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‘In Your Dreams’ Press Conference With Simu Liu and More
(L to R) Alex Woo, Cristin Milioti, and Simu Liu attend Netflix’s ‘In Your Dreams’ premiere on October 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix.

‘In Your Dreams‘ follows Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and her brother Elliot (Elias Janssen) as they journey into the absurd landscape of their own dreams in order to find the Sandman, who they believe will grant them their ultimate dream come true… the perfect family. Moviefone was in attendance at a press conference for the animated film, which featured director/writer Alex Woo, and stars Simu Liu, Cristin Milioti, and Craig Robinson.
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Related Article: Netflix’s ‘In Your Dreams’ Sneak Peek With Alex Woo And Craig Robinson

1) Simu Liu Says His Character Is Just A Big Kid At Heart

Simu Liu attends Netflix’s ‘In Your Dreams’ premiere on October 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix.

When asked about taking inspiration from any of the dads in his life, Simu Liu admits that he did not, at least not consciously. However, he was very inspired by the fact that his character is just a big kid at heart.

Simu Liu: In approaching this character of Dad, it’s funny, because Dad in this film, he is actually such a kid on the inside. And so much so that I almost feel like he’s like actively resisting this idea of growing up. Because he’s very passionate about his music career. I think he’s at a place where he doesn’t want to let it go. He’s being faced with this pressure to kind of be realistic and face reality and accept responsibility for the whole family. I think for him, it’s like, well, if I give up on my dreams, what kind of example am I setting for the kids? That’s where I approached from. Where Dad is actually not very dad-like at all. I really wanted to bring out his child-like quality.

2) Cristin Milioti Says The Process Of Making An Animated Film Is Extremely Interesting

Cristin Milioti attends Netflix’s ‘In Your Dreams’ premiere on October 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix.

Cristin Milioti recalls the process of recording for the voice of Mom in ‘In Your Dreams’, saying that it is very different than working on a live-action project.

Cristin Milioti: The way an animated film is made, it’s so many years. And it’s such an interesting process. You record something and then you don’t return to it for four or five months. You have to like get back into that mind frame of how did we calibrate it? Oh, we went to a seven last time, this should be at a five now. It’s constantly changing. Which is so cool and so rare. You would never get to do that, obviously, on a live action thing. The rewarding part, I feel like is hopefully, any kids or adults that are dealing with like a nuanced situation at home feel comforted as well as entertained.

3) Craig Robinson Loved Bringing Humor and Heart To Baloney Tony

Craig Robinson attends Netflix’s ‘In Your Dreams’ premiere on October 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix.

Baloney Tony is Elliot’s stuffed giraffe and while he does not appear in the movie a lot, he is the heart of the story. Craig Robinson reveals that he had a lot of fun bringing both sides to Baloney Tony, but admits that the heart came as a surprise.

Craig Robinson: It came as a surprise. I did not know. We found everything in the room. It’s good to hear that that’s what came across, but no, I didn’t go in thinking, oh man, yeah, I gotta bring that heart. We just kind of rolled it out there.

4) Alex Woo Channeled A Very Personal Story When Writing ‘In Your Dreams’

Alex Woo attends Netflix’s ‘In Your Dreams’ premiere on October 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix.

Alex Woo: The challenge with a movie about dreams is that anything can happen. And when anything can happen nothing really means anything. So, we had to find a way to ground it with a real-world, human story. And that’s when I thought about this thing that happened to me when I was maybe six or seven years old. I woke up one morning and I found my mom at the front door with her bags packed. She had to sort of gently explain to me and my brother that she was going away for a little while. And she had to figure things out for herself and her family. It was really scary for us. This movie is very much about me reconciling and dealing with the fact that life is not perfect. And that there’s a lot of messiness in life. But there’s also a beauty in that. So, it’s a combination of this really intimate, personal story with this big, adventurous, fantastical, spectacular world of dreams.

5) Simu Liu Reveals That A Lot Of Things Changed From When He First Signed On

(L to R) Craig Robinson and Simu Liu attend Netflix’s ‘In Your Dreams’ premiere on October 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix.

‘In Your Dreams’ went through a lot of changes, even after Simu Liu started recording his lines. He admits that even the ending changed, and more than once.

Simu Liu: We signed on four years ago. And then we come in and we’re not recording our lines with anybody. The lines are changing. The scenes are changing. The ending of this movie changed, at least for us, at least four or five times over the course of the entire process. I think our names changed. Our band name changed. Our kids didn’t change, though. Our kids were always amazing.

‘In Your Dreams’ will be available on November 14th. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

What’s the story of ‘In Your Dreams’?

Stevie and her brother Elliot journey into the absurd landscape of their own dreams, and if the siblings can withstand a snarky stuffed giraffe, zombie breakfast foods, and the queen of nightmares, the Sandman will grant them their ultimate dream come true… The perfect family.

