Who Is Dr Julian Rush & Is Theo Rossi’s The Penguin Character From DC Comics?

The Penguin episode 2 introduces a new character in the form of Theo Rossi’s Dr. Julian Rush, begging the question of who he is and what connections, if any, he has to DC Comics. By the time of The Penguin episode 2’s ending, “Inside Man” deals with a plot typified by its title; Sofia Falcone’s anxieties grow as it seems someone is feeding information to the Marconi crime family. As a war between The Penguin’s Gotham crime families brews, Oswald Cobb finds himself at the center as he attempts to maneuver his way to the top.

As the landscape of Gotham’s underworld is further explored, more of The Penguin’s extended cast of characters come to the forefront. One of these cast members is no stranger to superhero TV shows, with Luke Cage’s Theo Rossi making his debut as someone connected to Sofia Falcone’s The Penguin villainous alter ego Hangman. Rossi plays Dr. Julian Rush, raising many queries about whether he has potential connections to DC Comics, is merely an Easter egg to Batman’s rogues gallery, or is an original character created to further flesh out the world of The Batman and The Penguin.

Theo Rossi Plays Dr. Julian Rush In The Penguin

Julian Rush Has Connections To Sofia Falcone

Dr. Julian Rush’s first appearance comes in The Penguin episode 2 in the opening montage detailing Sofia’s time at Arkham Asylum. It seems as though Julian was the primary therapist for Sofia as she overcame her stint in the iconic DC penitentiary. This was implied via a series of flashbacks showcasing Julian walking Sofia through sessions after she was convicted as Hangman, with the latter likely the former’s main patient.

As is often the case with patients like Sofia, the character was confirmed to still receive sessions with a therapist after being released from Arkham. This saw Rossi appear as Julian Rush in The Penguin’s present-day timeline, as it was revealed his methods were the cause of Sofia’s Arkham flashbacks. However, Rush’s relationship with Sofia is teased as going deeper than patient and doctor in this scene. Sofia reacts negatively to her past memories, leading Rush to grab her tightly until she calms down. The scene has intimate undertones, implying Rush and Sofia have a connection they morally should not.

Dr. Julian Rush Isn’t From DC Comics

Theo Rossi’s Character Is Seemingly An Original Creation For The Penguin

Given Rush’s apparent centrality to The Penguin’s story and his connection to Arkham Asylum, many have been wondering whether he is a character from DC Comics. That said, Julian Rush appears to be an original character created by the developers of The Penguin. This certainly fits the tone of Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe. Although there are several Easter eggs to DC Comics in The Penguin and The Batman universe is no stranger to established characters, the overall sense of grounded realism the franchise has established makes Rush’s original creation seem logical.

Despite his original nature, Dr. Julian Rush has an admittedly loose link to a DC Comics character. The name Rush was used in the prime DC Universe for a villain of Green Arrow’s, one who was swiftly defeated by the hero alongside his gang. The only connection between him and The Penguin’s Julian Rush is the name, with the two possessing little else in the way of similarities.

Theo Rossi Draws Parallels With Multiple DC Characters

Rush May Be Based On Several Villains From The World Of DC

While Dr. Julian Rush is not outright adapted from any DC villains, the way his character is established in The Penguin brings to light several parallels. Some theories have been raised to suggest Rossi’s Rush is The Batman universe’s version of Hugo Strange, a mad scientist who opposes the Caped Crusader. Another theory is that Julian Rush is this franchise’s version of Dr. Jonathan Crane a.k.a. The Scarecrow. This theory admittedly has more evidence than the one concerning Hugo Strange, primarily due to the similarities between Julian and Jonathan.

For one, both work in Arkham Asylum. Scarecrow was first introduced as someone who conducts fear-based experiments on Arkham’s patients. In a certain light, Rush’s session with Sofia in The Penguin could be seen similarly. Furthermore, The Batman franchise is no stranger to changing the names of DC characters, as evident with The Riddler and even Penguin himself. As such, it could be the case that Dr. Jonathan Crane is named Dr. Julian Rush in this universe, though this change would be more egregious than the two prior instances of DC name changes from The Batman and The Penguin.

The final DC character who Dr. Julian Rush has parallels with is Dr. Harleen Quinzel a.k.a. Harley Quinn. Harleen Quinzel began as a psychiatrist in Arkham Asylum for The Joker, leading to their frowned-upon romantic relationship that saw her become Harley Quinn. The parallels in The Penguin come from Rush’s work as a psychiatrist for Sofia Falcone, as well as their implied romantic connection. While this is not to say that Rush is a replacement for Harleen Quinzel, it is simply interesting that The Penguin is drawing as many parallels as it is between him and several DC Comics villains.