Paul Dano is Edward Nashton aka "The Riddler"

[AcidRain]

With Dano cast first and Seth Rogen bandied about as an actual option for Penguin, I'm thinking between the two, Riddler's set to be the much more prominent villain in the story. It wouldn't be the worst thing, but I hope I'm wrong.

On the contrary, I think it's time the character finally got his due.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Well Robert Pattinson can sing too. Now we just need to hear Jeffrey Wright and Zoe Kravitz.

Well, Zoe is a singer and has fronted several bands. So she’s good. No idea about Wright though.

But if Josh Gad becomes the Penguin, then we’ll get plenty of great tunes out of him. And maybe they’ll bring back Will Smith as Deadshot so he can do a rap number... “The good guy dresses like a bat, remember that, just in case he ever breaks your face for dealing crack...”

 

[Greenlite]

Well, Zoe is a singer and has fronted several bands. So she’s good. No idea about Wright though.

But if Josh Gad becomes the Penguin, then we’ll get plenty of great tunes out of him. And maybe they’ll bring back Will Smith as Deadshot so he can do a rap number... “The good guy dresses like a bat, remember that, just in case he ever breaks your face for dealing crack...”

If Jeffrey struggles he could always do a beginner's rap with Will, even I can do it, and they could even go for Hugh Jackman as Alfred, that'd be the most badass butler ever, and he sings like a champ, or they could get his opposite from Les Miserable - Russel Crowe, if they are looking for a monotone specialist

 

[Guts]

I feel like everyone points to There Will Be Blood as Paul Dano's best performance. But for me my favorite movie with Paul Dano is Little Miss Sunshine. Even if he is silent for the majority of the movie. But the scene where he finally speaks in it is my favorite.

 

[thangaran]

Who in their right mind ever suggested Ed Sheeran??

I suggested that Ed Sheeran should be at least considered given his multiple talents and he also has acting experience. Since we’re all talking about musicians here and people are suggesting Josh Gad and also that Zoe Kravitz who is also a singer have been cast, I think Sheeran would do a damn fine job as Penguin to complement Dano as the Riddler. His social party club could be a scene for a brief song to introduce him and I think Sheeran would really surprise many with how well he could play a smart cunning musical villain like Oswald. His whole hall could be rigged with traps and explosives and puzzles for Batman to solve while being taunted by both Riddler and Penguin. That would be such an awesome scene. I only hope they could shoot something like this

 

[Greenlite]

I think Josh Gad suggestion was a joke lol

 

[Web-Head]

With Dano cast first and Seth Rogen bandied about as an actual option for Penguin, I'm thinking between the two, Riddler's set to be the much more prominent villain in the story. It wouldn't be the worst thing, but I hope I'm wrong.

It's pretty much a given that Riddler will have a more prominent role. That's a big reason why Hill wanted to play Riddler and not Penguin.

 

[AcidRain]

I suggested that Ed Sheeran should be at least considered given his multiple talents and he also has acting experience.

Please stop already. The worst thing you could ever do with a movie like this is try to shoe-horn in something so divisive. Bat-fandom spans many, many ages. There are entire generations that would despise the presence of a wimpy pop singer like that guy. Let him sing for the girls with his crappy songs. Worst thing I have ever read on a forum ... my goodness.

 

[Marvel united]

Please stop already. The worst thing you could ever do with a movie like this is try to shoe-horn in something divisive. Bat-fandom spans many, many ages. There are entire generations that would despise the presence of a wimpy pop singer like that guy. Let him sing for the girls with his crappy songs. Worst thing I have ever read on a forum ... my goodness.

Translation: There is a group of tired, old guys who hate on a popular singer because he's popular and not aimed at their demographic

 

[AcidRain]

Translation: There is a group of tired, old guys who hate on a popular singer because he's popular and not aimed at their demographic

Lol. It is entirely based on his generic unoriginality and the girly-ness of his voice, and nothing to do with popularity or success. Enjoy your "sameness" culture and life in the middle.

