“The Penguin,” an exciting spin-off series from the Batman universe, has captured the attention of many fans. The series showcases Oswald Cobblepot, better known as The Penguin, a notorious Gotham villain. A major part of what makes this show so appealing is its dark and gritty setting. Many fans have been asking, “Where was The Penguin filmed?”
In this article, we’ll dive into the locations used to bring the show’s Gotham City to life.
Gotham City’s Dark Streets: Filming Locations for The Penguin
The fictional city of Gotham has always been portrayed as a dark, moody place. Over the years, filmmakers have used several real-world cities to represent Gotham in different movies and TV shows. For The Penguin, the production team selected various locations to create the perfect atmosphere.
Filming in New York City
New York City has often been used as a stand-in for Gotham. Its towering skyscrapers and busy streets give the perfect backdrop. Many scenes in The Penguin were filmed here, especially in Manhattan. The dark alleys, old buildings, and urban decay provide the perfect look for Gotham’s underworld.
Times Square and surrounding areas were featured to give viewers a glimpse of Gotham’s busy streets. New York’s architecture, with its blend of modern and old, works beautifully for the series.
Newark, New Jersey: A Key Filming Location
Another major location for The Penguin is Newark, New Jersey. This city is just a short drive from Manhattan but offers a grittier look, which fits Gotham perfectly. Newark’s downtown area, with its older buildings and industrial feel, was used for several key scenes.
The production used places like Market Street and Broad Street in Newark. These areas have a lot of character and help make the dark streets of Gotham look real. Newark’s old train stations and tunnels also became important filming spots, adding to the show’s dark tone.
Filming in the Bronx
The Bronx, another borough of New York City, was also used for The Penguin. The team wanted places that had an old, industrial feel, and the Bronx provided just that. Many scenes were shot in abandoned warehouses and run-down buildings. These locations give a perfect visual of Gotham’s crime-filled world.
The Bronx’s Highbridge neighborhood was used to film several scenes that involved car chases and street battles. The area’s narrow streets and overpasses gave the perfect look for action scenes.
Gotham City atmosphere in
— A Shot. (@ashotmagazine) September 20, 2024
‘THE PENGUIN’ pic.twitter.com/O5bFVJAEQR
Other Filming Locations for The Penguin
While much of The Penguin was filmed in and around New York City, other locations were used to complete the Gotham look.
Filming in England
Some parts of The Penguin were also filmed in Liverpool, England. This city, with its historic buildings, provided a perfect match for Gotham’s classic look. The Royal Liver Building and St. George’s Hall are two key spots used during filming. These places give an old-world charm that contrasts with the modern parts of Gotham.
Liverpool was also used for some of the indoor scenes, where the show needed big, grand locations. The city’s historical architecture helped make Gotham feel like a place with a long history of crime and corruption.
Staten Island: The Home of Cobblepot’s Lair
Staten Island, another borough of New York City, was used for Oswald Cobblepot’s lair. The Snug Harbor Cultural Center was transformed into The Penguin’s hideout. Its older, run-down look fit perfectly with the tone of the series.
Some waterfront areas of Staten Island were also used to show Gotham’s harbors. These scenes are important, as The Penguin often deals with illegal shipments and smuggling. The area’s docks and industrial sites added to the realism of Gotham’s criminal underworld.
Using Sound Stages for The Penguin
Not all scenes were filmed in real-world locations. Some parts of The Penguin were filmed on sound stages. These indoor sets allow the production team to create exact replicas of key locations. For example, the interior of Cobblepot’s lair and certain Gotham City Police Department offices were built on sound stages.
These controlled environments help the filmmakers create perfect lighting and atmosphere for the show’s dark scenes. The combination of real-world locations and these detailed sets helped to make The Penguin visually striking.
The Gritty Look of The Penguin: How Locations Enhance the Story
The choice of filming locations plays a huge role in setting the tone of The Penguin. From the gritty streets of Newark to the historic buildings in Liverpool, each location adds something unique. By using real cities like New York, Newark, and Liverpool, the show creates a world that feels both realistic and larger than life.
The combination of real urban landscapes, abandoned buildings, and sound stages gives the show a rich, dark aesthetic. The Penguin could not have achieved its gloomy and dangerous atmosphere without these carefully chosen locations.
Fans of Gotham and Oswald Cobblepot will appreciate the way these places help bring the criminal world of Gotham City to life.
