Showrunner explains why Oz wasn't called “Penguin” in the first episode of “The Penguin”: “I didn't want to blame Oz's inhumanity on his disability” | THE RIVER

In the first episode of “THE PENGUIN,” a spin-off drama after the DC movie “THE BATMAN,” the main character Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot never knew his nickname “Penguin.” is not called either. Lauren Lefranc, the showrunner on the show, reveals some of the deeper reasons behind this.

Oz, who has a disability in his legs, rocks his body from side to side as he walks, earning him the nickname “Penguin'' because of his gait and appearance, and he has been called that in both the live-action and animated series. However, in the first episode of “The Penguin,'' he was called “Oz'' and “Oswald,'' as well as derogatory terms such as “little bitch,'' but the name “Penguin'' does not appear.

In an interview with Deadline, Lefranc said one of the reasons was because “I knew Oz didn't like being called that, and I thought it was an insult to him.” It's not unusual for Oz to be called “Penguin,'' as it's not uncommon for gang members to give insulting nicknames to other members, but he explained that he didn't use that nickname because he hates it.

Lefranc said on the show that he tried to completely avoid the characteristics that have made Oz stand out in the past. Instead, they paid homage to the Penguin's mythology by having him use his trademark umbrella early in the first episode. Lefranc says he sees the series as a character-driven crime drama rather than a comic book show, and he hopes it will appeal to people who aren't interested in DC or comic adaptations.

Lefranc also took Oz's disability into account, and while working on the work with empathy, he tried not to use the character's disability as an “excuse.” “When choosing the music for the shoot, it was important that we didn't use sentimental music. It wasn't meant to say, 'Look at Oz, poor guy.' He doesn't see disability that way.” And his disability doesn't make him who he is.”

“I'm also aware that there are terrible depictions in comics when it comes to defining disabilities and villains. A lot of them are facial scars or something that makes them feel different. I understand him psychologically. I wanted to attribute his outrageousness to his fundamental emotions rather than his physical illness or disability.”

Judging from Lefranc's remarks, it seems highly likely that Oz will not be called “Penguin” in the remaining seven episodes. Oz devises a cunning scheme to establish himself in Gotham's underworld, but he forms a strange bond with Victor, a boy he meets by chance, and shows a different side to him than before. I look forward to the remaining episodes to see how Oz, who is not bound by the nickname “Penguin,” will be portrayed.

“THE PENGUIN” is currently being distributed exclusively on U-NEXT.

Source:Deadline