The Batman
monition ! SPOILERS for The Batman forward .
Paul Dano plays The Riddler in Matt Reeves’The Batman , and this version of the type is hump by his original name : Edward Nashton . Here’sThe BatmanRiddler name change explained . The Batmanintroduces audiences to Reeves ' noirish take on the Dark Knight with several reimagined villains appear including Colin Farrell , who is completely unrecognizable as the Penguin , and the legendary John Turturro as family gaffer Carmine Falcone . Reeves ' Riddler is reimagined too , being named Edward Nashton rather than Edward Nygma , as is more common in Batman adaptations .
The Batmanwasofficially released in theater on March 4 , 2022 , with a starring mould , bringing Matt Reeves ' steely interpretation of the hero to life . The Penguin and Falcone appear alongside Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman andPaul Dano ’s The Riddler . Dano , a diffuse - voiced character worker who has worked steadily since he burst onto the scene inThere Will Be Blood , has a decidedly dissimilar portraying of the fiber than Jim Carrey ’s cartoonish enigmatical villain in 1995’sBatman evermore . While Reeves’The Batmandoes take some element from both Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan ’s versions of the story , the manager setsThe Batmanapart from its forerunner by bestow psychological composition and a crime - drama feel to the fib .
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The BatmanRiddler name change means that Reeves has opted to utilise The Riddler ’s birthing name of Edward Nashton in position of his more recognizable alter - ego , Edward Nygma ( or Nigma ) . In the comic books , his literal name was revealed to be Edward Nygma , or E. Nygma — a punning on the word " enigma . " But subsequently DC persistence , follow the " Crisis on Infinite Earths " effect , demonstrate his nativity name as Edward Nashton . This version of the character wouldchange The Riddler’ssurname to Nigma in gild to fit his supervillain role , but it seems Reeves has adopt the more grounded " Nashton " for Paul Dano ’s Riddler inThe Batman .
Why The Riddler Is Edward Nashton In The Batman
The director has not revealed the reasons forThe BatmanRiddler name change , but there are several potential explanations , render Paul Dano ’s Riddler and the tone ofThe Batmanitself . Many fans initially believed that it was because Edward Nashton was finally getting his own bloodline story on the flatware screen , limn events from the comic ledger track down in which he first appears . The Batman ’s Riddler does provide clues here and there about his life before he sham his identity operator as the supervillain — andwhy he aim Bruce Wayneas one of his victim ; however , Reeves did n’t reduplicate the comical level discharge in his more grounded film . Paul Dano ’s Riddler uses nobody and code , like to the Zodiac Killer , and is present as an outright psychopath .
The Batman ’s Riddler was orphaned , like Bruce Wayne , and his hatred for Bruce ( and Gotham ’s crooked politics in general ) issue forth after the Waynes were murdered and their Renewal monetary fund were embezzle by the mob . The Riddler describes growing up as an orphan while mocking Bruce Wayne for being rich , and hardly considered a true orphan . Since the Renewal funds never made it to the orphanhood , Paul Dano ’s Riddler found solace in puzzles and aught and sought revenge on Gotham ’s corrupt government . Given the posture ofTheBatman ’s reviews , Reeves may have used the more realistic " Nashton " name in an attempt to keep his humanistic take on the Dark Knight as grounded as possible . In other words , there ’s no room for lighthearted paronomasia in a dark noir detective tale . What ’s more , using The Riddler ’s relatively dull civilian name allows Reeves to differentiate his interlingual rendition of the role from previous iterations – most manifestly Jim Carrey ’s playful trickster inBatman Forever .
Whatever the sheath may be , the great unwashed will no doubt enjoy Paul Dano ’s Riddler , as well as his dark and psychopathic take on the character . Christopher Nolan was long - rumored to be consider introducing his own edition of The Riddler in his acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy , but the scoundrel never appeared — away from one particularfan hypothesis aboutTheDark Knight . That gave Reeves a material chance to not only present a fresh take on a legendary character but also gain over Batman rooter who ’ve look the definitive on - screen Riddler for decades . And withThe BatmanRiddler name modification allow for a more down - to - earth reimagining of the quality , Reeves was capable to deliver just that .
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E. Nygma Would’ve Cheapened The Batman Villain’s Motivations
In one loop of the comics , The Riddler in reality vary his name from Edward Nashton to Edward Nygma — something that may have worked in that setting , but would n’t have scanned inThe Batmangiven the character and story that stretch out . Matt Reeves tookThe Batman ’s charactersin an entirely different counsel than other iterations of the rogues and heroes gallery . Reeves ' interpreting of The Riddler was much more akin to an merger of the Zodiac Killer and the Unabomber than a humankind haunt with children ’s riddles and games . The riddle were used to delineate Batman out in a methodical , personal way , and the personal nature of Nashton ’s grudge necessitate to occur from a villain with a non - humorous name to make his motive land .
This is why maintain The Riddler ’s original name was better forThe Batman . change Edward Nashton to E. Nygma would ’ve cheapened the character established in the movie . It would ’ve brought the fecund baddie nigher to his silly amusing book rootage but also taken the creepiness out of The Riddler ’s sinister nature . To maintain its aesthetic wholeness , The Batmanhad to separate itselffrom Jim Carrey ’s rendering of the character to usher in a fresh and terrifyingly topical take on a pretty silly character . Bear in mind , as well , that The Riddler ultimately wins despite stop up in Arkham Asylum . To just Batman and flood Gotham regardless , The Riddler needs to inspire fear – which needs Edward Nashton , not E. Nygma .
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