Penguin nearly became Birds of Prey villain, Robbie and Farrell say

Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell used a joint interview to spotlight an extraordinary “what might have been” in the DC film world: Penguin nearly served as the villain in Birds of Prey, a role ultimately filled by Black Mask. As they promote their fantasy romance A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, they also offered a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes decisions that helped shape two connected but distinct strands of DC storytelling. The film opens on September 19, and the discussion touched on how early drafts and studio input can redirect character lineups across universes.

Robbie revealed that the earliest Birds of Prey script envisioned Farrell’s Oz Cobblepot, the Penguin, as the principal antagonist. In her retelling, she described how she shared that draft with Farrell, who reacted with evident surprise. “No way! Really?” he asked, prompting Robbie to recount that the vision for the Penguin was ultimately halted by The Batman’s creator, Matt Reeves, who told her, “Don’t use the Penguin. I’m going to use him in my thing.” Robbie added that the project later pivoted to Ewan McGregor’s Black Mask, a choice she described as “amazing,” and she noted she still has a copy of the...