Paul Dano Unsure About Returning as Riddler in The Batman 2

Paul Dano wants back in — but he’s not sure it’s happening. The actor, who played The Riddler in Matt Reeves’ The Batman back in 2022, is giving fans a cautiously hopeful update about his chances of returning for The Batman Part 2.

In a recent interview with Collider, Dano stopped well short of confirming a comeback. “Matt is so caring and obsessive in bringing such a point of view to that film, and I think he is going to again,” he said. “I could not be more excited to see what he does, and I hope maybe I’ll get to dance again.”

“Hope maybe” isn’t exactly a green light. But it’s not a door slammed shut either — and for fans who consider Dano’s unhinged, meticulous Riddler one of the best comic book villain performances in years, that’s enough to hold onto.

Who’s In, Who’s Out, and Who’s a Mystery

Dano joins a growing list of beloved cast members whose futures in the sequel are officially up in the air. Barry Keoghan’s Joker — teased in that now-legendary deleted scene with Batman at the end of the first film — hasn’t been confirmed either, despite the fact that fans have been clamoring for more of his eerie, unpredictable take on the character. Same goes for Zoë Kravitz’s Catwoman, whose chemistry with Robert Pattinson’s Batman was one of the emotional cores of the original.

There’s one absence that’s already been locked in: Cristin Milioti will not be returning as Sofia Falcone. Reeves confirmed it himself, which stings a little given that Milioti won an Emmy for Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series for her work in HBO Max’s The Penguin. That show made her a fan favorite, and losing her from the universe entirely feels like a missed opportunity.

On the confirmed side, the returning core is solid. Robert Pattinson is back as Bruce Wayne, Jeffrey Wright returns as Commissioner Gordon, Andy Serkis is back as Alfred, Colin Farrell reprises The Penguin, and Jayme Lawson and Gil Perez-Abraham are back as Mayor Bella Reál and GCPD officer Martinez, respectively.

The new additions are genuinely exciting. Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan — both fresh off major Marvel projects in Jurassic World Rebirth and Thunderbolts* — are reportedly playing Gilda and Harvey Dent. Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta, Eternals) has also signed on, though his role hasn’t been disclosed. Charles Dance of Game of Thrones fame is rumored to be playing a character named Christopher Dent, and Bridge of Spies actor Sebastian Koch rounds out the new additions. The sequel is set to begin production in England next month, with the story reportedly taking place during the winter season.

The Sebastian Stan Twist Nobody Saw Coming

Here’s where things get interesting. Even as fans were still processing the Harvey Dent casting news, scooper Jeff Sneider dropped a wrinkle on a recent podcast appearance with John Rocha. He claims he received an email suggesting Stan may not actually be playing Harvey Dent at all.

“I got an email this week. It was a f***ing crazy email,” Sneider said. “It said that someone else is playing Harvey Dent. And it said that Sebastian Stan was playing another villain and that Charles Dance is actually playing Scarlett Johansson’s father.” He was quick to add that his words need “to be taken with a huge grain of salt” — and that Reeves not confirming any specific role details makes him wonder if “there’s some sort of bait and switch going on.”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=n1IpopjJi48%3Fstart%3D1639

Stan himself has been characteristically measured about the whole thing. Speaking to Deadline, he called the project “a challenge” and said, “I feel like it’s a really ambitious movie, and I think if we do it all right… I really think it’s going to blow people away. It’s going to surprise a lot of people, I think, too.”

Surprise a lot of people. Given what Sneider is hearing, that might be the most honest thing anyone has said about The Batman Part 2 yet.

The film hits theaters October 1, 2027. Whether Dano gets to “dance again” — and who Sebastian Stan is actually playing — we’ll find out soon enough.