Actors Who've Played The Penguin

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The new Batman movie is still in the developmental stage. Robert Pattinson has signed on to play the iconic role of Gotham City's superhero. Zoe Kravitz will join him as Catwoman, and Paul Dano will play The Riddler. As for the role of The Penguin, directors are still searching for an actor.

Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen were rumored to be playing the role, however it seems an agreement couldn't be reached. With Hill and Rogen out of the running, a new actor as emerged as the frontrunner to play the comic book villain. Colin Farrell is reportedly interested in the role and has reached out to the director for an audition.

While fans await word on whether Farrell will join the movie, let's take a look back at some actors who've played The Penguin.

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Fans of the original 1960s Batman television series remember Burgess Meredith as Penguin. Throughout the show's three season, Meredith would make numerous guest appearances as his character fought Adam West's Batman. Meredith had a stellar acting career, which spanned nearly 6 decades. Another of his most famous roles came trainer Mickey Goldmill in the movie Rocky, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Meredith's last role was in the 1995 film Grumpier Old Men, in which he played Jack Lemmon's father.

Actor Danny Devito got the chance to play the iconic villain in the 1992 sequel Batman Returns. Starring alongside Michael Keaton and Michelle Pfeiffer, Devito earned praise for his portrayal of Penguin. In the film, fans got a glimpse into the backstory of the penguin. We saw him being abandoned by his parents, then living in the sewers with penguins. We then see him finally coming out after years of hiding. The public embraces Penguin and views him as a hero as he runs for Mayor of Gotham City.

For 5 seasons, Gotham was a hit on the Fox channel. The series showcased the beginning of Bruce Wayne's transformation into Batman, while introducing us to the Batman villains. Robin Lord Taylor was cast as Penguin, which would become his breakout role. His performance earned him praise from fans and television critics. Throughout the seasons, we saw Penguin form a partnership with The Riddler, which would become a main focal point of the show. We also saw Penguin rise to power when he was elected Mayor, then wreck havoc on Gotham and Commissioner James Gordon.