Who is in the cast of ‘In Your Dreams’?
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Stevie
- Elias Janssen as Elliot
- Craig Robinson as Baloney Tony
- Simu Liu as Dad
- Cristin Milioti as Mom
- Gia Carides as Nightmara
A scene from ‘In Your Dreams’. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

List of Craig Robinson Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘The Office‘ (2005 – 2013)
- ‘Pineapple Express‘ (2008)
- ‘Hot Tub Time Machine‘ (2010)
- ‘This Is The End‘ (2013)
- ‘Hot Tub Time Machine 2‘ (2015)
- ‘Sausage Party‘ (2016)
- ‘Ghosted‘ (2017 – 2018)
- ‘Dolemite Is My Name‘ (2019)
- ‘The Bad Guys‘ (2022)
- ‘Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie‘ (2024)
- ‘The Bad Guys 2‘ (2025)
- ‘In Your Dreams‘ (2025)
Buy Craig Robinson Movies On Amazon
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November 14, 2025
Movie Review: ‘In Your Dreams’
A scene from ‘In Your Dreams’. Photo: Netflix.

In theaters on limited release November 7 (and November 14 on Netflix) is ‘In Your Dreams,’ a new animated adventure from first-time feature director Alex Woo.
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The new movie features the voices of Simu Liu (‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’), Cristin Milioti (‘The Penguin’), Craig Robinson (‘This is the End’), Jolie Hoang-Rappaport (‘Watchmen’), Elias Janssen (‘Jane the Virgin’) and Gia Carides (‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’).

Related Article: Netflix’s ‘In Your Dreams’ Sneak Peek With Alex Woo And Craig Robinson

Initial Thoughts

(L to R) Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Stevie, Cristin Milioti as Mom, Simu Lui as Dad, Elias Janssen as Elliot in ‘In Your Dreams’. Photo: Netflix © 2024.

You might be more used to hearing about the Sandman –– particularly on Netflix –– via the work of a certain controversial author. But the concept of the mythological figure who can weave dreams has been used in stories for centuries, which also presents something of a challenge when someone wants to use it.

Fortunately in the case of Netflix’s new animated charmer ‘In Your Dreams’, it’s a recipe for wild adventures, silly characters and a storyline that only occasionally dips into treacly sentiment.

Script and Direction

A scene from ‘In Your Dreams’. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

Director Alex Woo (‘Rex Steele: Nazi Smasher’) and co-director Erik Benson (‘Toy Story 4’) worked alongside Stanley Moore (‘Finding Dory’) and Rita Hsiao (‘Mulan’) to crack the story before the two main filmmakers wrote the script.

While it runs on some fairly predictable lines –– tensions between siblings, potential family ruptures as successful mother and slacker musician father face a crossroads –– ‘In Your Dreams’ still manages to find new things to say on the subjects.

The highlights, though, are certainly the surrealistic worlds within dreams and the characters lurking within, including talking breakfast food, a nightmarish threat and one very talkative stuffed toy.

Woo and Benson shake off an initially odd-looking facial structure for the human characters in an introductory flashback, fashioning appealing leads and even tapping into anime for one effective moment of the kids realizing their powers within the dreamscape.

Cast and Performances

A scene from ‘In Your Dreams’. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

Hoang-Rappaport and Janssen do solid work as the leads, and you’re happy to follow them along this journey. While Liu and Milioti naturally have less to do (until later in the movie), they’re both good.

Robinson’s giraffe-like Baloney Tony (a toy from the real world who finds his voice in dreams) is the stand-out: a funny, sometimes cowardly type who comes through in the end.

Final Thoughts

A scene from ‘In Your Dreams’. Photo: Netflix.

‘In Your Dreams’ won’t be challenging the best family movies any time soon, but it’s cute and diverting, full of enjoyable imagery and worth checking out if the kids have watched ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ once too often.

‘In Your Dreams’ receives 75 out of 100.

‘In Your Dreams’ will be available on November 14th. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

What’s the story of ‘In Your Dreams’?

Stevie and her brother Elliot journey into the absurd landscape of their own dreams, and if the siblings can withstand a snarky stuffed giraffe, zombie breakfast foods, and the queen of nightmares, the Sandman will grant them their ultimate dream come true… The perfect family.

