Paul Dano is Edward Nashton aka "The Riddler"

[Mindreaper21]

I think we’ll get a little bit of Jigsaw and Zodiac but I’d like to think Dano’s Riddler will be a lot closer to Dexter Morgan.

Now THIS interests me. Especially since it looks like he’s wearing a CSI outfit under his clothes. I love the idea of Riddler being a former CSI and having access to everyone’s personal info. Though, not only will he take out the corrupt, but will sacrifice anyone that stands in the way of his vision.

Also, going back to the “our day of judgment” signs that his followers were holding, makes me wonder if this Riddler will be sort of cult leader or even worshiped as one. Maybe this version of the Riddler sees himself as a “hand of God” type (which plays well into him being a narcissistic psychopath).

 

[metaphysician]

*cough* I think people are confusing "Is a thing that the Riddler has done in the comics before" with "Is a thing the Riddler has done in the comics often and regularly and high profile enough, to form a meaningful part of his iconic identity". To make an analogy, "Batman Does Not Kill" is *absolutely* part of Batman's iconic identity, and the fact that you can point to a handful of early comics, or a few odd issues elsewhere, does not change this. Does the Riddler use death traps in the comics? Sure. However, in the traditional Iconic Portrayal, this is not because he gets off on murdering people or wants to kill these people, its to force Batman to play the riddle game. Not the same thing.

Will the Matt Reeves "Riddler as trapmaking serial killer vigilante" portrayal work as a story? I mean, probably yes. However, just because it probably will be a good story, doesn't mean it can't *also* fit into the unfortunate overall trend of making Bat villains more bloodthirsty over time.

 

[BigBatTheory]

*cough* I think people are confusing "Is a thing that the Riddler has done in the comics before" with "Is a thing the Riddler has done in the comics often and regularly and high profile enough, to form a meaningful part of his iconic identity". To make an analogy, "Batman Does Not Kill" is *absolutely* part of Batman's iconic identity, and the fact that you can point to a handful of early comics, or a few odd issues elsewhere, does not change this. Does the Riddler use death traps in the comics? Sure. However, in the traditional Iconic Portrayal, this is not because he gets off on murdering people or wants to kill these people, its to force Batman to play the riddle game. Not the same thing.

Will the Matt Reeves "Riddler as trapmaking serial killer vigilante" portrayal work as a story? I mean, probably yes. However, just because it probably will be a good story, doesn't mean it can't *also* fit into the unfortunate overall trend of making Bat villains more bloodthirsty over time.

Ironically it is these character's drastic reinventions that make them most iconic. Each time a character is given a fresh reimagining they are made to be more relevant to the current times and therefor are able to maintain their staying power in pop culture. If Frank Miller didn't bring Batman back to his gritty roots with TDKR, we may be stuck with a more campy version who wouldn't have maintained the popularity he did. These characters going through changes is what makes them iconic, and it is reductionist to try and say any one version of the character is most defining of them if you aren't going to put them in the context of the times. So yeah, maybe up till now, Riddler is mostly defined by being a goofy puzzler with the occasional dark take, but that may be the reason he is not a pop culture icon outside of maybe Jim Carrey's.

 

[Eddie Dean]

Um... The Riddler is definitely a pop culture icon. Prob due to Frank Gorshin in the 66 show, in which he has a bit more of a sadistic streak than he usually does.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

My favourite Riddler is Scott Snyder's (and to a lesser extent Tom King's continuation of Snyder's version) so him being fairly malevolent and violent isn't a big issue for me. There's just something obvious and try-hard about him being doing overt Jigsaw ****, it feels way too obvious. The serial killer take wouldn't always appeal to me either but the way Reeves is drawing on true crime and the classics of serial killer cinema makes it work.

I do love reformed PI Riddler from Dini's run though. Would absolutely love it if Dano's Riddler winds up being a kind of ally to Batman in this trilogy down the line.

 

[shauner111]

Everyone knows Joker, Catwoman, Riddler and Penguin.

