'Thrilling but also emotional' - The Batman's take on Riddler by Paul Dano promises new depths

Almost four years ago, "What's exciting about Batman is how it relates to now," said Director Matt Reeves to The Hollywood Reporter about his much-anticipated project, The Batman. And boy, did it deliver!

In the star-studded ensemble of Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, and Jeffrey Wright, it was none other than the enigmatic Paul Dano who carved a niche for himself with his groundbreaking performance as the Riddler, bringing a fresh and thrilling dimension to the iconic villainous role.

Riddler Reimagined: Paul Dano's Transformative Performance

In the shoes of a character previously embraced by Jim Carrey, **Dano transcended expectations**. He introduced us to the Riddler, also known as Edward Nashton, in an absolutely captivating and innovative way. No wonder he was nominated for an Emmy just a year before his role in The Batman for his incredible performance in Escape from Dannemora.

Matt Reeves' Grounded Batman: A Noirish Tale

"It’s very much a point-of-view-driven, noir Batman tale," said Reeves. Focusing on the dark and gritty aspects of Gotham, Reeves made sure to keep Batman's tale thrilling yet emotional, carried squarely on the superhero's shoulders.

The Batman, which kick-started production towards the end of 2019 or early 2020, followed the path of DC's record-breaking box office successes. Take for example the sinister 'Joker' which grossed an incredible **$548m worldwide since its October 4 release**. Not forgetting 'Suicide Squad', which boasted a solid **$746m worldwide collection**.

The casting of Dano was confirmed just when Warner Bros was riding high on these victories. It was a period when DC was preparing for a handful of promising releases, including Wonder Woman 1984 and Birds of Prey.

Speaking of Dano, he is no stranger to the world of cinema. Just a year prior to The Batman, he made his directorial debut with the drama Wildlife, featuring Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal. He was also slated to be a part of The Power of the Dog, a new film from Jane Campion, starring Kirsten Dunst and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Through The Batman, Paul Dano indeed added a profound layer to his multifaceted acting portfolio, and to the legacy of the beloved villain – Riddler. As we look back, it was a masterstroke from Matt Reeves, placing a cornerstone in the Batman universe that we'll cherish for years to come.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)