Batman: all the live-action Riddler actors (and how their versions differ)

The Riddler is one of Batman’s most legendary foes in Gotham City, and here’s a look at each actor to portray the iconic villain in live action.

The riddle is one of Batman’s most legendary Gotham City foes, and here’s a look at each actor to portray the iconic villain in live action. If there’s one member of The Caped Crusader’s rogues gallery, that’s clearly their arch nemesis – well, that’s the Joker. Still, the Riddler is definitely one of Batman’s most worthy opponents, with his intellect and strategy often proving to be a true match for The World’s Greatest Detective. Unlike the Joker, who often thrives on chaos, the Riddler loves to plan his antics step by step, playing Batman and the GCPD along the way.

The Riddler, as its name makes clear from the start, also loves puzzles and challenges Batman’s brain as much as his considerable strength. Batman’s ability to get out of a fight is second to none, but in a battle against the Riddler, simply defeating him is often not enough to win the day. After all, leaving Riddler with a bloody face may be satisfying in the moment, but it won’t save whatever victim he may be holding hostage as a contingency plan.

Related: Batman: Robin Williams Almost Played Joker & Riddler (Why He Didn’t)

However, as interesting as an antagonist like Riddler is, he has been portrayed in live action a strangely small number of times, at least compared to the much more widely used Joker and Catwoman. Every actor who played the Riddler in movies or on television thus far has brought something unique to the character that is worth looking back and, in one case, forward.

Frank Gorshin (1966 Batman movie and TV show)

Frank Gorshin was honored to play the Riddler on screen for the first time in the classic 1960s. bat Man TV series starring Adam West as the titular hero. Gorshin also played the role in the 1966 companion film. Fitting in with the exaggerated and cheesy tone of the show, Gorshin’s Riddler was very theatrical in the way he spoke and moved, and especially in how he enthusiastically announced his latest big plan to whoever might be listening. It was a great performance in the often goofy context of the show, and to his credit, Gorshin was fully capable of turning downright sinister when the scene called for it. Appearance-wise, Gorshin’s Riddler sported the classic green jumpsuit with question marks, though he often forgot to wear his eye mask. Gorshin set the standard for Riddler’s depictions and he is still fondly remembered by many today.

John Astin (1966 Batman TV show)

Here’s a Riddler actor that many fans don’t even remember playing the part. John Astin is best known for playing Gomez Addams in the classic eccentric comedy. The Addams Family, but was hired to replace Frank Gorshin in a two-episode storyline during season 2 of the 1960s. bat Man TV show. His performance is not that different from Gorshin in general, although he seems a little less intense and a little less exaggerated in his movements. Still, Astin was known for comedy, so he still made his Riddler suitably insane. As to why he stepped in for this short period in the first place, the accounts differ. According to Gorshin, she had a prior engagement during filming that she couldn’t get out of. According to producer William Dozier, Gorshin demanded a higher salary and, as a result, they replaced him. Whatever the truth, Gorshin came back later, so clearly things worked out.

Jim Carrey (Batman Forever)

Jim Carrey’s work as the Riddler in the 1995 Joel Schumacher sequel Batman forever is easily the most divisive live-action version of the character yet. Batman forever was a box office hit, but the decades have not been kind to its reputation, with many fans lamenting the cheesy, 1960s-style direction that Schumacher took after Tim Burton’s two rather dark and brooding films. For better or for worse, Carrey brought the same comic charisma and insanity to Riddler as he did to his other ’90s characters like Ace Ventura and the Mask, but in doing so, he’s actually even more of a stretch than either Gorshin or Astin. . Carrey’s Riddle, while entertaining, doesn’t feel like much of a threat, and neither does Tommy Lee Jones’s Two-Face cackle. Notably, however, Batman forever gave the audience their first extended look at Edward Nygma before his fateful transformation.

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Cory Michael Smith (Gotham TV Show)

The Riddler returned to live action television in 2014 for FOX Gotham, a show that didn’t really end up becoming what it was supposed to be at first. Initially featured as a look at a young Jim Gordon and the GCPD testing before Batman, albeit with a young Bruce Wayne in the mix, Gotham It eventually became a true ensemble show, and the villains of the city became protagonists and antagonists, according to the script. To be fair, this was partly due to how well these villains were cast, with Cory Michael Smith’s Edward Nygma being a clear standout. Smith accomplished the bizarre feat of being alternately sick and twisted enough to be scary, and complex and pitiful enough to be someone the audience was sometimes supportive of. GothamRiddler was definitely the most dangerous character yet, brutally murdering multiple people on screen.

Paul Dano (The Batman)

Weather The batman It’s still a while to hit theaters, the trailer and marketing thus far have made Paul Dano’s Riddler look like the most unique version of the character to hit the screen to date. His appearance is nothing like the classic green suit that even GothamRiddler rocked a version of from time to time, and his modus operandi, while still incorporating riddles, now seems much more Jigsaw-esque than before, and one almost expects him to ask Batman to play a game. Dano’s Riddler is said to function as a mysterious serial killer in Gotham, similar to the Zodiac Killer. This Riddle is much darker than average and seems to be quite a fearsome foe. Interestingly, he seems to be targeting powerful and corrupt figures, so he could eventually be seen as an anti-hero.

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