The best DC villains of all time, Riddler tends to rank pretty highly. While his popularity only grew with the Paul Dano approach to the character as a terrifying serial killer in The Batman, I'm surprised at the heart and charm that has been brought to the character in the past with this memorable performance.
Among the weirdest DC TV and movie crossovers, casting an actor like Weird Al for a role like this is not actually that surprising. Comedians like Jim Rash and Conan O'Brien have also played the role in recent years, in Harley Quinn and The LEGO Batman Movie, respectively. Still, I've found myself charmed and surprised by Weird Al's turn as the Riddler; even if it was only in a short-lived and quick-paced medium, it did something genuinely special and compelling with the character.
Weird Al Has A History Of Playing Surprising Roles
The Singer Has Lent His Voice To Many Animated Characters
"Weird Al" Yankovic is no stranger to voice acting. Yankovic has appeared in live-action movies and television, including UHF, a movie he also wrote in the 1980s, and The Weird Al Show. Still, it has been as a voice actor that he has distinguished himself. Yankovic has played all kinds of roles, appearing on shows from BoJack Horseman to My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and more. However, there are a surprising number of voice roles that Yankovic has had in superhero projects.
Yankovic appeared as himself in an episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and went on to appear in various other superhero programs. He appeared in Teen Titans Go! where he voiced Darkseid. In addition to this, Yankovic also voiced the role of Dollmaker in the animated film Batman vs. Robin. With all of this considered, "Weird Al" has an extensive history in acting and especially in voice acting, which certainly contributes to his surprising turn as Riddler.
I Never Would Have Imagined Weird Al Being Cast As The Riddler, But It Really Does Work
Riddler Is A Unique And Interesting Character
Riddler is a very compelling Batman villain, and he's one that can be played in a number of different ways. Batman's perfect Riddler might change depending on who was asked. Some loved the way Jim Carrey played Edward Nygma, and the way that he leaned into raucous madness with humor. This bold take on the character may have pushed him a little too close to the Joker, but the right performances are still able to pull out the worthwhile components of that twisted interpretation, including with Yankovic.
"Weird Al" provides his voice in this DC Nation short where he frantically asks Batman a series of riddles. Batman answers each one with ease, thwarting Riddler's plans over and over. Seeing the way that Yankovic's mania grows along with his voice here works very well for such a frustrating and twisted character. Yankovic's cadence and tone perfectly capture the commitment Riddler has to his mission, even as he is being constantly beaten down by Batman's brilliance.
I Wish I Could See More Of Weird Al As The Riddler
The Actor Brings Something Special To The Villain
While there have been many Riddler actors, I'm disappointed that we are unlikely to get more from "Weird Al" Yankovic in the role. His voice is perfect for the character, and seeing his iteration of the villain continue to give in to hysteria is a fun and bold way to look at the villain. Still, with everything in the DC Universe set to be built out in the coming years, it seems unlikely that voice performances like Yankovic's Riddler will ever be brought back for a future project.
While it would be great to see "Weird Al" provide future voices in the DC Universe, it seems that shorts like these are not planned for the future. Yankovic's appearances in the future of the universe would have to be in a different role. This is certainly disappointing, as his Riddler brings a fun and charming energy to a character that could otherwise be seen as truly terrifying and disturbing. Finding that balance is hard, and it's disappointing we won't get more of it from Yankovic.
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"Weird Al" is an excellent performer with some of the best presence and charisma of anyone in Hollywood, and I'd love to see him play more Batman villains. While Riddler was the perfect fit, there are other roles that would be excellent for Yankovic moving forward. With a new DC Universe being built, perhaps there is a place where Yankovic could be used, whether in animation or in live-action, that could make the franchise even better.
- Created by
- Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
- First Film
- Man of Steel
- First TV Show
- Peacemaker
- Cast
- Xolo Mariduena
