Batman Actor Penguin’s Return, Rejection of Violence Against Women, Misunderstands an Important Part of the DC Universe

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Batman Actor Penguin’s Return, Rejection of Violence Against Women, Misunderstands an Important Part of the DC Universe

John Turturro rejected a return to The Penguin after his role in Batmanwith his reasoning showing a misunderstanding for this section of the DC Universe. Turturro played the character Carmine Falcone in Batman before Mark Strong was hired as his replacement in The Penguincast. Although Falcone was killed by Paul Dano’s The Riddler in Batmanis ending, The Penguin includes flashbacks to before the events of the first, when the Gotham City gangster was at the height of his power.

These flashbacks are inherently linked to The PenguinSofia Falcone/Giant. The crimes of Carmine’s past are an integral part of Sofia’s story, as she reckons with what her father did to her; Carmine was revealed to be the killer of several women during his reign of crime, pinning each of the murders on Sofia and sentencing her to Arkham Asylum, resulting in a harrowing journey that saw her become the powerful crime boss shown in The Penguin end of episode 6. However, it was these elements that made Turtorro reject a return in The Penguin, showing an inherent misunderstanding of the DC Universe.

Turturro has his reasons for not returning as Carmine Falcone


Carmine Falcone holding a pool cue in The Batman

When addressing your reasons for not returning in The PenguinTurturro described aspects other than the initially reported scheduling conflicts that led to Mark Strong being cast in the role. While it’s true that Turturro had other commitments that meant he couldn’t return to the DC TV show, the actor recently spoke with Variety over other elements The Penguinthe story. When asked about Carmine’s recast Turturro said the following: “I did what I wanted with the role. In the series, there was a lot of violence against women, and that’s not my cup of tea.”

As is evident from Turturro’s comments, the actor simply felt there was little to explore in the role beyond what had already been shown in Batman. This leads to the actor’s next point, which is that he felt The Penguin included a lot of violence against women. Of course, Turturro has the right to decline any role for any reason. That said, it may be that Turturro’s comments demonstrate a misunderstanding of one of the key elements of the The Penguin, Batman, and, by extension, this entire section of the DC Universe.

Batman has already established Carmine Falcone as violent against women

Carmine has always had a dark streak

The main reason behind this above mentioned misunderstanding is that Batman has already highlighted Carmine Falcone as a very violent man, specifically towards women. Turturro comments that much of Carmine’s violence against female characters happens off-screen, but The Penguin is no different. In truth, The Penguin is arguably more subdued in relation to Carmine’s graphic displays of violence. In BatmanFalcone is shown trying to strangle Zoë Kravitz’s Catwoman to death before Batman saves her.

So far in The PenguinCarmine’s violent tendencies were only implied. It is revealed that Carmine killed seven women before the events of Batmanincluding his wife. However, none of these murders are shown, like Carmine’s attempt to kill Catwoman in the film. Therefore, Turturro’s comments begin to lose some credibility. This ties into showrunner Lauren LeFranc’s comments on Turturro’s comments, with the former reinforcing that Batman has already shown how violent Carmine can be towards women through The wrap:

“Carmine in the film killed Selina Kyle’s mother and then actively tries to kill Selina, and also kills Annika – Selina’s friend. I think it’s established, and Matt [Reeves] and I agree with that, that Carmine is a very violent man and has a violent tendency against women.”

As LeFranc points out, one of the central components of Carmine’s character in both Batman and The Penguin it is its violence. In both projects, Carmine’s crimes against women are implicit. The only difference is that Batman actively shows Carmine trying to commit another murder, something that The Penguin left absent as of the end of episode 6. For these reasons, it appears that Turturro’s comments about not returning to The Penguin are misleading and miss the point of the program’s overall themes.

The Penguin Doesn’t Glorify the Violence It Portrays

Carmine’s actions are never tolerated


Sofia Falcone and her father, Carmine, in The Penguin

The central component of The Penguin, and the DC Universe as a whole, what Turturro’s perspective misunderstands is that violence against women is never glorified. Carmine Falcone is clearly identified as one of the greatest villains of the Batmanuniverse, and one of the most reprehensible characters in both projects. There was always a clear difference Batman and The Penguin between simply portraying violence and glorifying it. In both projects, the level of violence that Carmine – or anyone else – possesses was condemned.

Turturro insisting that this aspect of the show is not for him implies that the glorification of such moments is part of THE Penguin When the opposite couldn’t be more true…

This is evident in the scene where Carmine tries to kill Catwoman. The latter then tries to kill the former, with Batman stopping her as if she goes through with this she will be just as bad as Carmine. The Penguin is similar, with the show presenting Sofia as a sympathetic antagonist. Sofia’s story makes clear that Carmine’s unnecessary violence against women was undeniably wrong; Turturro insisting that this aspect of the show is not for him implies that the glorification of such moments is part of THE Penguin when the opposite could not be more true.

Sofia Falcone’s story includes violence but is about empowerment

Sofia’s violence is evident, but it is in the name of female empowerment

As alluded to, it is the story of Sofia Falcone that proves above all that The Penguin does not satisfy violence. Yes, Sofia Falcone’s story included a lot of violence and death, sometimes even caused by her own hands. However, the show never crosses the line of making these acts seem deserved or understandable, but simply a product of Sofia’s incredibly difficult life. Sofia and Oz are equally deplorable people, but they both have likable aspects. The sympathetic elements of the former result from total opposition to Carmine’s violence against women, leading to his own empowerment despite his crimes.

Victor killing Squid in episode 6 of The Penguin and his traumatized and disgusted reaction to the act also shows how violence is not something to be proud of.

It was Sofia’s consideration in exposing Carmine’s crimes against women to a reporter that set her on the right path. This was prompted by the revelation that Carmine killed his mother, resulting in Sofia being sent to Arkham as yet another victim of her father’s evil. Sofia’s journey after this point was about reclaiming – or, more accurately, forging – her own identity and erasing Carmine Falcone’s legacy forever. This doesn’t sound like a story that glorifies Carmine’s actions, proving that Turturro’s reasons for not reprising his role in The Penguin are inherently mistaken.

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