Is Theo Rossi’s Dr. Julian Rush Really Scarecrow? ‘The Penguin’ Showrunner Weighs In!

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‘The Penguin’ is the newest addition to Matt Reeves’ Batman crime drama saga. This series has been exceptionally popular, earning numerous nominations and awards, including Colin Farrell’s recent Golden Globe win. Given this success, it wasn’t unexpected when it was announced that a second season would indeed be produced.

In the last installment, it wasn’t anticipated that Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of Batman would make an appearance in the show; what was expected instead were numerous allusions and foreshadowing to iconic Batman adversaries who stalk the cityscape of Gotham.

In the series, there’s a suggestion linking Dr. Julian Rush to the character of the Scarecrow, a well-known Batman villain named Jonathan Crane. In one episode, there’s a glove with needles and an ominous mask found in Julian’s office, which are reminiscent of the Scarecrow’s tools. However, it’s important to note that while another character, Dr. Ventris, is present in the series, he isn’t the Scarecrow.

A friend shared a Reddit post with me, which showcases a Scarecrow-style glove reminiscent of Arkham, along with what seems to be a Scarecrow mask in Julian Rush’s office.

Previously, I was informed by a reliable source that Theo Rossi’s character was initially intended to…

— BobaTalks (@BobaTalks) November 15, 2024

Initially, this theory gained significant popularity among fans who believed it was a clue about Julian’s future. However, it appears that this assumption was incorrect. In 2025, at the Golden Globes, ‘The Penguin’ showrunner Lauren LeFranc clarified to ScreenRant that Dr. Julian Rush is not the Scarecrow, thus debunking the theory directly.

“Well, I can say he’s not the Scarecrow”.

Initially, rumors circulated that Scarecrow would appear on the series, only to be scrapped entirely by LeFranc and Reeves without any official explanation. However, this speculation eventually subsided with little follow-up discussion.

Kalina Ivanov, who is responsible for the show’s set design, didn’t explicitly agree or disagree with a fan theory. Instead, she hinted at it when she said they “left room for different perspectives,” suggesting that some objects on the table could have been influenced by the Scarecrow character from the story.

However, with LeFranc’s latest disclosures, it appears that fans might have been over-interpreting the situation all along.

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2025-01-06 13:43