The Penguin left a surprising mark on the tone of one character in Lanterns. Kelly Macdonald recently talked about her preparation for the new DCU show. The actress revealed that Collin Farrell’s Gotham crime drama nearly influenced how she portrayed Sheriff Kerry.
Macdonald’s character, Kerry, is a Nebraska sheriff who is revealed to have a major connection to Gotham in the second episode. The reveal changed how Macdonald viewed the character and her place within the larger DC universe. She told Entertainment Weekly that the discovery felt like “finding out you’re a Disney princess or something.”
Macdonald added, “Within the first couple of months of the shoot, as well, I was watching The Penguin at the same time. Sometimes I’d been over-watching The Penguin, and I’d be going through my dialogue in my trailer, and I’d realize I was doing the whole Gotham thing.
I’d be like, ‘Turn it down a little bit,’ ’cause I’d been told very specifically, ‘She’s from Gotham but don’t do the accent thing.’ She has to be more ambiguous than that. I’m sure you’ll be able to tell the scenes where I’ve been watching The Penguin.” Macdonald’s comments instead highlight the unusual influence the series had on her while she worked on Lanterns.
Will there ever be a second season of The Penguin?
A second season of The Penguin remains possible, but HBO has not officially renewed the series. Matt Reeves said in September 2025 that the team was “in discussions” about another season. Showrunner Lauren LeFranc was also considering ideas for a potential second season.
Colin Farrell has previously said he would return only if the creative direction made sense. The actor played Oswald Cobblepot opposite Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Falcone in the first season.
Meanwhile, The Penguin and Lanterns exist in separate DC continuities. Reeves’ series is part of his Batman crime saga, which centers on Robert Pattinson‘s The Batman. Lanterns is part of the new DCU and follows Hal Jordan and John Stewart.
For now, fans will have to wait for an official The Penguin Season 2 announcement.
