Entertainment
The Actor We're So Glad Turned Down The Penguin Before Colin Farrell
By Becca Lewis
| Published
While we love to see Jonah Hill playing an idiot billionaire in Don’t Look Up, is he really who we would want to see as The Penguin? Luckily, we don’t have to find out, because Colin Farrell picked up that flag and ran with it to deliver a satisfyingly spineless performance in the DC Entertainment miniseries. The Penguin is a slimy, seedy addition to the Batman franchise, and although Jonah Hill is great at lots of things, Colin Farrell really shines as the ruthless wannabe mobster, Oz Cob.
Jonah Hill Was Nearly The Penguin
It’s not clear why Jonah Hill would pass on playing the iconic role of the Penguin in The Batman, but it could have been because he seemed more interested in playing the character of the Riddler. While the loss of Hill on the project was reported as a major setback for the DC comic adaptation from Matt Reeves, it might have been for the best that Colin Farrell got the job, because he is still killing it in the role. As for Jonah Hill’s choice of roles, it’s likely that the final sticking point in negotiations with the studio wasn’t about The Riddler vs. the Penguin, but rather about money.
If the salary requirements for Jonah Hill to play the Penguin were to blame for his not getting the part, he could be regretting that choice now, as The Penguin, a sequel miniseries to The Batman is currently a smash hit. The Penguin has won a 94 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and had 5.3 million views on HBO across its streaming platform within the first four days of its release. Jonah Hill might be kicking himself for not boarding that train at the first stop, even though fans of the series are smitten with Colin Farrell in the role.
The Penguin Miniseries
The Batman role that Jonah Hill turned down sparked the spinoff miniseries The Penguin, giving the comic book villain a backstory, and a chance to construct the character’s past. Oz Cobb, the wannabe gangster that becomes The Penguin, struggles to gain favor with his family, to survive the tumultuous violence of the crime family he works for, and to climb the gang’s ladder. He’s manipulative, smart, and scheming, and will stop at nothing to get what he wants, which is of course, to please his mother.
Colin Farrell Shines As Oz Cobb
Although Jonah Hill is a great villain, the comic book villain status of the Penguin is a whole other level of evil that he just might not be able to achieve. Colin Farrell transforms himself for the role into a sociopathic, remorseless, underdog, who lurks within the circle of the Falcone family, constructing an escape from his job as a driver, and weaving a revenge-fueled rise to power. Perhaps for Jonah Hill, the Riddler, rather than the Penguin would have been a better choice.
Whatever the reason was that Jonah Hill ultimately passed on the role of the Penguin in the 2022 film The Batman, audiences are thrilled with Colin Farrell in the role. The subsequent miniseries featuring the Penguin as the main character is a testament to the love fans have for the casting choice. Hopefully, Hill isn’t too regretful of his decision to pass, because he gave fans the Penguin character we always wanted.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
