Aussie TV star’s unrecognisable makeover as Batman villain ahead of The Penguin series premiere

Ahead of the premiere of The Penguin series, an Aussie star has transformed into the Batman character and wandered the streets of Sydney.

Ahead of the premiere of the highly anticipated The Penguin series on BINGE today, a leading Aussie TV star has transformed into the villainous Batman character and wandered the streets of Sydney.

After sitting in the hair and make-up chair for hours and being covered in slabs of foundation and fake tan, Karl Stefanovic looked unrecognisable as he emerged as the Gotham City bad guy.

Karl Stefanovic has transformed into The Penguin, which will be played by Colin Farrell in the new HBO series. Picture: Henry McGilchrist

The Today host sat in hair in make up for hours to complete his makeover. Picture: Henry McGilchrist

Make-up artists even gave the TV host a receding hairline. Picture: Henry McGilchrist

The 50-year-old Today show host completed his look with the super-villain’s signature facial scar, double chin and receding hairline, all while sporting The Penguin’s infamous black and purple suit, which Stefanovic wore with braces and an unbuttoned white shirt that exposed his hairy chest.

“There’s a new Kingpin in town…” read a captioned posted on the Today show’s Instagram.

But Stefanovic’s antics didn’t stop there. He was then seen driving around the streets of North Sydney, outside Nine HQ, in a bright purple Maserati with the windows down as he laughed at passers-by in the trademark Penguin snarl.

Stream The Penguin from September 20 on BINGE, available on Hubbl.

Stefanovic then drove around the streets of Sydney in a purple Maserati. Picture: Henry McGilchrist

The star stunned passers-by with his transformation. Picture: Henry McGilchrist

“You know there’s only one man big enough to run this city,” he said in character, while telling the gathering crowd to “get back to work, you bludgers”.

Stefanovic’s hilarious stunt coincided with the release of The Penguin on BINGE on September 20, with the host undoubtedly a dead ringer for its star Colin Farrell.

The Hollywood actor steps into the role of the criminal kingpin, which other stars Danny DeVito and Burgess Meredith have made popular before him.

Farrell first played Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin, in the 2022 Matt Reeves blockbuster The Batman, but fans will get an in-depth look at the character in the spin-off.

Colin Farrell in a scene from The Penguin. Picture BINGE

In the eight-part mini-series, the iconic character seizes control of Gotham City after the death of the town’s crime lord, Carmine Falcone (played by Mark Strong). The series also stars Cristin Milioti, Michael Kelly and Michael Zegen.

Oscar nominee Farrell has previously expressed his excitement at reprising the character he played in The Batman opposite Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz.

“The world that Matt Reeves created for The Batman is one that warrants a deeper gaze through the eyes of Oswald Cobblepot,” he said in a statement released earlier this year.

“I couldn’t be more excited about continuing this exploration of Oz as he rises through the darkened ranks to become The Penguin.”

The Penguin premieres on Friday, September 20 on BINGE, available on Hubbl

Originally published as Aussie TV star’s unrecognisable makeover as Batman villain ahead of The Penguin series premiere