Warning! SPOILERS for The Batman ahead.
Paul Dano plays The Riddler in Matt Reeves' The Batman, and this version of the character is known by his original name: Edward Nashton. Here's The Batman Riddler name change explained. The Batman introduces audiences to Reeves' noirish take on the Dark Knight with several reimagined villains appearing including Colin Farrell, who is completely unrecognizable as the Penguin, and the legendary John Turturro as mob boss Carmine Falcone. Reeves' Riddler is reimagined too, being named Edward Nashton rather than Edward Nygma, as is more common in Batman adaptations.
The Batman was officially released in theaters on March 4, 2022, with a stellar cast, bringing Matt Reeves' steely rendition of the hero to life. The Penguin and Falcone appear alongside Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman and Paul Dano's The Riddler. Dano, a soft-voiced character actor who has worked steadily since he burst onto the scene in There Will Be Blood, has a decidedly different portrayal of the character than Jim Carrey's cartoonish enigmatic villain in 1995's Batman Forever. While Reeves' The Batman does take some elements from both Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan's versions of the story, the director sets The Batman apart from its predecessors by adding psychological themes and a crime-drama feel to the story.
The Batman Riddler name change means that Reeves has opted to use The Riddler's birth name of Edward Nashton in place of his more recognizable alter-ego, Edward Nygma (or Nigma). In the comic books, his real name was revealed to be Edward Nygma, or E. Nygma — a pun on the word "enigma." But later DC continuity, following the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" event, established his birth name as Edward Nashton. This version of the character would change The Riddler's surname to Nigma in order to fit his supervillain persona, but it seems Reeves has embraced the more grounded "Nashton" for Paul Dano's Riddler in The Batman.
Why The Riddler Is Edward Nashton In The Batman
The director has not revealed the reasons for The Batman Riddler name change, but there are several potential explanations, given Paul Dano's Riddler and the tone of The Batman itself. Many fans initially believed that it was because Edward Nashton was finally getting his own origin story on the silver screen, depicting events from the comic book run in which he first appears. The Batman's Riddler does provide clues here and there about his life before he assumed his identity as the supervillain — and why he targeted Bruce Wayne as one of his victims; however, Reeves didn't replicate the comic story arc in his more grounded film. Paul Dano's Riddler uses ciphers and codes, similar to the Zodiac Killer, and is presented as an outright psychopath.
The Batman's Riddler was orphaned, like Bruce Wayne, and his hatred for Bruce (and Gotham's corrupt politics in general) came after the Waynes were murdered and their Renewal funds were embezzled by the mob. The Riddler describes growing up as an orphan while mocking Bruce Wayne for being rich, and hardly considered a true orphan. Since the Renewal funds never made it to the orphanage, Paul Dano's Riddler found solace in puzzles and ciphers and sought revenge on Gotham's corrupt politics. Given the strength of The Batman's reviews, Reeves may have used the more realistic "Nashton" name in an attempt to keep his humanistic take on the Dark Knight as grounded as possible. In other words, there's no room for lighthearted puns in a dark noir detective tale. What's more, using The Riddler's comparatively dull civilian name allows Reeves to differentiate his version of the character from previous iterations – most obviously Jim Carrey's playful prankster in Batman Forever.
Whatever the case may be, people will no doubt enjoy Paul Dano's Riddler, as well as his dark and psychopathic take on the character. Christopher Nolan was long-rumored to be considering introducing his own version of The Riddler in his acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy, but the villain never appeared — aside from one particular fan theory about The Dark Knight. That gave Reeves a real opportunity to not only present a fresh take on a legendary character but also win over Batman fans who've awaited the definitive on-screen Riddler for decades. And with The Batman Riddler name change providing a more down-to-earth reimagining of the character, Reeves was able to deliver just that.
E. Nygma Would’ve Cheapened The Batman Villain's Motivations
In one iteration of the comics, The Riddler actually changed his name from Edward Nashton to Edward Nygma — something that may have worked in that setting, but wouldn't have scanned in The Batman given the character and story that unfolds. Matt Reeves took The Batman's characters in an entirely different direction than other iterations of the rogues and heroes gallery. Reeves' interpretation of The Riddler was much more akin to an amalgamation of the Zodiac Killer and the Unabomber than a man obsessed with children's riddles and games. The riddles were used to draw Batman out in a methodical, personal way, and the personal nature of Nashton's grudge needed to come from a villain with a non-humorous name to make his motive land.
This is why keeping The Riddler's original name was better for The Batman. Changing Edward Nashton to E. Nygma would've cheapened the character established in the movie. It would've brought the prolific villain closer to his silly comic book roots but also taken the creepiness out of The Riddler's sinister nature. To maintain its artistic integrity, The Batman had to separate itself from Jim Carrey's version of the character to usher in a fresh and terrifyingly topical take on a pretty silly character. Bear in mind, as well, that The Riddler ultimately wins despite ending up in Arkham Asylum. To best Batman and flood Gotham regardless, The Riddler needs to inspire fear – which needs Edward Nashton, not E. Nygma.
