Jeffrey Wright, who plays Jim Gordon in The Batman, says the first time he stepped on set to work with Colin Farrell in his Penguin makeup, he didn't recognize the actor. The upcoming DC movie, written and directed by Matt Reeves, released its first trailer at DC FanDome a week ago and wowed fans with its noir detective portrayal of a number of classic DC characters, including Robert Pattinson's Batman, Wright's Gordon and Paul Dano's Riddler. The trailer not only gave fans their first proper look at Pattinson in action as the Caped Crusader but also introduced them to a completely unique take on the Riddler compared to those seen before.

However, the biggest shock came when fans realized that the seemingly anonymous criminal seen in the trailer was actually Colin Farrell's Oswald Cobblepot, otherwise known as the Penguin. The transformation of the Irish actor from good-looking leading man to a middle-aged, overweight, and, frankly, unattractive man was almost unbelievable. When his makeup artist confirmed it was Farrell, the internet practically exploded. Aside from the physical transformation, Farrell's voice and accent were unrecognizable, and many fans were caught off guard.

Related: The Batman: The Problem With Colin Farrell's Penguin Transformation

However, they weren't alone in not recognizing Farrell, as Wright revealed in an interview with Jess Cagle on Sirius XM. Responding to a joke question from Cagle, who deliberately mistakes Wright as the Penguin due to the convincing makeup, Wright credited the artistry of the makeup team, saying that he too didn't recognize Farrell in character. He explains that when he arrived on set to shoot opposite Farrell in their first scene together he walked straight past the actor, and asked where Farrell was as they were ready to shoot. You can read his full comments below.

Talk about artists man. I've worked with that makeup artist before. It's just incredible. Colin walked on to set one day and I walked right past him. I was like "Ok dude, what's happening, where's Colin? Are we gonna shoot?" It was pretty remarkable.

Colin Farrell as The Penguin in The Batman

Wright's comments further reinforce the fact that Farrell's physical transformation is remarkable. It also makes one wonder why the filmmakers have gone to such lengths in order to disguise him. Given that Farrell himself has said his role in the movie is fairly small, and that we know from the trailer that the Riddler is the main villain, it could mean that Cobblepot is being set up as the villain for a potential sequel.

Reeves has hinted at the possibility, saying that in The Batman, Cobblepot is not yet a mob boss, and doesn't refer to himself as the Penguin yet. Could this mean that by the end of the film, something has happened that causes his ascension to the top of the criminal pile in Gotham? Fans will have to wait and see, with the movie set to release late next year, and at least 75% of footage still to be shot.

Next: How Robert Pattinson’s Batman Voice Compares To Previous Versions

Source: Sirius XM

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