Editor’s observe: The next accommodates main spoilers for The Penguin.

The HBO sequence The Penguin has been an totally compelling battle between OzCobb (Colin Farrell) and Sofia (Cristin Milioti) vying for management of Gotham’s legal underworld and betraying one another each probability that they had alongside the way in which. Over the course of eight episodes, they dug into Ozs childhood, the occasions that formed his present path, and his relationship along with his mom (Deirdre O’Connell), and adopted Ozas he took Victor (Rhenzy Feliz), an adolescent compelled to outlive any manner he can, beneath his wing and turned him right into a trusted ally earlier than betraying him. And whereas it appeared as if Ozfinally bested Sofia, there’s no actual winner and no telling what may come subsequent.

After watching the season finale, Collider received the chance to talk with Feliz concerning the heartbreaking destiny of his character and the way lengthy he knew about the place it could all finish for him. In the course of the interview, he talked about rooting for his character, what made his tragic ending so impactful, simply wanting to do this second justice after they shot it, the concept Farrell got here up with himself for that scene, and what might need grow to be of him, if he’d had a distinct consequence.

Rhenzy Feliz Knew Victor’s Whole Arc in ‘The Penguin’ From the Starting

Collider: Do you know, from the start, what your character’s destiny can be?

RHENZY FELIZ: Yeah, I knew proper from the bounce. The second I signed on to do it, I went and had a gathering with (showrunner) Lauren [LeFranc], and she or he defined to me, in broad strokes and the larger image, the complete arc of Victor, that he was going by way of his second with Squid, and his relationship with Francis, in addition to his final ending within the present.

That is such an excellent character. At any level, did you attempt to persuade them to alter their minds?

FELIZ: Actually, from the second that I heard it, I simply discovered it superior. I might hope that it’s such a twist for those who it’s shocking. It’s a restricted sequence, so that you would possibly as nicely have the largest splash you’ll be able to. [Lauren] defined to me, story sensible, why she felt prefer it wanted to occur. There’s a flip that must be had with Oz. As an viewers member, you’re rooting for him the complete time. At the least, I discovered myself rooting for him once I was studying the script. After which, to see him, within the final 20 minutes of the present, make all these selections the place he makes a villain out of himself, as a narrative machine, it really works, however it’s additionally an emotional factor which you can give to an viewers. It’s that shock issue of, “Wow, my goodness.” You retain folks excited and hold folks on their toes. No person’s secure, which is thrilling too.

It’s such a tough second as a result of your character actually is the factor that humanizes Ozthroughout the season. Each time he does one thing, we predict he can’t be that dangerous as a result of he’s nonetheless being good to this child. Due to that, I didn’t see Victor’s finish coming in any respect, even proper up till the second it occurred. What was it like to really learn the script and to study precisely what these particulars have been? It’s one factor to know what’s going to occur, however you then get the script, after which you need to truly shoot it.

FELIZ: It was lovely. You recognize precisely what’s gonna occur and you’re simply hoping that the scene performs out in a manner that you simply really feel does the second justice and that it lives as much as this factor. After which, to learn that scene and simply how lovely and the way refined all of it felt, it didn’t really feel overdone. It simply felt delicate, and that’s the way in which that I went into it. I used to be similar to, “Breathe. Take a deep breath and dwell on this second. You’re right here. There’s this grief going by way of your system, however there’s additionally a way of accomplishment and there’s additionally a way of hope for the long run. Simply dwell in that.” And I believed that the writing was simply attractive. It allowed us to take our time and to breathe in that scene. After which, for it to show into what it become and for it to ramp up in that manner so rapidly, it was all there on the web page. I believed it was genius.

What was it like to determine the physicality and logistics of that second? You’re at such an fascinating angle when it occurs as a result of you’ll be able to’t transfer or get away. How was that to shoot?

FELIZ: Ozis a lot extra highly effective than him. Actually, the concept of the maintain got here from Colin [Farrell], on the day. I don’t understand how that they had deliberate on doing it. The second we sat down and began to do the rehearsal, he was like, “I’m pondering I’ll simply seize you want this, proper right here.” And I used to be like, “Yeah, I can’t see a manner of me getting out of that.” It labored out, however that was Colin’s personal thought, arising with that one.

