Riddler casting

[Kevin Roegele]

There always seems to be debate and misunderstandings about the casting of the Riddler for the third Batman movie.

Some say Tim Burton wanted John Malkovich, Brad Dourif or Mickey Dolenz (I've read all these in creditable sources as well as from fans) when he was planning a third movie. Some say Burton wasn't even planning on using the Riddler, only Two-Face. We don't know for sure. Burton did not get very far with his plans anyway.

What is known for sure is that Joel Schumacher definetly, definetly went to Robin Williams first. Annoyingly I can't locate the actual interviews, they are online somewhere, but Schumacher says Williams keep saying yes, then no, then yes again, and finally turned it down. Williams was still upset about how Warner Bros. had treated him over the Joker casting (as bait to bring in Jack Nicholson).

Only then was Jim Carrey bought, and the rest is history.

There is one other intriguing detail; in 1994, the now defunct British magazine Sky printed a fuzzy photo of a costume test for the Riddler, with a question mark shaved into his head. For the longest time I thought this must have been Robin Williams, but it now seems unlikely that he went to make-tests before even signing on properly. So it must have been some random guy whom they were just testing the look on. I've spent a long time trying to locate that image but to no avail. But there is one.

 

[Victarion]

Nice to see someone else who wonders about stuff like this.

Anyway, I had thought Williams for Riddler was one of Burton's choices, though it obviously didn't make it through. On a fansite dedicated to Burton's Batman 3, it stated Riddler was to be a psychologist that Bruce started seeing, being that he was disillusioned thanks to the events of Returns. Losing Selina probably would've had a lot to do with this.

Eventually, the Nygma would put two and two together to realize Wayne was Batman, and become the Riddler, teasing and taunting him. It certainly sounded like an interesting take on the character.

_____________________________________________________________

If you're interested in Two-Face theories, I've heard many fans speculate that Dent would've helped Bats clear his name with Gotham. Bruce would go to him about Chip SHreck's power-sucking power plant there by taking Chip Shreck to court. There it would be Chip Shreck who tossed the acid. During all this, Nygma would be an employee of Shreck's who was let go, due to Shreck being caught hording excess power. Being fired, he would become the Riddler to get back at Shreck.

If this is anything to go by, then Claw Island from Forever would most likely have been the Power Plant Shreck was building, and most likely the Riddler's base of operations.

Both theories are intriguing, though I think the psychologist Riddler would've been cooler.

 

[SHADOWBAT69]

First Ive heard of this psychologist thing. Sounds to me like they, womever "they" were, was going to make Riddler more like Hugo Strange.

 

[ab38416]

What is known for sure is that Joel Schumacher definetly, definetly went to Robin Williams first. Annoyingly I can't locate the actual interviews, they are online somewhere, but Schumacher says Williams keep saying yes, then no, then yes again, and finally turned it down.

http://www.batmanmovieonline.com/behindthescenes/articles/empire1995spec.htm

it wa"I asked Robin," bemoans Schumacher. "I spent a year trying to talk Robin into it. H"I asked Robin," bemoans Schumacher. "I spent a year trying to talk Robin into it. He said, 'I'm going to do it Joel, I'm going to do it, but I just can't say yes today.' It's like asking someone to marry you; when they don't say yes, you start looking around. I don't quite know what Robin's hesitations were. Maybe it was me, maybe it was the part.e said, 'I'm going to do it Joel, I'm going to do it, but I just can't say yes today.' It's like asking someone to marry you; when they don't say yes, you start looking around. I don't quite know what Robin's hesitations were. Maybe it was me, maybe it was the part.s the part.

 

[mystory64]

http://www.batmanmovieonline.com/behindthescenes/articles/empire1995spec.htm

Um I don't see a mention about Williams in the article did you mean for that or?....

 

[ab38416]

Um, why don't you actually read the whole thing?

 

[mystory64]

Um, why don't you actually read the whole thing?

Hey I did, pretty long article man, I tuned out at the Frank Gorshin bit guess I missed it by that much... You could have just quoted the piece to save the ten minutes of reading.... Oh wait I'll do it....

And, true to form, the role of the tongue-twisting conundrum setter was once the property of another. Schumacher had worked long and hard to land Robin Williams for the part.

