The Batman: Paul Dano Instantly Regretted His Riddler Costume Idea
Paul Dano has suggested that his idea for his performance as The Riddler in Matt Reeves’ The Batman was “a slightly regrettable choice.” Dano, who was cast as the primary antagonist in the latest big-screen reimagining of the Batman franchise, plays a decidedly darker take on the infamous villain once played by the likes of comedian Jim Carrey in 1995’s Batman Forever. Gone are the vibrant green suits and over the top antics of Carrey’s tenure, and in his place is a cunning and meticulous murderer heavily based on the real-life Zodiac Killer.
Even Dano’s Riddler costume, previously shown in trailers, was directly influenced by the infamous serial killer known for his cryptic cyphers when he was active during the late 1960s and early 1970s. While the Zodiac Killer was never caught or identified, one of his intended victims survived an attack on the shore of Lake Berryessa and was able to describe a man in a hood with glasses, and the Zodiac’s distinctive cross-circle symbol on his chest. Dano’s own hooded Ridder costume mimics drawings of the Zodiac Killer produced from this description, right down to the stylized Riddler question mark painted on his own chest.
Related: The Batman's Version Of Riddler Is Gotham City’s Zodiac Killer
Seemingly intent on taking his performance to the next level, Dano also went so far as to wrap his entire body in plastic wrap beneath the costume. In a recent interview with Good Morning America (via The Art of the Batman), the actor explained that this was a character-driven attempt to prevent any potential DNA evidence inadvertently being left behind at crime scenes. Dano also expressed the regret that later followed this decision, saying it caused a «throbbing» head, along with other
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