Sal Maroni from The Penguin Could Bring in a Legendary Batman Villain

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The inaugural season of The Penguin revolves around the fierce territorial conflict between the Falcones and the Maronis in the crime-infested Gotham City.
In DC Comics, Sal Maroni plays a pivotal role in the genesis of Two-Face, hinting at potential developments in The Penguin.
Clancy Brown’s portrayal of Sal Maroni could usher in the emergence of Two-Face within The Penguin, setting the stage for future Batman installments.

Amidst the tumultuous criminal landscape of HBO’s The Penguin, Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobb seeks dominion over Gotham City filled with treacherous criminals and sinister figures. The primary focus of season 1 is the escalating battle for supremacy between the Falcone and Maroni families, each vying for control over the city’s underworld.

The Penguin has already integrated several prominent characters from DC Comics, with Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Falcone standing out. Although Clancy Brown’s Sal Maroni has had a more subdued narrative presence, his character holds significant potential for shaping the future of Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, possibly paving the way for a key antagonist in The Batman Part II or later projects.

Unveiling Sal Maroni in DC Comics

Sal Maroni made his debut in Detective Comics #66 in 1942 under the name Moroni, emerging as a mobster on trial in a case involving “Bookie”Benson. His prosecuting attorney was none other than Harvey Kent, who would later evolve into Harvey Dent, known as Two-Face. Over the years, Maroni has appeared across various storylines, maintaining a complex relationship with the Falcone crime family.

Beyond his involvement in financing Hugo Strange’s monstrous experiments post-Crisis, Sal is a significant figure in Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s Batman: The Long Halloween, where the infamous murderer dubbed Holiday targets the crime syndicates. This tale intensifies the rivalry between the Falcones and Maronis as each faction suspects Holiday is allied with the other. Following the murder of his father, Luigi “Big Lou”Maroni, by Holiday, Sal strikes a deal with Harvey Dent to unveil Falcone’s illicit operations.

Although Sal survives being shot during a gripping trial, he ultimately falls victim to Holiday, whose true identity as Alberto Falcone is revealed. While many of these events could potentially manifest in The Penguin, the series appears to take a creative liberty with its comic adaptations.

Sal Maroni’s Influence in The Penguin

Clancy Brown as Sal Maroni in The Penguin

Clancy Brown, known for his role in The Shawshank Redemption, takes on the character of Sal Maroni in The Penguin. Brown did not participate in The Batman, which centered on Carmine Falcone (previously portrayed by John Turturro) and his connection to Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz) as his unnamed daughter. Despite Carmine’s demise in The Batman, his presence casts a long shadow over The Penguin.

Sal Maroni is no stranger to live-action portrayals; he appeared in the first season of Gotham, with David Zayas in the role, and was also referenced in The Batman through an uncredited cameo. The character has made his way into various animated adaptations, including Batman: The Long Halloween, Batman: Gotham Knight, and Batman: The Killing Joke. If managed thoughtfully, The Penguin has the potential to extend Brown’s arc and seamlessly incorporate him into Two-Face’s narrative.

As both the Falcones and Maronis face betrayals orchestrated by Oz, an uneasy alliance forms between Sofia and Sal. This may echo their relationship from The Long Halloween, where they are portrayed as secret lovers. While it seems unlikely this subplot will develop in The Penguin, as the series nears its conclusion, the crime families remain intent on tracking down Oz. Farrell is confirmed to reprise his role in The Batman Part II, suggesting turbulent times ahead for Sofia and Sal. However, even if it’s the end of Sofia’s journey, Sal’s potential remains vast.

Sal Maroni’s Role in Introducing Two-Face

Two-Face flipping his coin in the Batman comics

Though often a minor character in various interpretations of DC lore, Sal Maroni has consistently been associated with the origin of Two-Face. Traditionally, Maroni’s courtroom actions result in melting acid being thrown into Harvey Dent’s face during a trial, leading to his psychological split and transformation into Two-Face. This backstory was highlighted in flashbacks featuring Dennis Paladino as Sal in the lesser-known Batman: Forever, yet this isn’t the sole narrative that could introduce Harvey into this cinematic universe.

Christopher Nolan presented a different take on the character when Eric Roberts portrayed him in The Dark Knight. In that iteration, Maroni assumes leadership of the Falcone crime organization after Carmine’s death, while the Joker orchestrates Dent’s disfigurement. Given that The Batman has redefined the origins of characters like the Riddler and Batman himself, viewers might expect a refreshing interpretation for Two-Face. The Dark Knight illustrated that a courtroom incident isn’t always necessary to convert a District Attorney into a criminal persona.

While Reeves remains discreet regarding the additional villains set to appear in The Batman Part II, rumors suggest Mr. Freeze could play a significant part in the narrative. Additionally, speculation around the appearance of Two-Face has circulated, though James Gunn dismissed suggestions of Boyd Holbrook portraying Harvey Dent. Following criticisms of Joker: Folie à Deux for mishandling its own interpretation of Harvey Dent (with Harry Lawtey), fans are eagerly anticipating Reeves’ direction for the complex DA.

Reeves has hinted there may be room for Dent’s character to emerge, and during an interview with The Streamr, when asked about a potential focus on Dent in a legal drama like The Penguin, he mentioned it was a “possibility.” While discussions for a series centered on the GCPD and Arkham State Hospital seem to have stalled, the success of The Penguin could reignite talks about whether other spin-off opportunities exist between films. Building Two-Face’s narrative might require a couple of movies, yet Sal Maroni surviving The Penguin could mark the first vital step towards introducing Two-Face in Reeves’ cinematic universe.

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