Who is in the cast of ‘In Your Dreams’?
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Stevie
- Elias Janssen as Elliot
- Craig Robinson as Baloney Tony
- Simu Liu as Dad
- Cristin Milioti as Mom
- Gia Carides as Nightmara
A scene from ‘In Your Dreams’. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

List of Craig Robinson Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘The Office‘ (2005 – 2013)
- ‘Pineapple Express‘ (2008)
- ‘Hot Tub Time Machine‘ (2010)
- ‘This Is The End‘ (2013)
- ‘Hot Tub Time Machine 2‘ (2015)
- ‘Sausage Party‘ (2016)
- ‘Ghosted‘ (2017 – 2018)
- ‘Dolemite Is My Name‘ (2019)
- ‘The Bad Guys‘ (2022)
- ‘Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie‘ (2024)
- ‘The Bad Guys 2‘ (2025)
- ‘In Your Dreams‘ (2025)
Buy Craig Robinson Movies On Amazon
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November 13, 2025
Netflix’s ‘In Your Dreams’ Sneak Peek With Craig Robinson
A scene from ‘In Your Dreams’. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

Preview:
- Moviefone attended a special sneak peek event for Netflix’s ‘In Your Dreams’
- The event also included an in-person Q&A with Director Alex Woo and actor Craig Robinson
- ‘In Your Dreams’ explores what happens when your dreams don’t come true
On Thursday, June 5, in Hollywood, Netflix hosted an ‘In Your Dreams‘ sneak peek presentation to highlight the upcoming animated film. Director Alex Woo and Craig Robinson (voice of Baloney Tony) were there in person to share a couple of clips and participate in a detailed Q&A session, where they revealed the inspiration behind the movie and Baloney Tony.

‘In Your Dreams’ follows Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and her younger brother, Elliot (Elias Janssen), as they search for the Sandman (Omid Djalili), who has promised them that they can make their dreams come true. Cristin Milioti and Simu Liu provide the voices of Mom and Dad, respectively. The film will start streaming on Netflix on November 14, 2025.

Moviefone had the pleasure of attending the event, along with other members of the press.

Related Article: Next on Netflix Animation Preview Announces Upcoming Movies and TV Shows

Footage Description

A scene from ‘In Your Dreams’. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

Press were shown two clips from ‘In Your Dreams’ which Alex Woo introduced.

The first clip features Stevie and Elliot in the basement of a bookstore, where they discover an old book titled ‘The Legend of the Sandman: The Giver of Dreams’. When they arrive home after a teenage employee tells them that they are not allowed down there, Elliot reveals that he stole the book using slight of hand.

Stevie and Elliot read some of the book together, where it states the Sandman can make your dreams come true. Later that night, Elliot’s bed comes alive and the two end up on an adventure flying through the sky through it – think ‘Bedknobs and Broomsticks‘.

A scene from ‘In Your Dreams’. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

They both learn that whatever they can think of, appears in the dream, including a Rocket Mode button on the bed that Elliot pushes, sending them soaring faster and higher than before. The clip ends with them hearing the voice of the Sandman, telling them to find him to make their dreams come true.

The second clip finds Stevie in Breakfast Town, one of the favorite dreams where the townspeople are all walking, talking breakfast foods. When Elliot crashes her dream and declares he wants to help her find the Sandman, the two are distracted by a familiar smell.

Following it leads Elliot to discover his beloved stuffed animal Baloney Tony, who gets his name because Elliot stores his baloney inside of him, trapped behind a refridgerator. It is revealed that the reason he is there is because in the real world Stevie hid him back there, to get the smell out of the bedroom they share.

Footage Reaction

A scene from ‘In Your Dreams’. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

Both ‘In Your Dreams’ clips offer several laugh-out-loud moments, but also prove that this movie is going to be filled with a lot of heart. Stevie is easily annoyed by her little brother, which anyone with a sibling will be able to relate to.

The kids are off to find the Sandman to make their dreams come true. Elliot’s dreams are that of a normal young kid, while Stevie staring longingly at a photo of her family during happier times insinuates that hers is much deeper than that.

Just getting a couple of minutes of Baloney Tony was enough to know that viewers are going to fall in love with him instantly. Robinson brilliantly voices the character, knowing exactly when to hit the comedic beats. The animation is stunning, as well.

Q&A Highlights From Alex Woo

A scene from ‘In Your Dreams’. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

Alex Woo makes his directorial debut with ‘In Your Dreams’. During the Q&A he explained why an animated dream movie is difficult to pull off.

‘A dream movie in the animated space has been a white whale. I think every animation studio in the world has had a dream movie in development at some point over the last couple of decades, but none of them have ever been made because I think nobody could figure out how to give a dream movie stakes. When we started our company and we were dreaming up different movie ideas, when we cracked it, we were like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’ve got to make this really quickly, otherwise somebody else is going to figure it out before us.”’

Alex Woo went on to detail how he wanted to make a movie that explores what happens when your dreams don’t come true.

“I grew up on movies that told me that if I wished hard enough, if I wanted something badly enough, that my dreams could come true. And as I grew up, I realized, well, sometimes that’s true, but sometimes it’s not. And I really wanted to make a movie that explores the question of, what do you do when your dreams actually don’t come true? How do you find hope? How do you keep moving forward in life? How do you find a way through? So that was sort of the big inspiration for me for this movie, and that’s why I wanted to so desperately make it.”

