There’s been a lot of speculation around who’s going to play the many villain roles reportedly featured in The Batman. One of the most recurring and exciting rumors centers around Josh Gad portraying the Penguin. After weeks of interrogations from fans though, the actor finally took to Twitter to clear up the gossip once and for all:
“Ok, seeing as I keep getting this question…as much as I have LOVED torturing you all with teasing you about the Penguin, I feel like it’s time to tell you…I’m NOT actually playing this character. But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the fan art and the love.”
That’s definitely a bummer for anyone who wanted to see him don the character’s top hat and monocle. Gad seemed like he’d be a perfect fit, too, considering his diminutive stature, pudgy frame, wide voice range and knack for comedic timing. Still, it appears the studio will have to keep searching for another star to play Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot.
The infamous bad guy is allegedly one of the main foes Bruce Wayne will have to take on in the movie. This naturally means that Matt Reeves will want to cast a household name in order to excite fans as much as possible.
On that note, Nicholas Hoult has also been rumored to be in consideration for the role. While the 29-year-old may not resemble Gad at all, his talents also cannot be undersold. It’s likely that his take on the character would be more reminiscent of Robin Taylor’s more nuanced portrayal in Gotham rather than Danny DeVito’s deformed, monstrous performance in Batman Returns.
Then again, Warner Bros. could go in a different direction entirely. As of right now, it’s difficult to predict who will end up playing the Penguin when all is said and done. All fans can do is trust in Reeves and the studio to get it right. After all, while Josh Gad may be out, there are plenty more actors who would kill for the role that could ultimately define their careers.
The Batman will soar into theaters on June 25th, 2021.