Batman’s history on the big screen would be very different had one casting for Batman Forever been different, and it would have impacted Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight as well. As one of the most popular and successful comic book characters in history, Batman has been adapted to other media for decades. The Caped Crusader made his big-screen debut in two serial films in the 1940s, followed by an adaptation of the 1960s Batman TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward. However, Batman’s first big screen hit arrived in 1989 with Tim Burton’s Batman, with Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne and Jack Nicholson as the Joker.
Since then, Batman has gone through many ups and downs in his different film adaptations, as some weren’t the success the studio was hoping for. Of course, a key element in every Batman movie has been its villains, and there have been some truly memorable performances of Batman villains so far, both good and not-so-good. Heath Ledger’s Joker is remembered for its greatness, while Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Freeze is notable for its silliness and overall ridiculous performance. However, these and other villains would have had a very different 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’s Batman was in production, the studio reportedly wanted a well-known actor to play the Joker, and Robin Williams lobbied hard for the role. Williams was approached to play the Joker after the studio’s first pick, Jack Nicholson, passed on the role, but when Nicholson learned of the studio’s offer to Williams, Nicholson agreed to play the Joker. Of course, this left Williams frustrated, but he got another chance after Batman Returns.
As Batman Returns was a lot darker than Batman, and after it didn’t perform as well as the studio expected at the box office, Warner Bros. was no longer interested in Tim Burton directing another Batman movie. Joel Schumacher took over as director for the movie that would become Batman Forever, and with him also came a Batman recast, with Val Kilmer replacing Michael Keaton. Batman Forever was also looking for the actors who would play its two villains, Two-Face and The Riddler, and Robin Williams was in talks to play the Riddler, reportedly competing for the role with John Malkovich.
In the end, Williams turned down the role, and though an exact reason wasn’t revealed, an insider at the time said Williams thought the Riddler was “too intellectual” and “not as comedic as the Riddler played by Frank Gorshin on the TV series” (via EW). According 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 comedy style. Opinions on Carrey’s performance are divisive, with some finding him to be the one bringing charisma to Batman Forever while others believe he was key in the movie’s failure.
Robin Williams’ Riddler would have been completely different from Carrey’s, as Williams managed to bring a touch of drama to his comedic performances that made him unique. In addition to that, Williams was well-known for his improvisational comedy skills, which would have added a touch of unpredictability to his Riddler. Surely, there were other things in Batman Forever that contributed to it not being a hit with critics, and Carrey’s the Riddler can’t take all the blame, but if Williams’ Riddler would have managed to change the critics’ view on Batman Forever and the audience’s as well (Batman Forever was a box office hit, and could have been higher with Williams as the Riddler), the rest of Batman’s film history could have been completely different
How Robin Williams’ Riddler Would Have Impacted The Dark Knight
If Batman Forever had been received better and with Robin Williams as the Riddler, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that he could have reprised his role in Batman & Robin, supposing that this story still happened. Williams’ performance could have taken Schumacher’s Batman movies in a different direction, one less campy and messy than what Batman & Robin ended up being. Supposing Schumacher’s Batman universe expanded beyond two movies, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy might have not happened, or it would have happened later than it did.
Williams’ performance could have also impacted the villains in Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, because if the audience reacted positively to his Riddler (as they did to Nicholson’s Joker), it would have meant more interest in seeing more of the character and other versions of it. With that in mind, Heath Ledger’s Joker could have never happened, or if he had, it’s possible there would have been a slightly different approach to him. It’s worth noting that, when The Dark Knight was in development, rumors emerged of Robin Williams finally getting a chance to play 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 impact of Robin Williams’ Riddler in Batman Forever would have obviously reached Matt Reeves’ The Batman. Supposing the movie still happened in a world where Robin Williams played the Riddler in the 1990s, Paul Dano’s Riddler definitely wouldn’t have been the same. Williams’ Riddler would have had the same effect on the character that Ledger’s Joker had on the Joker: it was so good that getting at the level of it has been a true challenge. Jared Leto’s Joker failed as a different take on the character, though Joaquin Phoenix’s version is a lot darker and it was a success with critics and viewers.
Matching the quality of Williams’ Riddler and successfully bringing a new version of the character to life 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 tone of The Batman.
Why It’s A Shame Robin Williams Never Played The Riddler
While Robin Williams playing the Riddler in Batman Forever would have changed the rest of Batman’s film history, in many cases for the better, the biggest loss is the performance itself. Williams never appeared in a superhero movie, but it would have been interesting to see his take on any comic book character, whether hero, ally, or villain. As mentioned above, Williams’ comedy style was improvisation and a touch of drama, which would have added depth to the Riddler, something that Jim Carrey wasn’t able to bring to the character. Robin Williams’ Riddler is a version that will only live in the imagination of fans, but it’s undeniable that it would have been a unique take on this Batman villain.
