Danny DeVito clarified that he prefers his more fantastical version of the Penguin from Batman Returns over Colin Farrell's mobster take in The Batman.
"Oh, Colin? I love Colin, he's a terrific guy," DeVito said during an interview with Vanity Fair where he underwent a lie detector test and was shown photographs by his daughter and fellow actor, Lucy DeVito. "My Penguin was better. Was that the truth? It certainly was. In my opinion. Good man, though. Colin's a good guy."
The lie detector machine that DeVito was hooked up to during the questioning showed no disturbances, indicating the star of Tim Burton's 1992 film was telling what he believed. Vanity Fair regularly has famous celebrities take lie detector tests where they are asked provocative questions and shown photographs related to their careers and co-workers.
DeVito has spoken positively about Farrell's Oswald Cobblepot in the past. When news of Farrell's casting was first announced, DeVito called the younger Penguin performer "one of my favorite actors" and added that he couldn't wait to watch the performance on screen.
Both actors have portrayed very different Penguins. DeVito's take featured an Oswald Cobblepot who was physically disfigured and raised by circus animals. He waddled like an actual bird, raised a penguin army to take over Gotham City and gobbled on raw fish in scenes that frightened children when Batman Returns was first released in theaters. In contrast, Farrell's Penguin was more subtle and reminiscent of The Godfather, with the character acting like an Italian mob boss under Gotham City gangster Carmine Falcone.
Who Is Danny DeVito's Favorite Batman?
DeVito was also asked about his favorite Batman and shown a photograph of Michael Keaton, who acted alongside him in Batman Returns. He immediately said Keaton was his preferred Dark Knight and added that he didn't need to see any other actors.
"Yes, he's my favorite," DeVito said. "This is Michael Keaton, he was the Batman when I was the Penguin. I don't know what [the other Batman actors] look like because they're behind the mask. This is the Batman for me."
Last year, DeVito had the chance to reprise his version of the Penguin by writing an out-of-continuity story in the Gotham City Villains Anniversary Giant #1. Illustrated by Dan Mora, "Bird Cat Love" featured Penguin and Catwoman hooking up -- both literally and figuratively -- to save the world from COVID-19 by spreading vaccinations across the globe.
Source: YouTube