Playing a twisted new take on The Riddler wouldn’t be easy, but Paul Dano took no shortcuts for his role in The Batman. Though, the actor does say there’s a slightly regrettable choice” he made to get into this disturbed riddle-loving serial killer.
During an interview with Good Morning America, shared online by Twitter user The Art of Batman, Dano shared some details about the role. He also offered up one of the only things he regretted about the role: the cling film wrap he wore as the character.
“The character doesn’t quite have the resources, maybe, to be like a really fancy vigilante. So, and he’s so meticulous about the details, and he’s quite brilliant, and as you’ll see he’s quite in control, and I couldn’t shave all the hair off my body, because I think part of this person’s job is they also have to probably walk around in the world, right? The way that Batman has Bruce Wayne and has to be able to go out there, the Riddler has his Edward Nashton. So I thought, well, I’ll wrap myself in some cling film and see if that will cover up any DNA evidence, and I quickly learned that was a slightly regrettable choice. My head was throbbing, and the sweat couldn’t escape from my body, but then we learned to work with it, and I think it’s got a nice effect.”
SEE ALSO: Read our review of The Batman here
Despite the costume issues, Dano offers up what critics have called one of his best roles to date and seems open to returning as The Riddler in later films. Will he be willing to don the costume again, or will he find a way to adapt his style as Matt Reeves continues to flesh out this new Batverse?
Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman (Robert Pattinson), striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies—Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright)—amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens.
When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler (Paul Dano). As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.
The Batman sees Robert Pattinson (The Lighthouse) donning the cape and cowl as Bruce Wayne/Batman alongside Zoe Kravitz (Big Little Lies) as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Colin Farrell (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin, Paul Dano (Escape at Dannemora) as Edward Nashton/The Riddler, Jeffrey Wright (Westworld) as Jim Gordon, Andy Serkis (War for the Planet of the Apes) as Alfred Pennyworth, John Turturro (The Big Lebowski) as Carmine Falcone, Alex Ferns (Chernobyl) as Commissioner Pete Savage, Con O’Neill (Ordinary Lies) as Chief Mackenzie Bock, Peter Sarsgaard (The Killing) as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson and Jayme Lawson (Farewell Amor) as Bella Real.
The Batman is set for release on March 4th.
