GOTHAM Casts Jada Pinkett Smith As Penguin’s Sadistic Boss


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The Penguin may be the most recognizable villain so far in Gotham, but he’s not the most powerful. Jada Pinkett Smith (The Matrix Reloaded, Hawthorne) has been added to the Batman prequel series as Fish Mooney, who is described as “an imposing, hotheaded and notoriously sadistic gangster boss and nightclub owner with street smarts and almost extra-sensory abilities to read people like an open book who is not one to be crossed.” Smith joins the cast alongside Ben McKenzie, Robin Lord Taylor, Sean Pertwee, Zabryna Guevara, Erin Richards and Donal Logue.

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If Mooney’s sounds familiar, it’s because she was mentioned as Oswald Cobblepot’s (Penguin) boss in his character description. I’ll admit, when I heard the name Fish Mooney, I was expecting a more stereotypical crime boss, such as a thin guy with really wide eyes. Although my Batman knowledge is vast, I can’t remember if there’s ever been a female crime boss in the Batman comics outside of the Falcone family and Selina Kyle. Still, just because she’s a woman doesn’t mean Mooney shouldn’t be given the opportunity to rise through the ranks of the criminal underworld and destroy the lives of others. Right?

I’m intrigued to see how Pinkett will play the role. Typically in the comics, the “freaks” of Gotham City didn’t start appearing until after Batman showed up, so will she have a gimmick or will she just be your typical ruthless and murderous criminal. Depending on how long her character lasts, I expect there will be a power struggle between her and Cobblepot at some point. That crooked-nose bird man needs to inherit his criminal empire somehow.

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SOURCE: Deadline