 

[Deck Rickard]

If Jeffrey struggles he could always do a beginner's rap with Will, even I can do it, and they could even go for Hugh Jackman as Alfred, that'd be the most badass butler ever, and he sings like a champ, or they could get his opposite from Les Miserable - Russel Crowe, if they are looking for a monotone specialist

Russell Crowe could be the Penguin; he's got the build for it and I feel like you can get away with a bad singer as Oswald; he could just squawk loudly through most of his musical numbers.

And Halsey can play Poison Ivy:

 

[DeadlyWest]

Russell Crowe could be the Penguin; he's got the build for it and I feel like you can get away with a bad singer as Oswald; he could just squawk loudly through most of his musical numbers.

And Halsey can play Poison Ivy:

...

I did not think that here of all places would tempt my NNN attempt

 

[Mindreaper21]

So, back to The Riddler. Since, you know, this is his thread and all. I seriously hope we can get something like this for The Riddler. I don't want a bunch of rehash " what do you get when you cross ABC etc," that we can guess on the spot. Make him extremely cryptic, creepy, condescending and in control.

 

[Invader Joker]

I'm all for making him a force to be reckoned with... but part of what makes the character so unique is is how pathetic he can be even when he's being genuinely threatening. There's always a hint that this is a guy that isn't as intelligent as he thinks he is, and that's incredibly egocentric to the highest extremes in a way that's profoundly obvious to see for everyone but him; that narcissism rules his entire existence. And I think Paul Dano can hit that balance between genuinely threatening and pathetic pretty well.

I'm seriously not the least bit interested on this "Super badass Riddler" reimaginings people keep proposing of just basically making him one of many Hannibal Lecter knockoffs. I think that'd just make him generic.

 

[Mindreaper21]

I'm all for making him a force to be reckoned with... but part of what makes the character so unique is is how pathetic he can be even when he's being genuinely threatening. There's always a hint that this is a guy that isn't as intelligent as he thinks he is, and that's incredibly egocentric to the highest extremes in a way that's profoundly obvious to see for everyone but him; that narcissism rules his entire existence. And I think Paul Dano can hit that balance between genuinely threatening and pathetic pretty well.

I'm seriously not the least bit interested on this "Super badass Riddler" reimaginings people keep proposing of just basically making him one of many Hannibal Lecter knockoffs. I think that'd just make him generic.

I believe making him pathetic is problematic. It's like a tired running joke and not unique at all. It's an ordinary nerd stereotype that someone smart must be pathetic and weak. We've seen enough of that. What makes Riddler unique is that he is eccentric.

Why waste Paul Dano's talent on the type of character that he always gets type casted as playing? He has a lot more to offer than "the guy that always gets his butt kicked". If Heath and Joaquin played more of a Hamill type Joker, for example, we wouldn't have seen the amazing performances they've given.

Making Riddler a "super badass" isn't the answer either. Hannibal Lecter is just one of many fictional intellectual killers that can serve as an inspiration. The Riddler has the traits of a psychopath and that's how he should be portrayed. Just show him along with his MO under a serious lens. He has always used death traps and methods of torture just as much as his riddles. That's what I want.

 

[Invader Joker]

I believe making him pathetic is problematic. It's like a tired running joke and not unique at all. It's an ordinary nerd stereotype that someone smart must be pathetic and weak. We've seen enough of that. What makes Riddler unique is that he is eccentric.

Why waste Paul Dano's talent on the type of character that he always gets type casted as playing? He has a lot more to offer than "the guy that always gets his butt kicked". If Heath and Joaquin played more of a Hamill type Joker, for example, we wouldn't have seen the amazing performances they've given.

Making Riddler a "super badass" isn't the answer either. Hannibal Lecter is just one of many fictional intellectual killers that can serve as an inspiration. The Riddler has the traits of a psychopath and that's how he should be portrayed. Just show him along with his MO under a serious lens. He has always used death traps and methods of torture just as much as his riddles. That's what I want.

