In a recent interview with Variety magazine, John Turturro discussed his decision not to return as Carmine Falcone in the upcoming series The Penguin, which features Colin Farrell in the lead role. The conversation, published on October 23, revealed that Turturro felt he had already fully realized the character during his portrayal in The Batman.
Despite the opportunity to reprise his role, Turturro opted to step back, allowing actor Mark Strong, known for his work in Kingsman: The Secret Service, to take over the part. Turturro expressed that a significant factor in his choice was related to themes in the show, particularly the depiction of violence against women. He stated:
“In the show, there was a lot of violence towards women, and that’s not my thing.”
“I did what I wanted to with the role”: John Turturro Reflects on Not Returning as Carmine Falcone in ‘The Penguin’
Turturro’s portrayal of Carmine Falcone in The Batman, released in 2022, was both well-received by audiences and critics, effectively bringing to life the iconic Gotham City crime lord and his connections to characters like Sofia Falcone, Alberto Falcone, and Selina Kyle (Catwoman). The film achieved impressive box office success, grossing over $772 million worldwide and earning a commendable IMDb rating of 7.8 alongside an 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
During his chat with Variety, Turturro also reflected on his latest project, Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door, which debuted earlier this year. He reiterated that his decision against revisiting the role of Carmine Falcone was rooted in his desire to avoid violent themes, reinforcing his earlier statement:
“I did what I wanted to with the role.”
While Falcone remained a formidable figure in The Batman, Turturro pointed out that the brutality associated with the character was often implied rather than shown directly, which he found to be “scarier.”
The 67-year-old actor acknowledged that his choice to decline the role was also influenced by alternative opportunities that came his way. He remarked:
“You can’t do everything you want to.”
Critics have noted Turturro’s performance as Falcone in The Batman, with Christy Lemire on Roger Ebert’s official site describing it as “low-key chilling.”
In the film, Carmine Falcone solidified his dominance over Gotham by manipulating events to orchestrate the arrest of his rival, fellow crime boss Salvatore Maroni. He is later seen committing the murder of Annika Kosolov, a waitress at his establishment, Iceberg Lounge, after she hinted at his dubious dealings. Ultimately, despite Batman and Catwoman unveiling his corrupt activities, Falcone meets his demise at the hands of The Riddler, played by Paul Dano.
The Penguin stars Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot, a former associate of Carmine Falcone who aspires to seize control of Gotham’s criminal underbelly. According to Entertainment Weekly, both The Penguin and Carmine Falcone have been integral to the spinoff series.
Following the release of six episodes in its first season, The Penguin has garnered positive reviews for Farrell’s captivating performance and Cristin Milioti’s portrayal of Sofia Falcone, Carmine’s daughter. New episodes are available every Sunday on HBO and Max at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
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