"I asked Robin," bemoans Schumacher. "I spent a year trying to talk Robin into it. He said, 'I'm going to do it Joel, I'm going to do it, but I just can't say yes today.' It's like asking someone to marry you; when they don't say yes, you start looking around. I don't quite know what Robin's hesitations were. Maybe it was me, maybe it was the part. I immediately thought of Jim, and the minute he walked through the door he looked exactly like the Riddler in the comic books - pencil thin. It's almost like Plastic Man, in a way. You know, he has no stunt person in the movie? All the stuff with the cane, all that stuff is him."

 

[Kevin Roegele]

http://www.batmanmovieonline.com/behindthescenes/articles/empire1995spec.htm

it wa"I asked Robin," bemoans Schumacher. "I spent a year trying to talk Robin into it. H"I asked Robin," bemoans Schumacher. "I spent a year trying to talk Robin into it. He said, 'I'm going to do it Joel, I'm going to do it, but I just can't say yes today.' It's like asking someone to marry you; when they don't say yes, you start looking around. I don't quite know what Robin's hesitations were. Maybe it was me, maybe it was the part.e said, 'I'm going to do it Joel, I'm going to do it, but I just can't say yes today.' It's like asking someone to marry you; when they don't say yes, you start looking around. I don't quite know what Robin's hesitations were. Maybe it was me, maybe it was the part.s the part.

Thank you.

 

[batman strikes]

I read somewhere that Tim Burton talked to Micky Dolenz about the role of the Riddler but I don't if it's true or not. I mean truthfully where did all the rumors come from that Burton was going to use Riddler and Two-Face in his, is it just because Schumacher chose those two as the villians? Or has Burton ever said that he planned on using Riddler in Batman 3.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

I read somewhere that Tim Burton talked to Micky Dolenz about the role of the Riddler but I don't if it's true or not. I mean truthfully where did all the rumors come from that Burton was going to use Riddler and Two-Face in his, is it just because Schumacher chose those two as the villians? Or has Burton ever said that he planned on using Riddler in Batman 3.

We know there were plans for Two-Face all along. Billy Dee Williams was cast in the first movie. In the second, Max Shreck was initially supposed to be Dent, and at the climax become Two-Face. After this was changed, there was still a plan to show Two-Face in one isolated scene, but that was dropped as well.

A real shame we never saw Williams as Two-Face.

It's intresting how all three directors have used the character.

 

[Mr. Socko]

I liked Carrey as Riddler but he acted a little too homosexual at times due to Schumacher's direction.

I liked the green tights, jacket, red hair, and bowler hat.

It's when Schumacher had him rock a bee-hive hair do, wear glittery clothes, and put on a tiara and long diamond earrings, is when he went overboard.

 

[Two-Face]

Jim Carrey was too "Frank Gorshin's Riddler" but Carrey was goo tho.

 

[WalterKovacs]

I actually like gorshin a little because he wasnt so over-the-top. i also didnt like tommy lee jones' two-face because he was so OTT. that being said, i cant wait to see nolan do them because they are 2 characters who have so much potential.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

I actually like gorshin a little because he wasnt so over-the-top.

Well, when dancing around like a lunatic and gigling, Gorshin was just as over-the-top as Carrey. But the difference is, Gorshin was always menacing. He is the one villain from the 60's show who was truly creepy.

 

[BurtonBegan]

burtons batman 3 is lifes biggest 'what if'.
It would've been brilliant

 

[fabman]

Wow, I didn't know about the rumors that Chip Shreck would've been the third Batman. You know, I'm currently writing my version of Batman Forever and he is in my script.

 

[Rockbottom]

Lol imagine if one day we got an animated version Batman 3 directed by Burton, using his vision, his cast as voice actors, script, idea's and everything. The art style would look like his Batman. Will never happen to its a cool thought.

 

[WalterKovacs]

Well, when dancing around like a lunatic and gigling, Gorshin was just as over-the-top as Carrey. But the difference is, Gorshin was always menacing. He is the one villain from the 60's show who was truly creepy.

yeah but what i meant is that gorshin had moments where he spoke. not in a whispery gay (not that theres anything wrong with that) tone or giggled or anything. i mean he did that sometimes but he talked normally from time to time.