Psychopaths can also be narcissistic pricks. I'd be waaay more interested in seeing Dano perform a threatening evil, narcissistic and pathetic genius. There's enough scope there with those internal character contradictions to do something unique while also being faithful to the spirit of the character. He can have the death traps, he can have big evil plans... but there's gotta be that glimpse at his more pathetic side because that's what makes the character interesting; he's a genius, he's someone that Batman should take seriously... but at the end of the day he's very pathetic and very complex and almost like a manchild. There are a hundred different ways to play that; it's an incredibly showy role and it doesn't limit Dano at all.

I'm not saying Dano should just be a carbon copy of the comics Riddler but he should at least keep the essential elemenrs that make the character compelling and fun to read; Heath and Joaquin did just that with Joker. The spirit was the same

This idea of just making him completely cold and badass criminal is one that I don't get at all and one that I find incredibly boring.

In fact, I'm gonna say this controversial statement: Riddler from the comics > Hannibal Lecter and John Doe. Way more unique, way more interesting.

I hate this idea that to make Riddler work in live action you need to completely change his character.

 

[Mindreaper21]

Psychopaths can also be narcissistic pricks. I'd be waaay more interested in seeing Dano perform a threatening evil, narcissistic and pathetic genius. There's enough scope there with those internal character contradictions to do something unique while also being faithful to the spirit of the character. He can have the death traps, he can have big evil plans... but there's gotta be that glimpse at his more pathetic side because that's what makes the character interesting; he's a genius, he's someone that Batman should take seriously... but at the end of the day he's very pathetic and very complex and almost like a manchild. There are a hundred different ways to play that; it's an incredibly showy role and it doesn't limit Dano at all.

I'm not saying Dano should just be a carbon copy of the comics Riddler but he should at least keep the essential elemenrs that make the character compelling and fun to read; Heath and Joaquin did just that with Joker. The spirit was the same

This idea of just making him completely cold and badass criminal is one that I don't get at all and one that I find incredibly boring.

In fact, I'm gonna say this controversial statement: Riddler from the comics > Hannibal Lecter and John Doe. Way more unique, way more interesting.

I hate this idea that to make Riddler work in live action you need to completely change his character.

Well, damn. I didn’t expect to ever read that lol. Riddler has the better MO for sure, though not a better psychology.

I don’t believe making him cold changes him completely. Being cold can be played different ways and can actually improve and add to his character if done right.

I agree that he doesn’t that he doesn’t need to be a total badass, because that’s changing the character. Though he doesn’t need to be pathetic either because I feel that limits his potential.

We just have different preferences and that’s fine.

 

[Astro13Zombie]

What are you guys hoping to see as far as Riddlers look?

 

[WatchProtect]

No mask, hat, green and black suit. Minimal purple, and black gloves. Basically Gotham's Riddler. Id rather not have question mark everywhere tbh.

 

[Mindreaper21]

Same, but with no purple and no hat. I want red pompadour hair, fingerless black gloves, an eccentric green tailored suit and something bizarre like eyeliner or a question mark tattoo.

 

[Deck Rickard]

What are you guys hoping to see as far as Riddlers look?

 

[Captain Tired]

The best the Riddler's ever looked in live-action, imo:

They'd never go that far, but that'd be my personal preference. What I've heard so far seems to be sucking all the fun out of the transition from comic to movie.

 

[terry78]

The best the Riddler's ever looked in live-action, imo:

They'd never go that far, but that'd be my personal preference. What I've heard so far seems to be sucking all the fun out of the transition from comic to movie.

You can only go so far between Jim Carrey and what we got on Gotham.

 

[Invader Joker]

This is the way to go.

One of the main characteristics of Riddler is that he's a compulsive flamboyant freak. He's the type of guy that'd wear a suit with question marks all over it because he's an attention ****e. It's not even inconceivable for someone like him to exist in real life, why would it be in the Batman universe?

 

[TheGuy]