 

[Eddie Dean]

 

[Mindreaper21]

Riddler turning into a Hannibal Lecter type is far better than a reformed ally. I would love for Batman, Gordon and anyone else to have to come to Riddler in Arkham for information. It will give us a chance to see just how manipulative and dangerous he is even while locked away.

 

[BigBatTheory]

Riddler turning into a Hannibal Lecter type is far better than a reformed ally. I would love for Batman, Gordon and anyone else to have to come to Riddler in Arkham for information. It will give us a chance to see just how manipulative and dangerous he is even while locked away.

You can't have both Joker and Riddler filling that role. Dano doesn't seem the type to do a sequel imo. I think he gonna die

 

[Eddie Dean]

I hope none of the major villains die. In any of the movies.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

You can't have both Joker and Riddler filling that role. Dano doesn't seem the type to do a sequel imo. I think he gonna die

Joker filling that role isn't remotely confirmed, I'd much rather Riddler fill a Hannibal role than Joker anyway. Fits way more naturally.

 

[Eddie Dean]

I still don't understand introducing Joker with him already in Arkham.

 

[Schlosser85]

You can't have both Joker and Riddler filling that role. Dano doesn't seem the type to do a sequel imo. I think he gonna die

We don't even know if Joker is in it, let alone what specific kind of role he'd fill if he was.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

WB would also never be able to resist marketing this as the movie where Batman and Joker kinda-sorta team up if that were the case.

 

[Eddie Dean]

but drops

 

[Mindreaper21]

You can't have both Joker and Riddler filling that role. Dano doesn't seem the type to do a sequel imo. I think he gonna die

We literally have no clue what this Joker is like.

 

[BigBatTheory]

but my theories uWu

 

[shauner111]

I really don’t want Riddler dying. A cameo is nothing for Dano, like Cillian Murphy. If he loved working with Reeves, he’ll be back for a sequel if Matt asks him for a small appearance.

 

[Eddie Dean]

Is Loki the only recurring villain in the MCU? I guess there’s Frank Grillo, but he was immediately blown up in Civil War. Having recurring villains is such a comic book thing, but somehow they’ve always avoided it. I like seeing Murphy pop up in the Nolan films, but it would be great to see Riddler or Penguin continue to have large roles (or at least significant) through out the trilogy.

 

[thangaran]

I really want Riddler to have some uncanny surprising fantastic fighting abilities. I want him to be the main villain of the whole series who beats Batman handily not only in mental games but in physical match ups. Its only at the end of the trilogy where Battinson has lost so much that he eventually wins but at a cost that drives him mentally insane. That would be such a unique beautiful take

 

[SwordOfMorning]

Is Loki the only recurring villain in the MCU? I guess there’s Frank Grillo, but he was immediately blown up in Civil War. Having recurring villains is such a comic book thing, but somehow they’ve always avoided it. I like seeing Murphy pop up in the Nolan films, but it would be great to see Riddler or Penguin continue to have large roles (or at least significant) through out the trilogy.

I would be amazed if Penguin wasn’t in all of these movies.

 

[BigBatTheory]

Is Loki the only recurring villain in the MCU? I guess there’s Frank Grillo, but he was immediately blown up in Civil War. Having recurring villains is such a comic book thing, but somehow they’ve always avoided it. I like seeing Murphy pop up in the Nolan films, but it would be great to see Riddler or Penguin continue to have large roles (or at least significant) through out the trilogy.

what about Joker having a significant role throughout? He is Batman's biggest nemesis

 

[Eddie Dean]

I would like that for sure! I don't think a cameo is out of the question, but I don't think he will have a major role in this film. A little Moriarty (originally voiced by Pattinson's accent coach Andrew Jack, who sadly has left us) in RDJ's Sherlock Holmes sized role.

 

[Mindreaper21]

I’d also like this Riddler to be physical. More of a calculated fighter than an offensive one. I can also see him being a strangler since asphyxiation seems to be his thing.

 

[Eddie Dean]

Paul Dano is not very good at winning fights.