News comments by one of The Batman‘s writers tease that the Riddler might face a major comic book change that was not received well when another DC adaptation tried it. Paul Dano’s Riddler was the main villain of The Batman. Different from other superhero films that kill off major villains in their debut, a problem that plagues the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Dano’s Riddler was very much alive during The Batman‘s ending. The film teased how the character could return in future DC movies.

When he was last seen, Dano’s Riddler had just gotten to know Barry Keoghan’s Joker. Since director Matt Reeves has yet to turn in the script for the sequel, The Batman – Part II‘s story is unknown at the moment. That makes it hard to decipher what role the Riddler will play in it. However, a new update about the character’s origin in The Batman universe reveals how the franchise could bring him back with a shocking twist that would likely prove itself controversial.

Paul Dano’s Riddler Might Be The Son Of Edward Elliot

The Batman Played With Riddler’s Origin

The Batman cast a light on Thomas Wayne’s past dealings with Carmine Falcone. The film revealed that reporter Edward Elliot had discovered that Martha Wayne was in and out of insтιтutions throughout her life, planning to expose that and all the dark secrets the Arkhams and the Waynes kept. With Thomas running for mayor, he tried to offer Elliot money to keep quiet, and after he refused, Wayne turned to Falcone to scare him. However, the mob boss had Elliot killed. That might have been directly linked to the Riddler’s origin story.

Edward Nashton was revealed to have spent his childhood in an orphanage. That, alongside Elliot’s story, led to theories that he was his son. That has been addressed by The Batman co-writer Peter Craig during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. When asked whether the Riddler was Edward Elliot’s son as the movie had implied, Craig said, “The way that you’re reading it would make some people, including Matt Reeves, very happy.” The Batman co-writer also claimed he could not reveal more about the connection, saying, “Some of that is going to spoil what I know is continuing forward.”

The Batman Universe Can Repeat Batman: Hush’s Controversial Riddler Move

The Animated Movie Was Not The Most Popular With Fans

Based on Craig’s comments, Dano’s Riddler could very well be revealed as Edward Elliot’s son in one of The Batman‘s sequels. That would repeat a move pulled by the controversial Batman: Hush. In the animated movie, the тιтular Batman villain was revealed not as Thomas Elliot, but as Edward Nygma, aka the Riddler. Since Hush is one of the most beloved villains in the comics, the change proved itself controversial. The Batman universe could be repeating it, though going a step further, making it so the Riddler was Elliot’s son instead of someone who just took over the Hush name.

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