batman Part II’ releases in theaters on October 1, 2027. Whether Oz gets another full season may depend on how the Penguin leaves Gotham after those 2 scenes.