He then talked about how his relationship with his brother helped to inspire ‘In Your Dreams’.

“I have a little brother and Elliot is very much based on him. I’m very much Stevie, and me and my brother, we’ve had our epic battles throughout our childhood. I’m the perfectionistic, overbearing older sibling. He’s the carefree, fun-loving, charming little brother. I think a lot of this movie was me trying to understand and appreciate him and his unique perspective and take on life. One of my good friends, who knows me a little too well, saw the movie, and he said, ‘You know this film is just a really circuitous way of you telling your brother that you love him.’ And I was like, ‘I guess?’ Maybe making movies is easier than dealing with your feelings.”

‘In Your Dreams’. Photo: Netflix © 2024.

Alex Woo also gives Netflix credit for taking a chance on an original film like ‘In Your Dreams’.

“I really got to give it up to Netflix for making an original. It’s such a bold statement and it’s really showing leadership in the industry because a lot of studios are just doing IP plays, sequels, video game adaptations, and those things are great but, it’s nice to have an original story every now and then.”

He teases that there are lots of Easter eggs and film homages to look out for in ‘In Your Dreams’, but he will not give them away.

“One of my favorite movies in the world is ‘Back to the Future‘, and that song by The Chordettes is used in that movie. So there’s a secret homage to that film for me, with the Sandman in that song…. Our studio’s first show was ‘Go! Go! Cory Carson’, which is a preschool show on Netflix. We love that show. I’m really proud of it. We put a bunch of ‘Go! Go! Cory Carson’ Easter eggs in the film. You can keep an eye out for those. There are homages to other films that I love, just as a filmmaker, but I’m not going to give them away. You’ll just have to figure it out for yourself.”

Q&A Highlights From Craig Robinson

A scene from ‘In Your Dreams’. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

Craig Robinson discussed what it was about Baloney Tony and ‘In Your Dreams’ that drew him to want to be a part of it.

“This script touches all of us, right? Everybody dreams, and if you don’t, you daydream. We all dream about dreaming. So it was just to be a part of something real. Tony was just so funny and silly. And I could see me as this crazy stuffed animal for some reason.”

He explains how his relationship with his siblings helped him craft the voice of Tony Baloney.

“It was such a collaboration of jokes and improvising in the moment. I would say something and it would be ‘Oh, Craig, say that, okay, do it like this.’ It was ongoing, it was so much fun. And also it is a love letter to our brothers and sisters, because I have a younger brother and an older sister. So that was all real. My brother and I are relentless in teasing our sister, with all love and faith, but the text messages, you can’t misspell a word in our text, it’s over, you know what I’m saying? ‘Really, I never heard that word before.’ So it’s all there.”
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What is the plot of ‘In Your Dreams’?

A girl named Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and her brother named Elliot (Elias Janssen) magically travel into the world of dreams to find The Sandman (Omid Djalili), who would grant their wish of saving their parents’ (Simu Liu and Cristin Milioti) marriage.

Who is in the cast of ‘In Your Dreams’?
- Simu Liu as Dad
- Craig Robinson as Baloney Tony
- Cristin Milioti as Mom
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Stevie
- Elias Janssen as Elliot
- Gia Carides as Nightmara
- Omid Djalili as Sandman
- SungWon Cho as Chad
- Zachary Noah Piser as Joon Bae / Polly
‘In Your Dreams’ will be available on November 14th. Photo: Netflix © 2025.

List of Craig Robinson Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘The Office‘ (2005 – 2013)
- ‘Pineapple Express‘ (2008)
- ‘Hot Tub Time Machine‘ (2010)
- ‘This Is The End‘ (2013)
- ‘Hot Tub Time Machine 2‘ (2015)
- ‘Sausage Party‘ (2016)
- ‘Ghosted‘ (2017 – 2018)
- ‘Dolemite Is My Name‘ (2019)
- ‘The Bad Guys‘ (2022)
- ‘Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie‘ (2024)
- ‘The Bad Guys 2‘ (2025)
- ‘In Your Dreams‘ (2025)
Buy Craig Robinson Movies On Amazon
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June 12, 2025
TV Review: ‘Black Mirror’ Season 7
Cristin Milioti in ‘Black Mirror’ season 7. Photo: Nick Wall/Netflix.

‘Black Mirror’ Season 7 receives 8 out of 10 stars.

Returning to Netflix on April 10th for a seventh season of anthology tales blending techno-terror with emotion, ‘Black Mirror’ proves it still has what it counts as the modern-day equivalent of ‘The Outer Limits’ or ‘The Twilight Zone.’

And this time, with six episodes in play, there is a greater scope for stories to be told compared to some of the more compacted recent seasons. It’s also reassuring that, after some slightly less effective entries, the seventh season finds the show handily back on form.

