If you starred in a comic book movie 10 to 30 years ago, you have a good chance of someone calling you up to star in whatever the next multiverse movie would be. That’s why Danny Devito throws his hat into the race and says he wants to play The Penguin again.
In a recent interview with SFX via Games Radar, the actor was asked if he’d ever be open to a return to the world of Tim Burton’s Batman Returns and playing his iconic turn of Oswald Cobblepot again.
The actor tells the outlet: “I would definitely consider doing it, yeah. Batman Returns was a great part; it was operatic. You could just pull out all the stops. There were so many motivating things, so many things churning up inside of him. Being the odd man out – the odd bird out – brought the character out of me. It was an emotional experience for me because I felt it was an opportunity of a lifetime to play Oswald Cobblepot with Tim’s vision and design. Tim is a genius to me.”
Batman Returns opened in 1992 and saw Michael Keaton return as Batman following his turn in the 1989 film. Keaton was joined by Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman and DeVito’s Penguin. At the time, the film was dismissed as too dark and adult and failed to make the impact that Burton’s first outing received. Though, the 1992 film would gain a cult following since then.
To date, Batman Returns is Danny DeVito’s only venture into the world of comic book movies, long before it was the massive trend it is today. A reintroduction to one of the darkest characters in DC Films’ history could’ve been a welcome addition in this year’s The Flash as well, even if it was one of the now-infamous CGI recreations.
The Penguin is getting his own spin-off, though, with Colin Farrell reprising his role from The Batman in the upcoming Max limited series.
DeVito will be next seen in Disney’s Haunted Mansion, opening July 28th, and the 16th season of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, currently airing on FXX.
