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Anthony Michael Hall To Play The Riddler?
We’re still ages away from the next Batman film (The Dark Knight) and yet it seems like a day can’t go by without some sort of rumor. This one seems pretty interesting.
As most of you know, it was announced some time ago that Anthony Michael Hall was given a roll in the film. However, now the whispers going around are that Hall will play a character named “Edward Nygma”. Most of you will recognize that name as being “The Riddler” The good folks over at Moviehole give us the following:
They could be right, I really don’t know, but it seems a little silly adding another villain to the mix? After all, we’re going to have not only The Joker in the new film but also Two-Face (kinda). The last thing Chris Nolan wants it to have, er, a “Spider-Man 3” on his hands.
Then again… according to the site Hall’s character will only be known as Mr. Edward Nygma in the film – and we won’t necessarily see him as ‘The Riddler’… so its possible.
I could see them doing this. It’s sort of like having Dr. Connors in the Spider-Man franchise… just because he’s there doesn’t mean he’s going to become the super villain we all know he eventually becomes.
The only thing I DON’T like about that idea… is that it feels too much like the Star Wars Prequels. Why must EVERYTHING and EVERYONE tie into the bigger story? Can’t Hall just be a guy? It feels like Anakin being the one who built C3PO… everything must tie in. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a major PROBLEM with Hall being Nygma (if this rumor is true that is), I just don’t feel like it’s necessary since they’re already doing that same thing with Eckhart playing Harvey Dent.
What do you think? If this rumor is true… do you think it’s a good or bad idea?
I wonder what villains they are gonna use for this series.
Just use the bunch we’ve seen already or think of new ones?
Two-Face seems to be pretty locked in right now.
Somehow the Riddler, The Penguin or Poison Ivy don’t seem to fit into the new “realistic” Batman world.
But who else is there? Scarecrow is already done (although he probably is in Dark Knight, they shot scenes with Cillian Murphy) and Killer Croc doesn’t seem to be a favourite either.
I don’t read the Comic series (or haven’t for a long time) so are there any interesting new villains for Batman, except the ones Burton and Schuhmacher already used?
I think Hall is a great choice for the Riddler! My only concern like you John, will be the cramming in of all these villains! But if they end up being just character pieces for future use that is OK. Please let’s concentrate on The Joker please! Enough of these bombastic multi-villain movies! Man can’t the guys in Hollywood make a movie with one villain! Please!!
Also John, I’m not sure I understand the Star Wars comparison with this Batman flick. In the comics the entire universe has always had some strange ties and Nygama relationship with Batman is unknown. could you clarify your statement a little more?
Well, like the Lizard in the Spider-man movies, I hope this character is simply introduced to give back story, without becoming the villain he is doomed to become. I personally feel like it should be a very small supporting role, maybe just they show his face once and mention his name, maybe even less than that. I’ve never seen Hall in a film, but I’ve heard he’s a solid actor, and I certainly like the new Batman series is going for more unknown non-household name actors, instead of getting Jim Carrey and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
I’m not really a big fan of the Riddler, so if he just stays “Edward Nygma,” that’d be fine with me and perhaps a clever way to incorporate the character into this mythology that Nolan and crew are creating.
To the question of “Why must EVERYTHING and EVERYONE tie into the bigger story?” I think that’s the “new thing” in these movies and something that fans really get off on. Even when someone IS “just a guy,” we try to give them greater significance by attaching some of kind of nostalgic or insider value to them. We love it when the filmmakers give a nod to the comic book origins and acknowledge that there could be more than the story we’re seeing. Actually, I think that’s something “Superman Returns” lacked, though that movie was far more reverential to the previous movies than the comic books.
It seems like you do run the risk of “wasting” a character, however. Is there going to be room in ‘The Dark Knight’ or the next Bat-flick for Nygma to play a significant role? Or WILL he be “just a guy” who has a recognizable name? I’d actually have more of a problem with that, of giving a character more supposed significance than he or she deserves.
The next Batman movie has to be about The Joker and nothing else. Any other villains thrown into the mix will just dilute and confuse the main story, which is The Joker.
Take the time to do Joker right. Show his origin and really develop the character, make him evil and cool. Like I said in an earlier post
(http://www.themovieblog.com/archives/2007/04/the_hulk_isnt_going_to_be_green.html)
a superhero movie is only as good as the villain the hero fights. If the villain is lame the movie will fall flat.
This is especially true for sequels, where the hero’s origin is established and he is comfortable with his role as a super hero. The sequel villain should be so powerful that the hero doubts his ability and loses confidence in himself.
I love the idea Anthony Michael Hall as the Riddler though. That’s casting outside of the box and I dig it.
Am I going nuts, or was there an article (just prior to this story) about The Dark Knight Spoilers. I now see that it’s now gone. I guess the lawyers at Warner Bros. are quicker than Paramount.
BTW I like to see Anthony Michael Hall as Ed Nygma..as long as he doesn’t become the Riddler. Leave that well down the road. And when the hell are we going to see The Lizard in Spiderman?
Also, according to Comicbookmovie.com, there’s another villain called “Gamble” being played by Michael Jai White. Why so many villains?
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/news/articles/3719.asp
“Thomas and Roven also cleared up fan confusion over who, exactly, the baddie is, explaining that Gamble is one of several mob bosses attempting to take over Gotham’s streets now that Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson in the first ‘Batman’ flick) is out of the picture. As “Dark Knight” opens, Batman and Jim Gordon must decide whether to focus their energy on aspiring thugs like Gamble, or the homicidal Joker (Heath Ledger), a costumed anarchist bank robber.”
So maybe the Riddler and Two-face are also minor thugs in the sequel.
Based on his Hall’s face, and that TDK will be based on the Long Halloween and Dent’s downfall, and his character that’s been described as morally ambiguous…
perhaps Vernon Field~?
Not sure about his body structure, but chuck large round glasses on that picture and he looks picture perfect as him~
*cough* *cough* Matches Malone *cough* *cough*
I’m not sure why everyone is so jazzed about this fan-made rumor. The Riddler does not fit the storyline Nolan & co. apparently wish to tell. My bet is STILL Al Falcone/Holiday Killer (as there is a Gotham City turf war), but Lizardfreak’s suggestion is also possible.
Neither one makes it so. But people, come on. It is not Riddler. There’s no room for Riddler. Name only? We have Dent already.
Michael Jai White has a small role. But hey, we sorta get Spawn vs Batman, so that’s sort of neat.
There are also rumors that Phillip Seymour Hoffman will play The Penguin…
Hey Jordon,
The Hoffman rumors were shot down a long time ago.
Humm i don’t know if i like this i relly don’t think we need the The Riddler though Jim carrie pulled him of well in batman forever i don’t think we need him here. I think they just foces on the joker he will be a bin enough for the dark knight. Batman begins bow me away i never thouhg i woud see a batman movie like it was ammaing in may ways and thing they have a prety good thing going for them for the dark knight ubt i relly don’t thing we need Edward Nygma.
Agreed, Carrey was the Riddler, just too bad he was in the wrong string of Batman movies. Hall is great and takes his shit seriously (”Johnny Be Good” not included [and hell, maybe he played that cheesy shit good also, I don't remember]), yet I have to copy everyone else and say “n.o.” to another villain. Someone here mentioned Michael Jai White…I like that background role better. You see the next movie and your like oh yea, “that guy”. But still, if this were the case, I can see Hall playing a more suttle riddler, but almost as good as Carrey. I could be wrong though, cause I usually am.
I think by tossing in so many villains, it feels like Nolan has no idea what to do. I hated Batman Begins because of Nolan’s sloppy film making and Goyer’s hellishly awful script…and the bad acting by all actors involved didn’t help either. I sense this sequel is quickly spinning out of control. Plus with Transformers such a hit, I bet the studio will put pressure to make this Batman movie a big commercial…imagine the Batmobile turning into a product-placed Chevy to go undercover.
I like it and understand why they may have done it, if it’s true. Spreading out the character development/introductions between two movies will (hopefully) add time towards plot progression and action.
Too much time is needed to develop characters backgrounds and their reasoning for doing what they are doing…spreading out between two movies will bring the story along quicker and perhaps better…we’ll see. Look how they are slowly developing the ‘Commisioner Gordon’ character – spread out – giving the actual story to proceed.
Well done in the first one and now I can see a third movie could very well be possible after ‘Dark Knight’ is all said and done!
- Jeff
Um, Carl are you retarded?
Carl’s not the only one who I’ve heard badmouth Batman Begins.
I had a friend who’s a student filmmaker and a devout film-fan and he shredded that movie every chance he got, basically saying the same thing that Carl said about the bad script.
The problem with “Multi-villian” flix is the fact that directors like to cram them all in one film and wrap up the story in one film. If there goin to throw 3 or 4 baddies in a film, they need to make it longer or simply give it a continuing.
I think one of the shocking thing I ever saw in a movie was the “To be continued” sign in the Matrix Reloaded. That kind of stuff really brings hype to the next film, plus you don’t have to cram it all in one. If done right, all the characters can have the right sreen time.
I can actually see Nygma being a minor character that get a character development opening in the ending part of the film.
And the Riddler can work in the Nolan world. Deadly psychotics is the key thing when making good villians.
I have to agree with Carl and Jarek’s friend. I wouldn’t say I hate Batman Begins, but it is tied with Batman & Robin as my least favorite Batfilm. Even the 1966 Adam West film rates higher with me. And Dark Knight, this far in its development, doesn’t look too good to me either. And shouldn’t “Just Wondering’s” post be deleted since he attacked another commentator?
I beg to differ on the comment stating Penguin is not a good villan anymore for movies because he does not fit into the realism of modern days…. if the Penguin character was done correctly (and not the danny devito way) and followed the storylines for the last 70 years of Penguin, it would be perfectly real, because The Penguin is supposed to be a normal human being, whom happens to be a criminal. He is one of the rare few that goes to a State Prison when he does time, and not an Asylum
well, i think the riddler should be depp and secondly the villains will hopefully be the riddler, scarecrow, joker (maybe), two-face (of course), catwoman, and possibly a few others can be thrown in the mix … grundy, mad hatter, and possibly (but not looking good in bale’s opinion) robin … if the next sequel follows along the plans … which if i am not mistaking is a combination of batman: year one, the long halloween, and the man who falls all of those characters made an appearence in at least one of those story lines …
the only one throwing a curve ball in the “dark knight sequel” is solomon grundy … very unhuman etc … not so much the villain you want to see the dark knight take on lol but the riddler, penguin, catwoman, and the rest would be very original and fit in perfect!!!