Related Article: Paul Giamatti Talks ‘The Holdovers’ and Reuniting with Alexander Payne

Does ‘Black Mirror’ Season 7 reflect well on the series?

Paul Giamatti in ‘Black Mirror’ season 7. Photo: Nick Wall/Netflix.

‘Black Mirror’ has always been about more than simply darkly shaded warnings about the use (and mis-use of technology); it’s about humans and how we interact, also. Season 7 definitely lives up to that aim, offering some persuasive tales of those whose lives are impacted by innovations in medical science or tech in general.

It’s also welcome to see the series following up on a couple of popular episodes –– while the sequel to ‘USS Callister’ doesn’t have the sting of the original, for example, it expands it in interesting ways and deepens one of the characters in the process.

Script and Direction

Will Poulter in ‘Black Mirror’ season 7. Photo: Nick Wall/Netflix.

Charlie Brooker, the show’s co-creator, once again leads the writing team here, working alongside the likes of Bisha K. Ali, Ella Road, William Bridges, and Bekka Bowling to put out more gripping tales. A highlight of the writing this time in the first entry, ‘Common People,’ with its spin on ever-changing subscription services this time applied to live-saving medical treatment. It’s emotional and thorough, and heartbreaking when needed.

On a more darkly funny level is ‘Bête Noire,’ with its vengeful story of old resentments curdled into fresh vengeance. We won’t reveal exactly what is going on, but the answer is a fun one.

Directing wise, it’s reassuring to see such filmmakers as David Slade and Toby Hynes brought back to handle the two episodes –– ‘Plaything’ and ‘USS Callister: Into Infinity’ that call back to their previous work.

All in all, though, the direction is superb –– stylish when required, subtle at other times.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Chris O’Dowd and Rashida Jones in ‘Black Mirror’ season 7. Photo: Nick Wall/Netflix.

As has become commonplace for ‘Black Mirror,’ Season 7 boasts a quality ensemble for its various stories.

Chris O’Dowd and Rashida Jones are at the heart of ‘Common People’ and put in turns that are funny, real and packed full of feeling, but not forgetting Tracee Ellis Ross as their company rep, who keeps pushing new updates with a smile, even when the couple struggle to keep up financially.

‘Hotel Reverie’ blends classic Hollywood with high-tech and features lovely work from Emma Corrin and Issa Rae, with fine support from Awkwafina and Harriet Walter.

Peter Capaldi in ‘Black Mirror’ season 7. Photo: Nick Wall/Netflix.

‘Plaything’ hinges on the intense energy of Peter Capaldi, who really sells the focus of a man on a mission, but kudos also to Lewis Gribben, who plays the same character 40 years earlier.

‘Eulogy’ boasts excellent work from Paul Giamatti as a man haunted by grief and memory (literally in this case) and grapples with tough truths about his past.

And ‘USS Callister: Into Infinity’ of course re-introduces us to the brave, digi-DNA copies of the crew (and their human counterparts), with Cristin Milioti, Jimmi Simpson and Jesse Plemons all fantastic returning to their roles.

Final Thoughts

Issa Rae in ‘Black Mirror’ season 7. Photo: Nick Wall/Netflix.

While it has the usual highs and lows as in any ‘Black Mirror’ season, the highs far outweigh the lows, and for every episode that doesn’t shine as brightly (‘Bête Noire’ is a fun concept but doesn’t totally deliver), there is a wonderful show waiting to be injected into your eyes.

Oh, and fans of the series will want to be on the lookout for a recurring motif; let’s just say it starts with the letter “J”…
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What’s the story of ‘Black Mirror’ Season 7?

The six-episode season of ‘Black Mirror’ features the following stories…

‘Common People’: When a medical emergency leaves schoolteacher Amanda fighting for her life, her desperate husband Mike signs her up for Rivermind, a high-tech system that will keep her alive –– but at a cost…

‘Bête Noire’: Confectionary whizz kid Maria is unnerved when her former schoolmate Verity joins the company she works at — because there’s something altogether odd about Verity, something only Maria seems to notice…

‘Hotel Reverie’: A high-tech, unusually immersive remake of a vintage British film sends Hollywood A-list star Brandy Friday into another dimension, where she must stick to the script if she ever wants to make it home.

‘Plaything’: In a near-future London, an eccentric murder suspect is linked to an unusual video game from the 1990s — a game populated by cute, evolving artificial lifeforms.

‘Eulogy’: An isolated man is introduced to a groundbreaking system that allows its users to literally step inside old photographs — stirring powerful emotions in the process.

‘USS Callister: Into Infinity’: Robert Daly is dead, but now the crew of the USS Callister –– led by Captain Nanette Cole –– are stranded in an infinite virtual universe, fighting for survival against 30 million players.

