Matt Reeves stunned audiences with his take on Gotham City in The Batman, and the reception has been astounding. Some critics believe that this darker and more realistic version of the Caped Crusader is even better than Christopher Nolan’s vision in his Dark Knight trilogy.
Reeves recreated the Riddler – a character that has always had a somewhat comical appearance in the Batman canon – as a sinister killer, and this transformation suggests the same could be done with some of the other less realistic characters from DC Comics. Fans are already getting excited about the prospect of seeing a new version of Mr. Freeze.
The Riddler was the Highlight of The Batman
Paul Dano played the Riddler in The Batman and, among a highly talented cast who all performed their parts well, was the star of the show. Dano and Reeves worked on changes to the traditional expectations of Edward Nygma.
In the comics and other films, the Riddler has always worn a green suit and a bowler hat, with a purple eye mask and question mark staff. Both actor and director agreed that this simply wouldn’t fit in the gritty and grounded version of Batman they wanted to bring to the screen. Therefore, they opted to change his look and make him much more gritty than previous versions.
Reeves has Expressed a Desire to Bring Mr. Freeze Back
After the success of his debut outing as Batman director, there is no doubt that there will be future movies from Reeves in Gotham City. Now, fans are speculating about what other villains could appear in this deeply unsettling iteration of the famous comic book metropolis. It seems unlikely that any of the bad guys from the Suicide Squad pictures will appear any time soon.
In a recent interview, Reeves expressed an interest in bringing a character like Mr. Freeze into his universe. He described how it would be a challenge to make him more believable and grounded, especially with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s extravagant version from Batman & Robin acting as the reference point for most viewers.
What Other Batman Villains Could Reeves Include?
There are, of course, innumerable enemies of the Dark Knight that Reeves could select from in future movies. Poison Ivy is another character that hasn’t appeared in a Batman film since Uma Thurman’s turn alongside Mr. Freeze in the 1997 picture from Joel Schumacher.
The Mad Hatter is one villain that could fit into Reeves’ vision of Batman. However, the villain could be too similar to the Riddler. Then there are options like Man-Bat and Clayface who haven’t been represented much on the silver screen. These characters are both unrealistic, though, and may be hard to make believable.
Reeves has done excellent work so far in reimagining some classic Batman characters. It is exciting to think what he will achieve in his next film, and a brand-new version of Mr. Freeze could be a hit.
