Paul Dano joins the cast of The Batman as clever supervillain The Riddler

The Batman has another new villain.

Paul Dano is now set to play The Riddler, according to Variety. News has yet to be confirmed by the studio, however.

The 35-year-old actor is set to play opposite leading man Robert Pattinson, who has been cast as the caped crusader.

Riddle me this: Paul Dano will be playing the villainous Riddler in The Batman. Seen above at September's Emmys

Riddle me this: Paul Dano will be playing the villainous Riddler in The Batman. Seen above at September's Emmys

The Riddler has quite a storied history, first appearing in DC comics in 1948

The Riddler has quite a storied history, first appearing in DC comics in 1948

It was previously reported that actor/director Jonah Hill turned down the role of The Riddler after extensive negotiations.  

Insiders think an offer for Dano was already ready to go once Hill finally rejected WB's offer.

In the movie he will play Edward Nashton, the man The Riddler was before his turn to crime.

News of Dano's casting comes after it was confirmed that Zoe Kravitz will be playing Catwoman in the Matt Reeves-directed Warner Bros. production. Jeffrey Wright signed on as Gotham Police Commissioner Gordon late last month.

A-list cast: Dano will act alongside leading man Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz in the role of Catwoman
The cat's meow: News of Dano's casting comes after it was confirmed that Zoe Kravitz will be playing Catwoman

A-list cast: Dano will act alongside leading man Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz in the role of Catwoman

Mind games: The Riddler is perhaps most famously depicted by Jim Carrey in Joel Schumacher's 1995 outing Batman Forever

Mind games: The Riddler is perhaps most famously depicted by Jim Carrey in Joel Schumacher's 1995 outing Batman Forever

Pre-production on the film is set to begin this next summer, with shooting to start sometime shortly after. The Batman is already scheduled for a June 25, 2021 release.

The Riddler first showed up in Gotham in Detective Comics #140  in 1948. 

The wily character appeared in the 1960s Batman TV show, played by Frank Gorshin in the first and third season while John Astin took the role in season two.

The Riddler is perhaps most famously depicted by Jim Carrey in Joel Schumacher's 1995 outing Batman Forever, though. 

Brain teaser: Frank Gorshin (above in 1967) played The Riddler on the 60s TV version of Batman for two seasons

Brain teaser: Frank Gorshin (above in 1967) played The Riddler on the 60s TV version of Batman for two seasons

Origin story: Actor Cory Michael Smith plays The Riddler as he evolves from forensic scientist Edward Nygma to a full blown criminal

Origin story: Actor Cory Michael Smith plays The Riddler as he evolves from forensic scientist Edward Nygma to a full blown criminal

The character also appears in the TV series Gotham, where Actor Cory Michael Smith plays The Riddler as he evolves from forensic scientist Edward Nygma to a full blown criminal.

Dano's casting comes after his recent Emmy nomination for Escape At Dannemora. 

Paul is currently hard at work on The Power Of The Dog, directed by In The Cut auteur Jane Campion. 

Most recently the actor directed the critically acclaimed film Wildllife with Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan. 

Working actor: Paul (above September 21) is currently hard at work on The Power Of The Dog, directed by In The Cut auteur Jane Campion

Working actor: Paul (above September 21) is currently hard at work on The Power Of The Dog, directed by In The Cut auteur Jane Campion

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