Who stars in ‘Black Mirror’ Season 7?
- Awkwafina
- Peter Capaldi
- Emma Corrin
- Patsy Ferran
- Paul Giamatti
- Lewis Gribben
- Rashida Jones
- Siena Kelly
- Billy Magnussen
- Rosy McEwen
- Cristin Milioti
- Chris O’Dowd
- Issa Rae
- Paul G. Raymond
- Tracee Ellis Ross
- Jimmi Simpson
- Harriet Walter
Awkwafina in ‘Black Mirror’ season 7. Photo: Nick Wall/Netflix.

List of other anthology TV Shows:
- ‘The Twilight Zone‘ (1959 – 1964)
- ‘The Outer Limits‘ (1963 – 1965)
- ‘Amazing Stories‘ (1985 – 1987)
- ‘The Outer Limits‘ (1995 – 2002)
- ‘The Twilight Zone’ (2002 – 2003)
- ‘Fargo‘ (2014 – 2024)
- ‘True Detective‘ (2014 – 2024)
- ‘The White Lotus‘ (2021 – 2025)
- ‘Extrapolations‘ (2023)
Buy ‘Black Mirror’ On Amazon
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April 13, 2025
TV Review: ‘The Penguin’
Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in Max’s ‘The Penguin.’ Photo: Macall Polay/HBO.

Launching on HBO and Max with its first episode on September 19th, ‘The Penguin’ marks the first (and so far only) series to continue the story of Matt Reeves’ 2022 superhero movie ‘The Batman.’

Switching the focus from the suited vigilante played by Robert Pattinson (who the producers have been at length to point out won’t appear in case you were waiting for the hero to flap in and deliver some “kapow” punches to our wannabe kingpin), the story here is told at street level, with the machinations double-crosses of the criminal world at the forefront.

Does ‘The Penguin’ succeed in its plans?

Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in Max’s ‘The Penguin.’ Photo: Courtesy of Max.

With executive producer and showrunner Lauren LeFranc citing ‘The Sopranos’ as a big inspiration for the new show, it’s not hard to see where ‘The Penguin’ takes its endless double-crosses and criminal political maneuvering from.

Trouble is, a lot of what happens here –– minus the ‘Batman’-flavored trappings including Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti’s characters in particular, doesn’t exactly feel fresh. We’ve seen small-time gangsters looking to make it big in movies and TV for years, and you’ve really got to offer something more special than just Farrell given the chance to speechify about gangsters from whom he takes his own inspiration or wax nostalgic about how his neighborhood and Gotham in general were better back in the day.

Fortunately, a scattering of truly solid performances do help boost the interest levels higher than it might be, and the show does tend to maintain the style of Reeves’ movie.

Script and Direction

(L to R) Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti in Max’s ‘The Penguin.’ Photo: Courtesy of Max.

As we mentioned above, a lot about the show feels quite familiar if you’ve watched any movie or show set within a gangster world. There is jockeying for power, criminal schemes involving drugs and one or two explosions of action, such as an impressive set piece in the second episode where Oz is chased by Sofia Falcone’s forces.

It’s just that little of it is truly all that revolutionary, and you’ll be able to see a lot of the plot turns coming. And there are some remarkable coincidences that help our main character along the way.

Main director Craig Zobel, who handles the first three episodes, does make a good stab at convincing us that this is set in the same Gotham of ‘The Batman.’ The only downside is that scenes set in the suburbs, or at the sprawling Falcone compound outside of it look starkly realistic compared to the visual effects-heavy grubbiness of the main cityscape.

Related Article: ‘The Penguin’ Panel at San Diego Comic Con Had a Virtual Colin Farrell and a New Trailer

Performances

The show’s saving graces are mostly in its acting, with Farrell and Milioti in particular standing out –– not shocking since they are the narrative’s twin focus.

Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb

Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in Max’s ‘The Penguin.’ Photo: Courtesy of Max.

Reprising his role from the movie, Farrell once more dons the prosthetics and fat suit so as to become almost unrecognizable as the scheming wannabe kingpin. Here in series form, given the scope and breadth to really explore the character, he goes to town, chewing through the scripts and bringing him to vibrant, waddling life.

He’s helped by some enlightening –– if predictable –– backstory elements, including deceased family members and a doting mother (played by Tony Winner Deirdre O’Connell) sliding into dementia.

Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone

Cristin Milioti in Max’s ‘The Penguin.’ Photo: Courtesy of Max.

Milioti is given a truly different role here, and she embraces it fully –– all wide-eyed psychopathy and chilling ability to order the deaths of her enemies. It helps that she also has a troubled backstory and, in the first few episodes is dealing with not only the death of her father but another personal tragedy.

She makes for a superb foil to Farrell and the two share excellent chemistry, weaving around one another as they jostle for power.

Rhenzy Feliz as Victor Aguilar

Rhenzy Feliz in Max’s ‘The Penguin.’ Photo: Courtesy of Max.

