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Summary
Batman ’s history on the large covert would be very unlike had one casting forBatman Foreverbeen different , and it would have bear on Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knightas well . As one of the most popular and successful comic book characters in history , Batman has been adapt to other media for decennary . The Caped Crusader made his large - screen debut in two serial films in the 1940s , followed by an adaptation of the 1960sBatmanTV series asterisk Adam West and Burt Ward . However , Batman ’s first big screen arrive at get in 1989 with Tim Burton’sBatman , with Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne and Jack Nicholson as the Joker .
Since then , Batman has gone through many ups and downs in his dissimilar pic adaptations , as some were n’t the success the studio was hop for . Of naturally , a key element in every Batman movie has been its villain , and there have been some truly memorable performances of Batman villain so far , both good and not - so - good . Heath Ledger ’s Joker is remembered for its greatness , whileArnold Schwarzenegger ’s Mr. Freezeis famous for its silliness and overall idiotic operation . However , these and other villains would have had a very unlike fate had one Batman villain casting happened in the 1990s : Robin Williams as the Riddler .
Robin Williams' Riddler Would Have Made Batman Forever Very Different
Robin Williams almost joined Batman ’s universe on two different occasions . When Burton’sBatmanwas in production , the studio reportedly wanted a well - known thespian to trifle the Joker , and Robin Williams lobby hard for the role . Williams was approached to toy the Joker after the studio ’s first pickax , Jack Nicholson , pass on on the purpose , but when Nicholson learned of the studio apartment ’s fling to Williams , Nicholson check to act the Joker . Of course , this leave Williams frustrated , but he puzzle another fortune afterBatman Returns .
AsBatman Returnswas a quite a little darker thanBatman , andafter it did n’t perform as well as the studio anticipate at the box office , Warner Bros. was no longer concerned in Tim Burton directing another Batman movie . Joel Schumacher rent over as director for the movie that would becomeBatman Forever , and with him also came a Batman recast , with Val Kilmer supplant Michael Keaton . Batman Foreverwas also look for the actors who would play its two villain , Two - Face and The Riddler , andRobin Williams was in talk to diddle the Riddler , reportedly competing for the role with John Malkovich .
In the conclusion , Williams turned down the use , and though an exact cause was n’t revealed , an insider at the sentence said Williams thought the Riddler was “ too intellectual ” and “ not as comedic as the Riddler played by Frank Gorshin on the telecasting series ” ( viaEW ) . allot to that same source , Williams also worried his Riddler would be overshadowed by Two - Face , especially after Tommy Lee Jones was cast . In the end , the Riddler was played by Jim Carrey , who delivered an over - the - top version of the character , true to Carrey ’s physical drollery mode . Opinions on Carrey ’s execution are divisive , with some finding him to be the one bringing charisma toBatman Foreverwhile others conceive he was primal in the motion picture ’s unsuccessful person .
Robin Williams ’ Riddler would have been completely different from Carrey ’s , as Williams managed to land a touch of drama to his comedic functioning that made him unequalled . In add-on to that , Williams was well - known for his improvisational clowning acquisition , which would have added a touching of capriciousness to his Riddler . sure , there were other thing inBatman Foreverthat contributed to it not being a hit with critics , and Carrey ’s the Riddler ca n’t take all the incrimination , but if Williams ’ Riddler would have deal to change the critic ’ consider onBatman Foreverand the audience ’s as well ( Batman Foreverwas a box office strike , and could have been higher with Williams as the Riddler ) , the quietus ofBatman ’s film historycould have been entirely dissimilar
How Robin Williams' Riddler Would Have Impacted The Dark Knight
IfBatman Foreverhad been received well and with Robin Williams as the Riddler , it ’s not outside the realm of possibility that he could have reprised his part inBatman & Robin , reckon that this story still happened . Williams ’ carrying out could have read Schumacher ’s Batman movies in a dissimilar focusing , one less campy and mussy than whatBatman & Robinended up being . Supposing Schumacher ’s Batman creation expand beyond two movies , ChristopherNolan’sDark Knighttrilogymight have not happened , or it would have happened later than it did .
Williams ’ performance could have also impacted the villains in Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy , because if the audience react positively to his Riddler ( as they did to Nicholson ’s Joker ) , it would have meant more interest in seeing more of the character reference and other versions of it . With that in mind , Heath Ledger ’s Joker could have never materialise , or if he had , it ’s possible there would have been a slightly different approach to him . It ’s worth noting that , whenThe Dark Knightwas in development , rumors emerged of Robin Williams in the end getting a chance to wreak the Joker , and though he said he would be up for it , he was never really an option for the role .
Robin Williams' Riddler Would Have Changed The Batman’s Villain
The encroachment of Robin Williams ’ Riddler inBatman Foreverwould have obviously reach Matt Reeves’The Batman . Supposing the movie still happened in a creation where Robin Williams bet the Riddler in the 1990s , Paul Dano ’s Riddler in spades would n’t have been the same . Williams ’ Riddler would have had the same effect on the eccentric that Ledger ’s Joker had on the Joker : it was so effective that getting at the level of it has been a true challenge . Jared Leto ’s Joker go as a dissimilar take on the part , though Joaquin Phoenix ’s interlingual rendition is a lot darker and it was a success with critics and viewer .
Matching the caliber of Williams ’ Riddler and successfully convey a new adaptation of the character to lifetime would have been a major challenge , so Dano ’s approach would have been different . It ’s hard to say if Dano ’s Riddler would have had hints of comedy or would have amped up the darkness even more than it did , which would have also impacted the overall quality ofThe Batman .
Why It’s A Shame Robin Williams Never Played The Riddler
While Robin Williams playing the Riddler inBatman Foreverwould have changed the rest of Batman ’s film story , in many cases for the in effect , the big departure is the performance itself . Williams never appeared in a superhero motion picture , but it would have been interesting to see his take on any comic book character , whether hoagie , ally , or villain . As mentioned above , Williams ’ comedy style was improvisation and a touch of dramatic play , which would have added depth to the Riddler , something that Jim Carrey was n’t able to bring to the character . Robin Williams ’ Riddler is a variation that will only live in the imagery of fans , but it ’s undeniable that it would have been a alone take on thisBatmanvillain .
Source : EW
