The Penguin Scores Emmy Gold Even as HBO Misses Out on Top Award
Colin Farrell’s Gotham crime saga snagged a major Emmy win, proving The Penguin can soar—even when HBO comes up short on the biggest prize of the night.
The Penguin just crashed the Emmys in the best way possible, and yes, it made a little DC history in the process. While we keep waiting to hear if this so-called limited series is actually getting a Season 2, the show cleaned up where it counted — including one very big trophy for one very sharp villain.
Cristin Milioti just joined the DC villain hall of fame
Cristin Milioti won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for playing Sofia Falcone in HBO's The Penguin, which lives inside Matt Reeves' The Batman universe (the DC Elseworlds corner, for the label sticklers). She beat out some heavy hitters: Cate Blanchett for Disclaimer, Meghann Fahy for Sirens, Rashida Jones for Black Mirror, and Michelle Williams for Dying for Sex.
That win puts Milioti in rare company: actors who have taken home major awards for playing DC villains. Think Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix, and yes, her Penguin co-star Colin Farrell.
Farrell loses the Emmy, but the show steamrolls the craft categories
Colin Farrell did not snag Outstanding Lead Actor at the Emmys this time — he lost to Stephen Graham for Netflix's Adolescence — which is a twist considering Farrell just won Lead Actor in the Limited Series category at the latest Golden Globes. Still, The Penguin had a very good weekend overall, stacking up a bunch of behind-the-scenes Emmys that match what you saw (and heard) on screen:
- Best Original Score
- Best Sound Mixing
- Best Sound Editing
- Best Prosthetic Makeup
- Best Special Visual Effects
- Best Contemporary Makeup
- Best Contemporary Costumes
- Best Contemporary Hairstyling
So, is Penguin popping up in The Batman - Part II?
Yes. Colin Farrell is officially back as Oz Cobb in The Batman - Part II, alongside Robert Pattinson (Bruce Wayne), Andy Serkis (Alfred), and Jeffrey Wright (Jim Gordon). Farrell has already read the script by Matt Reeves and Mattson Tomlin and did the whole stunned-and-impressed thing — while also lowering expectations on his screen time.
"I haven’t got much to do on it, just a little bit. I read the script and it’s extraordinary."
So, not a lot of Oz in the sequel, but any Farrell-in-prosthetics is gravy. Production is slated to start in early 2026, reportedly around April, with the movie currently targeting an October 2027 theatrical release. No word yet on whether Milioti's Sofia Falcone will make the jump to the big screen, but after that Emmy, Warner Bros. would be smart to at least send a fruit basket.
About that 'limited series' label
The Penguin was billed as a limited series (showrunner Lauren LeFranc; directed by Craig Zobel), which is how it competed at the Emmys. But considering the buzz and the awards run, fans are understandably asking about a Season 2. Nothing official yet. Until then, Milioti's win stands as the headline: one of the most decorated Batman villain performances ever just came from a show that was supposed to be a side dish.