Introduced as a street kid interrupted trying to steal the rims from Oz’s car, Feliz’ Victor is the third pillar in the triumvirate of lead roles. He quickly becomes a driver and potential protégé for Oz, who recognizes the same scrappy ambition he possesses in the young man.

And in his interplay with Farrell, Feliz is able to interject some of the rare flashes of humor into the show.

Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni

Clancy Brown in Max’s ‘The Penguin.’ Photo: Courtesy of Max.

The main rival to the Falcone family, Maroni is currently languishing in jail for his crimes after being set up.

Brown is typically good in the role, bringing quiet menace mixed with charisma, though the role is naturally smaller and more limited given his location (for now).

He’s ably supported by Shohreh Aghdashloo as wife Nadia, even if fans of ‘The Expanse’ might bemoan the fact that she has (yet) been given the chance to unleash foul-mouthed rants given the less restrictive environs of an HBO show.

Other Notable Characters

While he isn’t introduced until late into episode 2, Theo Rossi’s Dr. Julian Rush shows promise as a fun character to watch. Michael Zegen, meanwhile, has a small yet pivotal role as Alberto Falcone, the crime boss’s drug addict –– and drug pushing –– son.

Final Thoughts

Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in Max’s ‘The Penguin.’ Photo: Courtesy of Max.

‘The Penguin’ won’t win many awards for originality in its crime story, but it is at least watchable and certainly isn’t a waste of its main cast. It just doesn’t always live up to the movie.

Eagle-eyed fans of the ‘Batman’ franchise as a whole, meanwhile, will appreciate subtle nods to actors who played the Penguin on TV and in movies –– make note of two particular Gotham storefronts.

‘The Penguin’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘The Penguin’?

The new series is set a week after the events of ‘The Batman’ left crime boss Carmine Falcone dead and his empire in disarray.

As seen in the movie, Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell), also known as The Penguin, formerly a lieutenant to Falcone, tries to fill the power vacuum left by his death. He faces off against rival factions as he asserts his authority.

But he’ll face a big challenge from those who Falcone left in charge of his operation, and particularly from Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti), recently released from Arkham Asylum.

Who is in the cast of ‘The Penguin’?
- Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb/Penguin
- Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone
- Rhenzy Feliz as Victor Aguilar
- Michael Kelly as Johnny Viti
- Shohreh Aghdashloo as Nadia Maroni,
- Deirdre O’Connell as Francis Cobb
- Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni
- James Madio as Milos Grapa
- Scott Cohen as Luca Falcone
- Michael Zegen as Alberto Falcone
- Carmen Ejogo as Eve Karlo
- Theo Rossi as Dr. Julian Rush
‘The Penguin’ premieres on Max beginning September 19th.

Other Movies and TV Shows in the Batman Franchise:
- ‘Batman‘ (1966 – 1968)
- ‘Batman‘ (1966)
- ‘Batman‘ (1989)
- ‘Batman Returns‘ (1992)
- ‘Batman: The Animated Series‘ (1992 – 1995)
- ‘Batman Forever‘ (1995)
- ‘Batman & Robin‘ (1997)
- ‘Batman Beyond‘ (1999 – 2001)
- ‘Batman Begins‘ (2005)
- ‘The Dark Knight‘ (2008)
- ‘The Dark Knight Rises‘ (2012)
- ‘Batman vs. Robin‘ (2015)
- ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice‘ (2016)
- ‘Suicide Squad‘ (2016)
- ‘Justice League‘ (2017)
- ‘The Lego Batman Movie‘ (2017)
- ‘Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler‘ (2019 – 2022)
- ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League‘ (2021)
- ‘The Batman‘ (2022)
- ‘The Flash‘ (2023)
- ‘Merry Little Batman‘ (2023)
Buy Batman Movies On Amazon
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September 12, 2024
Comic-Con 2024: ‘The Penguin’ Panel
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Preview:
- ‘The Penguin’ had new footage to show at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con event.
- Star Colin Farrell and executive producer/‘The Batman’ director Matt Reeves were among those attending (Farrell via video).
- The show is a spin-off of 2022’s ‘The Batman’.
‘The Penguin’ might not have had the most promising start at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, making headlines after an immersive “activation” event based on a nightclub from the HBO series for press and the cast was evacuated on Friday night when a fire broke out. No one was hurt, but the big question, of course –– did anyone check to see whether a cowled individual was involved, and were they carrying a Bat Fire Kit?

Regardless, some of the creative team, including ‘The Batman’ director Matt Reeves (who is a producer on the show), actors Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, showrunner Lauren LeFranc and producer and Dylan Clark –– plus star Colin Farrell, live via video link from Macau, showed up on Saturday afternoon at its panel in Hall H to talk up the show, which continues the story of Farrell’s criminal schemer Oz Cobb from ‘The Batman.’