Rhenzy Feliz Is in Awe of What Colin Farrell Was In a position To Do With OzCobb in ‘The Penguin’

How was it to work with Colin Farrell all through this? He’s an excellent actor, however on the similar time, you’re taking a look at him fully remodeled by this make-up, with a distinct physicality, and with a distinct voice. What was it wish to have that to play off?

FELIZ: It was phenomenal. As an actor, what you wanna do is persuade your self that you simply’re within the scenario. I’d most likely be freaking out if I used to be appearing reverse Colin Farrell, however my mind is telling me that it’s not, and that it’s this different factor, Oz. It was simply useful. It’s simpler, as an actor, to get into the second and into the scene. It was slightly bit troublesome for me to see simply how unimaginable a job Colin was doing whereas I used to be there. I had a entrance row view for all of it, however perhaps it’s not a lot as an viewers member while you’re doing it, it’s extra such as you’re each enjoying collectively within the sport. And so, to get to observe it now, as an viewers member, I’m in awe of what Colin was capable of do. It’s annoying to me that I wasn’t capable of discover it much more. I seen it, however I’m aggravated that I couldn’t simply sit there and have slightly popcorn and watch it occur. Actually, it’s awe-inspiring. It’s unimaginable, what he was capable of accomplish.

Since this setting is as well-known as a number of the characters that inhabit it, what do you’re feeling is the largest attract to the world of Gotham?

FELIZ: At the least in our world, we’re actually within the thick of it. We’re actually within the mud of what’s occurring. Batman is up on prime, wanting down at it. We’re from down, wanting up, and there’s alternative for folks. It’s laborious for lots of people as a result of it’s a spot that’s riddled with crime, however from Ozs perspective, there’s an actual alternative to do one thing, to lunge for this energy and to go for it. That’s what makes our story so fascinating. What does that appear to be? What does an actual battle of energy for the underbelly of Gotham appear to be?

It’s such an fascinating setting as a result of it’s one thing that’s been in so many motion pictures and so many TV exhibits, and but we nonetheless proceed to see completely different sides of it and completely different angles of it.

FELIZ: Yeah. Even on the finish of the present, it’s snowing in Gotham, and I don’t know if that’s occurred earlier than. Possibly that has occurred within the Christopher Nolan movies, with Bane in that actual thick jacket. I can’t keep in mind if it was snowing or not, however in ours, you actually get to see it pouring down. It’s only a completely different view on Gotham than I can keep in mind and recollect. It’s actually thrilling, the way in which that they’ve launched it. A few of these panning pictures within the 2022 Batman, it’s so completely different and it’s so cool. It appears like a New York, however like one which we don’t know as a result of it’s Gotham.

Are you holding onto hope that, if there ever have been to be one other season of this present, perhaps somebody ran over and resuscitated Victor after he was left there?

FELIZ: I imply, I might like to be part of any future issues on this story. Though it’s a darkish present, I had a good time. It was an excellent problem, and I cherished attending to make the present. Am I holding out hope for it? I don’t assume so. I’ve received a good suggestion of what occurred.

Would Victor Have Taken a Villain’s Flip if He’d Had a Completely different Destiny in ‘The Penguin’?

If Ozhadn’t killed Victor, what do you assume may have been subsequent for him? Do you assume that he would have grow to be a villain? What do you assume his future would have been?

FELIZ: That’s actually fascinating. I suppose I haven’t considered it as a result of I’ve all the time in the end identified the place his story ended. However serious about it now, what would grow to be of Victor’s life? Within the speedy future, Ozwould have given him extra duty to deal with issues, and Victor would have. What does a human being who has coronary heart flip into, months, years, or a long time down the road? That’s truly actually fascinating. What does that appear to be? That’s query. I ponder.

The Penguin airs on HBO and is accessible to stream on Max. Take a look at the trailer:

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