FOX’s ‘Gotham’ TV Series Adds Jada Pinkett Smith … as The Penguin’s Boss?
We presumed that FOX's forthcoming 'Batman' prequel TV series, 'Gotham,' would next set its sights on casting a young Bruce Wayne, but its latest choice is far more surprising. Jada Pinkett Smith joined the series as a regular to portray an original 'Gotham' creation as gangster Fish Mooney, none other than future "Penguin" Oswald Cobblepot's boss!
According to Warner Bros. press, Pinkett Smith will take the role of sadistic gangster boss and nightclub owner Fish Mooney, said to wield street smarts and the almost extra-sensory ability to read people. Fish is also described as imposing and hotheaded, one not to be crossed, and keeping low-level psychopath gangster Oswald Cobblepot ('The Walking Dead' star Robin Lord Taylor) in her employ.
FOX’s ‘Gotham’ will explore “the origin stories of Commissioner James Gordon and the villains that made Gotham famous,” with its pilot supposedly featuring Gordon’s investigation of the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne. The pilot will also be written and executive produced by ‘The Mentalist”s Bruno Heller, along with Warner Bros. Television, and directed by ‘Judge Dredd’ helmer Danny Cannon. It has been confirmed that ‘Gotham’ will not have any direct ties to Ben Affleck‘s take on the Dark Knight for ‘Man of Steel’ follow-up film ‘Batman vs. Superman‘ or The CW’s ‘Arrow‘ series.
Cast in other known roles thus far are Ben McKenzie as James Gordon, Donal Logue as Detective Harvey Bullock, Sean Pertwee (‘Elementary’) as Alfred Pennyworth, ‘Burn Notice‘ star Zabryna Guevara as Gordon’s GCPD boss Captain Essen, and Erin Richards as Gordon’s fiancée Barbara Kean.
Unconventional choices have certainly worked for the superhero genre before, so what do you think? Could you see Jada Pinkett Smith in the new Bat-universe as a gangster? Let us know what you want to see from FOX's 'Gotham' in the comments!