Why Penguin From The Batman Looks So Familiar

Penguin, aka Oswald Cobblepot, has always been one of the most classic villains in the Batman canon, so fans are thrilled to see him return for Matt Reeves' "The Batman." When it comes to the caped crusader's iconic rogue's gallery, the mob boss may not have the strength of Bane or the chaotic madness of Joker, but the tuxedo-clad chap has something else: brains. When it comes to organized crime, no other Gothamite can compete with Cobblepot's cunning and ruthlessness. Over the years, the character has been played by the likes of Danny DeVito, who had a particularly campy take on Cobblepot, and we've even seen his origin story unfold on the television series "Gotham." "The Batman" promises a unique take on its comic book source material, and this version of Penguin may have fans feeling like there's something familiar about the umbrella-toting villain.

Despite the layers of prosthetics disguising him, making him look a great deal less like his usual dapper self, Penguin is played this time around by bonafide A-lister Colin Farrell. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Farrell has made a name for himself around the world and become one of Hollywood's go-to leading men. Over his decades-long career, he's worked with esteemed directors such as Steven Spielberg and Martin McDonagh, donned wizarding robes for his role in a "Harry Potter" spinoff, and more. With so many incredible movies under his belt, many eagle-eyed fans of "The Batman" will no doubt notice Farrell despite the Penguin makeup. Here are just a few of the roles you might have seen him in.

Set in a future where police can predict crimes before they happen and make arrests accordingly, Steven Spielberg's "Minority Report" is widely regarded as a science fiction classic, and it was therein that Colin Farrell experienced one of his early career breakouts. Alongside Tom Cruise, who plays the director of the futuristic crime-stopping unit, Farrell delivered a showstopping performance as suspender-sporting government agent Danny Witwer. To go back now and see the actor shine early in his career is something special, and his role is an integral part of what makes "Minority Report" one of Spielberg's best movies according to IMDb, even when true classics like "E.T." and "Jurassic Park" are part of the conversation.

"Minority Report" is currently streaming on Netflix, so for those fans who want to get a sense of Farrell's oeuvre before seeing him chew up the scenery as Penguin when "The Batman" hits theaters, there's no better place to start.

For his feature-length directorial debut, "In Bruges," celebrated playwright Martin McDonagh cast Colin Farrell in the role of a depressed assassin. Alongside Brendan Gleeson, the movie is a dark comedy that tells the story of two mob-employed hitmen instructed to hide out in the Belgian city of Bruges after a job gone wrong. "In Bruges" showcases Colin Farrell at his very best, embodying a deeply broken man whose past threatens to consume him entirely. Many consider this dark comedy to be among the best performances of Farrell's long career.

As Farrell's character, Ray, tumbles through Bruges, he finds romance, drugs, danger, and eventually grapples with his own self-loathing. Meanwhile, his partner finds out the true reason they've been sent there: their boss wants Ray dead, and the movie reaches a fever pitch during the climax as Ray tries to escape his fate. Farrell plays the character as a truly pitiable scumbag, always in search of the next thrill to distract him from the memory of his horrible deeds. He starts a fight in a restaurant, blinds a drug dealer with a gunshot at close range, and drinks like a fish. The physicality Farrell brings to the role is electric, allowing viewers to believe that this is a dangerous and unpredictable man on the end of his rope.

In 2012, Colin Farrell worked once again with Martin McDonagh on his movie "Seven Psychopaths." Farrell played Marty, a struggling screenwriter with an addiction to alcohol. He was joined by Christopher Walken, Woody Harrelson, and Sam Rockwell, the latter of whom plays a con artist named Billy. Billy's scam involves kidnapping people's dogs and returning them for reward money, but when he steals a Shih Tzu belonging to one of Los Angeles's most dangerous gangsters, Marty is dragged along with him into a world of killers and crime. "Seven Psychopaths" is a true black comedy gem.

As a sad-sack writer, Farrell brings pathos to the role, embodying a character who blames his problems on everyone but himself as he struggles against writer's block to finish a screenplay about a serial killer while dodging gang members and discovering the depths of his friend's dark secrets. The film was rated highly by critics, with Christopher Orr at The Atlantic writing, "Farrell is amiably ineffectual as Marty, his wondrous, semaphore eyebrows delivering their best work since his last collaboration with McDonagh."

Those who loved Farrell's performances in "Seven Psychopaths" and "In Bruges" have reason to be excited, because McDonagh's next film will once again put the iconic Irishman in a leading role.

For fans of the "Harry Potter" franchise, Colin Farrell may be most recognizable from his role in "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." For the Wizarding World prequels, Farrell traded in his Irish accent for an American one and got familiar with a wand. He played Percival Graves, the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Serving as the movie's de facto antagonist, the role of Percival Graves was a challenging one. Without spoiling the movie, it's safe to say that his character harbors a dark secret.

The movie takes place as a parasitical dark force called an Obscurus wreaks havoc on New York City in the 1920s, and as the head of the wizard police, Farrell's Graves is bent on tracking it down. Against the wiry young Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), Graves cuts an imposing frame. In one scene where he interrogates Newt, Farrell appears to loom over the younger actor, diminishing him in the frame, and his voice, though low, seems to fill the space ominously. It's a sharp turn from the action and drama movies Farrell is known for, and he pulls it off with menacing charisma. Although Percival Graves has not yet returned for subsequent "Fantastic Beasts" movies, many fans are surely hoping to see him again.