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The Batman features a villain that looks to add something different to the universe of the re-imagined Caped Crusader. Paul Dano was cast to play the Riddler in October 2019 and has played a significant role in the character's unsettling costume design. Dano went through many avenues to bring the iconic villain to life, even wrapping his head in Saran wrap, which wasn't exactly the healthiest idea.
Dano began strategically drafting the design for his character in The Batman last year, thinking of ways to bring the villain's characteristics to the forefront in his attire. The psychological aspects of The Riddler played a part in Dano's imagined design, along with the character's physically exact nature, especially when it came to murders carried out by the villain.
"The thoroughness of this person, the almost maniacal detail that he puts into plotting — I was like, 'OK, well, should I just shave all my body hair? So there's no evidence?'" stated Dano while speaking with The Hollywood Reporter. However, the idea failed to surface and made way for a new train of thought, which involved wrapping his head in Saran wrap. Director Matt Reeves loved Dano's commitment to the Riddler and the unique idea that added even more horror to the character's persona, but he quickly noticed the unhealthy nature of the costume choice on the first day of shooting. When Dano removed the U.S. Army winter combat mask, which he helped select with costume designer Jacqueline Durran, Reeves noticed the extreme redness present on Dano's face. "The heat can't escape. I was like, 'OK, all right, Paul, let's rethink this. You don't have to do this.' He goes, 'No, man, I told you that I wanted to do it. I'll do it,'" disclosed Reeves, and the rest is history. Dano committed to the design, and the plastic stayed.
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Dano eventually received help from a mask expert to figure out ways to make the material breathable while filming. Along with the mask and the influential power it brought to Dano and the villain, he focused on other minuscule details concerning the Riddler, including the character's glasses. It surfaced that Dano went through over a hundred pairs before attaching himself with the clear plastic frames donned by the character. "I'm not the guy who's like, 'If you don't see my feet in the shot, I'm going to put on more comfy shoes,'" stated Dano. "That's just not how it works." The dedication also seeped into the character's conduct, which Dano reworked consistently before striking the right cord.
The Batman is the first time Dano has been a part of a big-budget project, which is projected to generate over $100 million by the end of its opening weekend. The Batman will also be the first comic book movie added to Dano's resume, which will more than likely make him a household name for those unfamiliar with his previous work. Dano has immersed himself in many incredibly thought-provoking roles and has been a part of the three best picture nominees, including Little Miss Sunshine, There Will Be Blood, and 12 Years a Slave. The talent is undoubtedly there, and it will be an experience to witness how Dano embodies the psychological and physical essence of the sadistic Riddler.
Alongside Dano, The Batman stars Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Colin Farrell, Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis, and others. The Warner Bros. project opens this weekend with eager audience anticipation, looking to explore Reeves's newest take on the masked vigilante. The Batman has already received outstanding reviews, currently Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an 86% rating from critics and a 96% rating from audiences. Where the film will stand by the end of the weekend is unclear, but it's evident that Dano and others put a lot of effort into creating an experience worth remembering.
The Batman officially hits theaters March 4, 2022.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter