Why The Riddler Looks So Different In The Batman

Warning: This post contains major spoilers for The Batman.

The Riddler is the main villain in The Batman, and Paul Dano’s Riddler looks very different from past versions of the character. Batman has had an interesting history on the big screen, as having different directors in charge has given him different styles and tones, and not all of them have been well-received by fans and critics. The Caped Crusader has had his ups and downs in the film industry, such as with Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy (a very high point) and Joel’s Schumacher’s Batman & Robin (widely regarded as his lowest point).

Batman joined the DC Extended Universe in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, played by Ben Affleck, but after the underperformance of Justice League, Warner Bros. changed its plans for its future DC content. The Batman, then, was given a new chance in a world separate from the DCEU and thus with a different Bruce Wayne, a different tone, and a completely different storyline. Directed by Matt Reeves and simply titled The Batman, the movie sees the debut of Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, who’s still in his early years as a detective and vigilante.

Very little is known about The Batman’s Riddler in terms of backstory, other than what’s revealed in Dano’s expositional dialogue. His motivations and plans are focused on the wrongs committed by the mob and their embezzling of the Wayne’s Renewal fund, which ends up leaving him an orphan living in squalor, while Bruce Wayne experiences a very different and affluent upbringing, despite his orphaned status. The Batman‘s Riddler finally shows his face when he’s caught in the diner after he takes down Falcone, but his strange mask is the real character’s face, and he looks nothing like previous versions of the Riddler. The real reason behind the new Riddler costume has a lot to do with Dano’s characterization of the villain and the tone of Matt Reeves’ The Batman.

Why The Riddler In The Batman Looks Different

Dano’s Riddler costume is fully covering his face, with a mask that looks handmade and only with holes for the nose and eyes, which some fans have pointed out seems to be inspired by the Zodiac Killer. The Riddler is also wearing somewhat normal clothes, most of them either black or green, leaving aside his signature look from the comics with a vibrant green suit, sometimes covered in question marks. The famous question mark symbols have been replaced by a solitary symbol often used to mark his crimes in Gotham and used as a signature of sorts. The Batman‘s Riddler signature still features a question mark, but it’s much more muted and looks to be painted on his jacket.

Giving Dano’s Riddler a completely different look not only updates the character but also sets him apart from previous adaptations, especially that from Batman Forever. Joel Schumacher’s first Batman movie featured Edward Nygma/The Riddler, played by Jim Carrey, who had a campy and forced style that wasn’t well-received by fans. Jim Carrey’s Riddler look was more like in the comics, with a green costume with question marks all over it and a green mask, and his performance was over-the-top (which, ultimately, fit the overall tone of the movie). Dano’s Riddler looks the complete opposite: a lot darker both in appearance and in his ways, more brutal, violent, and also mysterious, and all this also feels like an effort to banish memories of past adaptations of the character.

The Batman’s Riddler has a backstory that definitely fits his new look. Though he looks nothing like what the audience would expect from the character, that seems to be the point. While the Zodiac Killer is a definitive inspiration behind The Riddler’s costume and ciphers, his Saw-like traps are completely his own. As well, some of his characterizations seem to model The Unibomber, aka Ted Kaczynski. The Batman’s Riddler is shown as the big figure to fear in this version of Gotham City, and his riddles, plans, codes, traps, and more were not easy to decipher, not even for Batman himself. Paul Dano’s Riddler is much more sinister and psychopathic than Jim Carrey’s campy version of the character and his Zodiac Killer-like costume is a perfect reflection of this new version. All in all, the Riddler’s new look completely suits Paul Dano’s interpretation of the character, adding a perfect amount of mystery and terror all wrapped into one psychotic package.

About The Author

Adrienne Tyler
(3269 Articles Published)

Adrienne Tyler is a features writer for Screen Rant. She is an Audiovisual Communication graduate who wanted to be a filmmaker, but life had other plans (and it turned out great). Prior to Screen Rant, she wrote for Pop Wrapped, 4 Your Excitement (4YE), and D20Crit, where she was also a regular guest at Netfreaks podcast. She was also a contributor for FanSided’s BamSmackPow and 1428 Elm. Adrienne is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: from superhero films to heartbreaking dramas, to low-budget horror films. Every time she manages to commit to a TV show without getting bored, an angel gets its wings.

When she’s not writing, you can find her trying to learn a new language, watching hockey (go Avs!), or wondering what life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Limitless not been cancelled. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round.

Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. It was great.

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