The Batman’s Spinoff Is Set To Finally Give A Underrated Superhero Movie Star The Credit They Deserve After 14 Years

With the first spin-off of The Batman finally released in The Penguin, the new DC series can finally give one underrated superhero actor his due after appearing in a plethora of comic book adaptations over the years. The Penguin follows the events of The Batman and will lead into The Batman - Part II. Collin Farrell returns as the titular character, still as impressive as ever with how he blends into the role. The Penguin already has strong reviews, continuing The Batman franchise's hot streak with critics.

Mark Strong has been cast as Carmine Falcone following scheduling conflicts with John Turturro, who played a significant part in the film, being killed off towards the end of The Batman by the Riddler. His death leaves a power vacuum in Gotham City, which leads into The Penguin, and sees the titular character begin his ascension as the king of Gotham's underworld. With Falcone dead, his only appearances in The Penguin can be through flashbacks, so the recast isn't as jarring as it might have been. Still, Strong is a fantastic choice to take over from Turturro.

Mark Strong's Superhero Movie Roles Have Been Underappreciated For Years

Mark Strong is no stranger to superhero movie adaptations. He played Frank D'Amico, the main villain of Kick-Ass, back in 2010. A year later, he played Sinestro in Green Lantern, a member of the Green Lantern Corps with an end credits that teased him turning into a Yellow Lantern, though that never came to fruition. His most recent superhero movie role was as Dr. Sivana in Shazam! He played that role in the end credits scene of Shazam! Fury of the Gods as well.

Despite the varying reactions to the superhero adaptations he was in, Strong was always great in his roles. His turn as Sinestro is arguably the best part of Green Lantern, and he makes characters like Frank D'Amico and Dr. Sivana more intimidating than they might have been with a different actor portraying them. If nothing else, when Strong shows up in a superhero film, he will turn out a great performance, which makes his inclusion in The Penguin exciting.

The Penguin Could Finally Let Mark Strong Get The Credit He Deserves In The Superhero Genre

Despite being in underrated superhero movies like Kick-Ass and Shazam!, his latest role in The Penguin might finally give him the chance to truly shine like never before. The Penguin seems content to forgo all the comic book theatrics, grounding Gotham City even further than ever, and really focusing on the stellar performances of the actors to sell it. Mark Strong fits right in alongside other outstanding actors like Collin Farrell and Cristin Milioti, and will hopefully have some standout moments throughout the season.

It's always a fine line to toe when recasting an actor for a role in an ongoing franchise. John Turturro was excellent as Carmine Falcone in The Batman, and while it's a shame he wasn't able to return for The Penguin, Strong is more than capable of reaching those same heights in his performance. Carmine Falcone has been an integral part of the franchise so far, and Strong can continue to flesh out his character in new and interesting ways.

Why Mark Strong Is A Perfect Actor For Superhero Movie & Show Roles

Whenever Mark Strong shows up in a comic book adaptation, chances are he will nail his performance. His talents as an actor lend themselves well to the genre, with an ability to do action and comedy to great success. He might not seem like a significant comedic actor, but his line delivery allows for hilarious moments, especially in something like Kingsmen, which is also a comic book adaptation, but not necessarily part of the superhero genre.

Where Strong really shines, though, is in his intensity during more emotionally charged moments, which may be why it feels like he has largely been relegated to playing villains in his superhero appearances. How he conducts himself within a scene really commands the audience to focus on him, allowing him to be even more intimidating as a villain. Hopefully, The Penguin will allow Strong to truly show what he is able to do in the well-received series.

The Penguin looks to be one of the best TV shows of 2024, grounding Gotham in a unique way and showing the power struggle of the city's underworld in ways that haven't been seen to this depth in most adaptations. The Penguin features an incredible cast of actors at the top of their game. With Strong stepping into the role of Carmine Falcone, The Penguin has the opportunity to let him shine after more than a decade of him playing various comic book movie roles.