Related Article: Colin Farrell Will Reprise his Penguin Role from ‘The Batman’ for a Spinoff Series

What’s the story of ‘The Penguin’?

Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in Max’s ‘The Penguin.’ Photo: Courtesy of Max.

The series, which has been described as in the style of classic crime drama ‘Scarface’, will pick up the story of Farrell’s character as he rises to power in Gotham City. Mild spoiler alert in case you’ve yet to see ‘The Batman’, but part of the movie’s plot involves Oz’s bosses either dying or heading to jail, leaving him a path to achieve his aims.

Yet given that there’s a whole series to fill with this story, we doubt the road will be an easy one. And there’s still that pesky Caped Crusader lurking around (even if Batman likely wouldn’t appear much if at all in the show).

Farrell’s character will face off against other notorious Gotham crime bosses, including Salvatore Moroni, played by Clancy Brown.

Clancy Brown in Max’s ‘The Penguin.’ Photo: Courtesy of Max.

One of Carmine Falcone’s chief rivals, he’ll be back on the streets for the series and ready to make his move now that he’s no longer at the mercy of Falcone (who, again spoiler alert, died in ‘The Batman’).

The Cast also includes Milioti as Carmine’s daughter Sofia Falcone, with Shohreh Aghdashloo, Michael Kelly, Dierdre O’Connell, Michael Zegen, Feliz and Theo Rossi rounding out the main cast.
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What did we learn from ‘The Penguin’ panel?

Cristin Milioti in Max’s ‘The Penguin.’ Photo: Courtesy of Max.

According to Reeves, Farrell’s Cobb was going to be a focus of the movie sequel to ‘The Batman’ (which the filmmaker is busy writing), but HBO bosses asked for a marquee character for the first spin-off show, and so the decision was made to use the series to bridge between the two movies and explore more about his rise to power.

Farrell reveals he was hesitant to take on the role for the first movie but was convinced by Reeves and especially delighted by the look of the character, keying in how to play the role and his background from the first sculpt he was shown.

For her part, showrunner LeFranc said her take on the character’s story was inspired by a corrupt mayor in Rhode Island, who was nevertheless hailed as a pillar of the community for the help he provided to people. She said there are no heroes in this series –– everyone is operating in shades of gray.

(L to R) Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti in Max’s ‘The Penguin.’ Photo: Courtesy of Max.

And LeFranc also talked up the idea that Sofia Falcone in the show is very different from how she’s been portrayed previously in the comics, praising what Milioti brought to the role.

Reeves admitted that ‘The Godfather’s Fredo and Harvey Weinstein were among his inspirations for the character.

Feliz plays Victor Aguilar, a new character created for the show, and one designed to give us a fresh way into Oz’s story through his connection with the wannabe crime boss.

Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in Max’s ‘The Penguin.’ Photo: Courtesy of Max.

According to the team, Oz and Sophia Falcone mirror each other, but are on two sides of the series and Gotham’s fate is in the balance.

And if you were wondering whether Oz’s story is wrapped up in the limited series, Reeves confirmed that he will in fact be back on the big screen for ‘The Batman – Part II’, which kicks off filming next year ahead of its planned 2026 release.

What other Batman news broke at Comic-Con?

‘Batman: Caped Crusader’. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

The news for on-screen Batman –– and particularly The Penguin –– wasn’t limited to the ‘Penguin’ panel, as the presentation for animated series ‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ (also produced by Reeves, alongside Batman animation legend Bruce Timm) revealed that Minnie Driver is playing Oswalda Cobblepot, a female take on the character, who will sing in the show.
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When will ‘The Penguin’ be on screens?

‘The Penguin’ launches on Max on September 19th.

And before that, ‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ will kick off on Prime Video on August 1st.

Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in Max’s ‘The Penguin.’ Photo: Courtesy of Max.

Other Movies and TV Shows in the Batman Franchise:
- ‘Batman‘ (1966 – 1968)
- ‘Batman‘ (1966)
- ‘Batman‘ (1989)
- ‘Batman Returns‘ (1992)
- ‘Batman: The Animated Series‘ (1992 – 1995)
- ‘Batman Forever‘ (1995)
- ‘Batman & Robin‘ (1997)
- ‘Batman Beyond‘ (1999 – 2001)
- ‘Batman Begins‘ (2005)
- ‘The Dark Knight‘ (2008)
- ‘The Dark Knight Rises‘ (2012)
- ‘Batman vs. Robin‘ (2015)
- ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice‘ (2016)
- ‘Suicide Squad‘ (2016)
- ‘Justice League‘ (2017)
- ‘The Lego Batman Movie‘ (2017)
- ‘Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler‘ (2019 – 2022)
- ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League‘ (2021)
- ‘The Batman‘ (2022)
- ‘The Flash‘ (2023)
- ‘Merry Little Batman‘ (2023)
Buy Batman Movies On Amazon
July 27, 2024