With the two films' sharing such a high profile Batman villain in the Riddler, Matt Reeves and Paul Dano will surely have taken steps to downplay any potential similarities. With Joel Schumacher's Batman movies being so widely disliked, distancing The Batman's characters from those of Batman Forever will surely have been a consideration. While Batman Forever's and The Batman's Riddler might seem as though they couldn't be more different, Carrey's Riddler will undoubtedly influence Dano's. Even with that in mind, it will be hard for Dano's Riddler to compete with Carrey's without changing the character almost beyond recognition. Dano's character being far more serious is an interesting spin on the character, as his Riddler is already far too scary to be dismissed in the same manner as his comic book counterpart. While the Riddler in the comics has always been a dangerous criminal, he's often played off as something of a joke. The Riddler's backstory in The Batman will be far more serious than in Batman Forever, with Dano's character based on the real-life Zodiac Killer, who famously taunted the press with coded messages.

So far, it seems that Dano's Riddler will be about as far from Carrey's version of the character as possible. Paul Dano's Riddler is a new spin on the Batman mainstay, complete with a creepy new costume and unnerving speech pattern. With Matt Reeves' The Batman being a darker take on the source material, it's only natural that its version of the Riddler feels very different from Carrey's. While some believe Carrey's Riddler attempted to channel the Joker, his comedic chops actually fed into a nuanced iteration of the character. The Riddler has always been a character that's driven by his need to have his self-perceived genius recognized, so having Carrey's comedy serve as an extension of his desire to be seen works on a deeper level. The Riddler is certainly one of Batman's most eccentric villains, which not only fit right in with the tone of Schumacher's Batman movies, but also with Carrey's flamboyant, attention-grabbing antics. Related: The Batman’s Catwoman Could Explain Riddler’s Plans: Theory Explained By working in a balance between the actor's bankable comedy and the character's comic accuracy, Carrey's Riddler struck the appropriate chord. While at times this made Carrey's Riddler feel a little closer to the Joker than he should have been, his specific talents were actually put to good use in his turn as the character.

Carrey's specific brand of energetic, rubber-faced comedy is what made him a star, and it's only natural that he'd bring elements of it to the character of the Riddler.

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