The Riddler Will Be The Third Main Villain Of The Batman

Now that Robert Pattinson looks set to become the next Caped Crusader, more info on Matt Reeves’ The Batman is coming our way. This Friday, it was widely reported that the movie will feature six of the Dark Knight’s biggest villains, with Penguin and Catwoman taking the roles of primary and secondary antagonists. But who will the rest of the line-up consist of?

Well, We Got This Covered has been informed by a source that number three on Batman’s hit list in the film will be the Riddler. This isn’t the first time Edward Nygma has been linked to the project, of course, as a previous report from back in February suggested the Prince of Puzzles could be the secondary foe behind Penguin. Even though we’ve now learned that Selina Kyle will take that slot, it follows that he’s still a key part of the proceedings.

Plus, Reeves himself might have told us the three most important super-criminals involved in his movie last fall when he tweeted a photo from a Batman ’66 exhibition that featured the costumes for Penguin, Catwoman and Riddler. It also makes a certain logical sense, as with the Joker out of the equation – the Dark Knight’s nemesis has never been linked with The Batman – these three are arguably the most iconic threats left to Gotham City.

Of course, it’s been a long while since Nygma first tested the Bat’s wits on the big screen, so Reeves might feel it’s time to bring him back into the spotlight. Christopher Nolan’s trilogy sidestepped the villain and as such, Jim Carrey’s turn in 1995’s Batman Forever is the last cinematic portrayal of the character we got. On the small screen, though, Cory Michael Smith’s performance on Gotham has been well-received by fans, so WB may feel it’d be wise to include him in the film.

The Batman is due to start shooting, in Reeves’ own words, “sometime around the year’s end,” before it swoops into cinemas on a grappling hook on June 25th, 2021. Until then, tell us, who do you have in mind to play the Riddler? As always, drop your thoughts in the comments section down below.