Josh Gad is a well-known American actor and comedian, and his stakes could get higher if, as speculated, he plays the role of The Penguin in The Batman. The movie is not in production yet, and it was only recently confirmed that Matt Reeves will be the director, but the momentum is picking up.
"Josh Gad" (CC BY 2.0) by voicechasers
Gad is one of the most popular and well-known faces in Hollywood. The 36-year-old Frozen and Beauty and the Beast actor has hinted on social networking site Twitter that he could play the role of The Penguin, one of Batman’s arch nemesis. Of course, it has yet to be officially confirmed that the American comedian will be given the role, but it does look like things are moving in that direction.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) May 2, 2017
The Penguin is not exactly a very likeable figure. After all, he is a villain and is against everything Batman stands for. However, over the years the eccentric criminal mastermind has somehow captured our imagination and has made himself an important figure in anything Batman. Short and chubby, The Penguin, known for his love of ornithology, use of a monocle and trick umbrellas, is capable of hatching some of the most devious and intricate plans.
One of The Penguin’s most recognizable features is his squawking laughter. It is as nerve-racking and haunting as a laugh could get. Unlike many of Batman’s enemies, The Penguin, whose original name is Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, is not psychotic, and his crimes are committed for financial gain rather than for any personal reasons. He is a mobster who does shady business in Gotham City and is surrounded by beautiful women.
Gad, who has featured in blockbusters such as Jobs, The Internship and Pixels, has the looks and the mannerisms to play the role of The Penguin. Short and plump, the 36-year-old also has the voice and the natural talent to play such a big role. The American, though, will have to work extremely hard if he is to surpass Danny DeVito as the best Penguin there ever was.
DeVito’s portrayal of the character in Tim Burton’s 1992 movie Batman Returns was extremely haunting and dark. The 72-year-old did many of his own stunts, including eating a raw fish... as real penguins do. The American was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor and the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain for his role. Could Gad top that? Time will tell. Gad, though, would likely bring a touch of humor and could make the audience laugh without any reservations. Maybe the American could even make the character likeable and relatable.
The importance of The Penguin in the Batman fandom and in popular culture cannot be undermined. As one of the Dark Knight's oldest foes, he has been present in the array of video games which have featured Batman throughout the last three decades. The nefarious personality has appeared in the action adventure game Batman: The Caped Crusader which was published by Ocean Software in 1988, as well as in several titles from the Batman: Arkham series. He is the chief villain in the fun Flash game Batman: The Cobblebot Caper. The Penguin also features prominently in various online slot games - one of them is Fabulous Bingo’s Batman & The Penguin Prize. The six-reel, 64-payline slot game has a very retro feel to it and based is on the television series of the 1960s.
Superman has long been the most beloved superhero, but Batman seems to have taken over. The death of Last Son of Krypton in the 2016 movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice means that the field is clear for Batman to establish himself as the number one fan favorite superhero. Success of movies such as The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises and Suicide Squad means that fandom of Batman is only going to grow. With Ben Affleck, who shot to fame in the 2001 Academy Award-nominated movie Pearl Harbor, having made the role his own, The Batman film promises to be one of the biggest yet. If Josh Gad plays the role of The Penguin in it, then he could make the movie a very memorable one.