Jim Carrey weighed on Paul Dano‘s Riddler from The Batman back in 2022 (via UNILAD), a stark contrast from Carrey’s own take on the character in Batman Forever, which leaned toward the character’s eccentric traits and goofiness. While he holds no grudges against Dano, whom he deemed a terrific actor, and even commended the movie for what it is, Matt Reeves‘ take on the character is simply not his cup of tea.
I’ve not seen [Dano’s version of the Riddler]. It’s a very dark version. I have mixed emotions about it. To each his own and all that. I love [Paul Dano] as an actor, he’s a tremendous actor.
Carrey’s viewpoint has nothing to do with the movie or its quality itself, but its real-world influence, especially in the current climate.
Jim Carrey Voiced Concern Over the Riddler’s Real-World Influence
The Batman stripped the Riddler of his silliness, including his name, and grounded him in reality, which made him a more serious threat. As for Carrey, he feared this twisted version might incite other weirdos to follow in the character’s footsteps, given how rooted in reality Dano’s Riddler was.
Carrey’s concerns are not far off from reality, as the concept of troublesome figures radicalizing their audience through social media platforms, as seen in the movie, isn’t that dystopian in the current climate.
I do worry. There’s a spot of worry in me over gaffer-taping people’s faces and encouraging people to do the same. Some sickos out there that might adopt that method. I do have a conscience about the things I choose. I know there’s a place for it, and I don’t want to criticize it, but it’s not my kind of thing. It’s very well done, those movies are very well done.
On the flip side, this doesn’t take away from Dano’s Riddler in any way. Instead, it highlights why Batman villains generally work better when grounded in reality.
Jim Carrey’s Take Shows Batman Villains Shine When Grounded
Carrey’s concerns regarding Riddler’s potential real-world influence aren’t exclusive to Dano’s iteration of the character, as certain individuals tend to take the wrong lessons home, irrespective of how the movie presents them (Take Fight Club, for example).
Now, the approach to ground Batman’s foes in real life, whether it’s Joker, Penguin, and Riddler, gives a weight that can’t be replicated when dealing with more comic book villains. This isn’t to say the fantastical foes for the character won’t work onscreen, but some of the best Batman stories revolve around characters that feel like they could exist in the real world.
It also allows filmmakers to touch on relevant topics, whether it’s The Dark Knight‘s commentary on vigilantism, terrorism, and mass surveillance, or the consequences of extremist ideologies explored through the lens of Riddler in The Batman. There’s always more to these characters than just being punching bags for Batman to pull off Arkham combos.
With The Batman 2‘s production set to kick off next year, it’ll be interesting to see how Reeves adapts the next member of Batman’s rogues gallery. As for fans who want to see the fantastical side of the Batman mythos, DCU’s The Brave and the Bold could scratch that itch.
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The Batman is currently streaming on HBO Max (USA).
