Summary
- Mark Strong is rumored for a role in DC's The Penguin series, opening a new opportunity for another iconic DC villain portrayal.
- The Penguin could be the foundation for Strong having a major role in The Batman- Part II, expanding his DC villain repertoire.
- Possibilities for Strong's role in The Penguin could include Scarecrow, Hugo Strange, Black Mask, Mister Freeze, and more Batman villains.
Mark Strong is rumored for a role in DC's upcoming The Penguin series and there are so many dynamic Batman villains and characters he could potentially play. Although he has played supervillains both before and during the DCEU (Green Lantern's Sinestro and Shazam's Doctor Sivana), Matt Reeves' Gotham provides an exciting opportunity for Mark Strong to add a third classic foe to his name. As such, it's also possible that The Penguin could also serve as the perfect foundation that sets Strong up to play a major role in the upcoming The Batman- Part II.
Having been teased over social media, it's been reported that Mark Strong has been cast in an undisclosed role in 2024's The Penguin starring Collin Farrell as the titular crime boss as he claims power in Gotham's underworld. Taking place in the same universe and set between 2022's The Batman and 2026's The Batman-Part II, there are plenty of villains and roles that have yet to be cast in this new version of the Batman mythos. To that end, here are 10 of the most exciting DC roles for Mark Strong for the upcoming Penguin series.
The Penguin TV Show: Cast, Story Details & Everything We Know So Far
Matt Reeves continues his The Batman universe with some spinoff TV series, and the first to release is HBO Max's The Penguin starring Colin Farrell.
10 Dr. Jonathan Crane
The Scarecrow
One of Batman's most classic villains, Doctor Jonathan Crane is fascinated with the study of fear and its effect on the human mind. Having been prominently featured in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy played by Cillian Murphy, Scarecrow and his fear toxins have received multiple portrayals both on screen and on the page. That being said, Crane is one of Batman's darkest and most fascinating villains, especially due to the key fact that fear is a primary tool in both of their arsenals.
To that end, Mark Strong could certainly bring a fresh new perspective to the villain while also offering the same terrifying intelligence Crane is known for. When it comes to Scarecrow, it seems as though there's a lot of room for creativity with multiple avenues that Matt Reeves and Mark Strong could approach with character. That said, one could imagine that Strong could provide an equally imposing and very cerebral version of the Batman villain.
9 Jeremiah Arkham
Setting Up The Arkham Asylum Series
Jeremiah Arkham was once the head of Arkham Asylum in the Batman mythos, having inherited his family's dark legacy with the institution. Incredibly sadistic, Jeremiah eventually went insane, becoming just as disturbed and dangerous as the patients he was tasked with containing and rehabilitating. Furthermore, Jeremiah's debut in The Batman universe could help set up the upcoming Arkham Asylum series which is reportedly in development as well. This would also give Mark Strong a dynamic and likely recurring role in Matt Reeves' Gotham beyond The Penguin alone.