The next sequel to 1989’s Batman will introduce The Riddler to the Burton Batman universe – but it will be the third time this has happened. The Riddler was initially a rather minor villain in the overall Batman mythos, but once Frank Gorshin depicted him in the classic 1966 Batman TV series pilot, Riddler almost immediately became an A-list Batman foe. Most iterations and adaptations of Batman include The Riddler in some form, yet 1989’s Batman and its sequel, Batman Returns, are among the few to be connected to multiple versions of the Riddler.

2024’s Batman: Resurrection, by John Jackson Miller, is set between the events of 1989’s Batman and Batman Returns, showing the aftermath of the classic Batman film and having characters from both movies interact for the first time. Resurrection’s main villains are Clayface and Hugo Strange, but the book also sets up The Riddler as a future adversary for Batman. The upcoming 2025 DC release Batman: Revolution will pit Michael Keaton’s Batman against The Riddler, also known as Norman Pinkus.

Burton Batman’s 3 Versions Of The Riddler Explained

1989’s Batman and Batman Returns have several branching timelines. The first is shown in Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever and Batman & Robin while another includes the Batman ’89 comics by Sam Hamm and Joe Quinones. One Burton Batman universe is merged with the DC Extended Universe in 2023’s The Flash, replacing Ben Affleck’s Batman with Michael Keaton’s iteration. Two of the Burton universes include iterations of The Riddler, with one possibly including two versions of the villain.

In the first branching timeline, The Riddler (Edward Nygma) is played by Jim Carrey and serves as one of the two main villains in Batman Forever. The Batman ’89: Echoes comics introduce another Riddler to their respective branching timeline, though his real name is Edward Nigel Maynard, who uses the alias “E.Nig.Ma.” Norman Pinkus will use the Riddler moniker in Revolution, which is part of the same continuity as the Batman ’89 comics. This could mean that Revolution’s universe includes two versions of The Riddler, or that Norman Pinkus and Edward Nigel Maynard are the same person.

The Riddler’s History In The Original Batman Films

Introducing The Riddler to the Batman movie franchise was one of the earliest decisions made for the film that would become Batman Forever. While Jim Carrey would, ultimately, play the role, Robin Williams – previously a contender to play The Joker in 1989’s Batman – was offered the role at one point, though Williams declined the offer. According to an insider’s comments to Entertainment Weekly, Robin Williams was allegedly unsatisfied with the film’s portrayal of the character, wanting to play a more intellectual villain than a comedic one.

Upcoming DC Movie Releases

• 
  
  

  
  

  Superman

  Release Date

  
  July 11, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

  Release Date

  
  June 26, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  The Batman Part II

  Release Date

  
  October 1, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse