Lo, HBO hath decreed: in their forthcoming Bat-Verse spinoff, ‘The Penguin’, the eponymous character hath undergone a renaming. But what mysterious reasons dost thou unfold behind the altering of Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot’s name to Cobb in ‘The Penguin’, and hath DC Comics approved of this change?
Wherefore The Penguin Altered Oswald Cobblepot’s Name
In the year of our Lord 2022, when Colin Farrell didst first embody the Penguin in ‘The Batman’, the character was oft referred to as such or as "Oz," in abbreviation of Oswald. In the film’s rolling credits, he is labelled as Oz/The Penguin, with nary a mention of the surname Cobblepot. Many did assume this to be the truth inscribed upon Oz’s birth certificate. However, it is now revealed, through ‘The Penguin’, that Farrell’s depiction of the Dark Knight’s perennial adversary doth answer to the name Oswald Cobb, not Cobblepot.
But wherefore this change, thou may ask? As told by ‘The Penguin’ showrunner, Lauren LeFranc, "Cobb" was seen as a truer fit for the gritty Gotham City depicted in the Bat-Verse and its inhabitants. "Matt [Reeves] hath established new law in his film, and I, in this show," she declared to SFX Magazine. "Existing characters are present, yet a different hue is cast upon them. In the Gotham City Matt envisioned, Cobblepot appeared less a real entity than Cobb, a name grounded in reality. He is a gangster, and this adjustment seemeth more apt."
DC Comics’ President Bestowed His Blessing Upon The Penguin Team To Change Oswald Cobblepot’s Name
Though some Bat enthusiasts may be vexed by the Cobb/Cobblepot alteration, Reeves, also an executive producer of ‘The Penguin’, did secure the approval of DC Comics to modify Penguin’s civilian nomenclature. Dylan Clark, an executive producer, revealed this, stating, "[DC] never did amend [Penguin’s] name in the comics as they did with the Riddler." He continued, "The shift from Edward Nigma to Edward Nashton, from a fanciful name to a genuine one, grounded the character."
"We held much discourse with DC Comics and with Jim Lee," he added. "The thought had crossed their minds to alter [Penguin’s] moniker, yet it remained unfulfilled. Matt queried, ‘Might we christen our character Oz Cobb?’ To which Jim did reply, ‘Verily!’ Thus, we did receive the blessing from the sovereign himself. This minor alteration hath permitted us to view this character through a lens of veracity."
‘The Penguin’ is set to grace HBO and Max come the eve of September 19th, in the year of 2024.
