Last year, blogs across the Internet were ablaze with speculation, argumentation, and adoration of certain actors vying for the coveted role of Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Well, now that the movie is upon us, and apparently going to be a huge hit (again), the inevitable third installment of the series has come under the same lense: Who will be the villain, and who will (s)he be played by?

To my disappointment, Heath Ledger was the ultimate choice for The Joker. At the time, I was uncertain that the pretty boy could live up to such an offer, that he would somehow sell the role short. I’d seen Brokeback Mountain and thought it was quite a good film, but he played a very understated part, very quiet; it showed no promise of the type of crazy it takes to be the crown prince of crime.

The current buzz, however, is that he is simply brilliant in the movie. All I have to say is that I’ll be very glad that I was wrong. It was a sad day when movie fans heard of his death, but hopefully his last film will remain the achievement it promises to be.

Now, excitement is springing up again, and a new round of speculation has been sweeping the blogosphere. Concerning the new villain, a popular suggestion is Edward Nigma, a deeply complex genius whose alter ego, The Riddler, is an obsessive-compulsive and thoroughly insane. Wikipedia cites this interesting tidbit:

In the viral marketing for The Dark Knight, Edward Nashton, one of the alias of The Riddler, is credited for writing an editorial in The Gotham Times Volume 2 which features an article about a Batman statue being added to the Wax Museum as well. Madame Soleil’s Wax Museum was used in a 1966 episode of the Batman TV series, where the Riddler used a Batman statue to smuggle in a ‘Universal Wax Solvent’ from France, to be used later against Batman.

Also, Gary Oldman, in a recent conversation, hinted that The Riddler may be the next villain. This leads me to…my fan casting.

I have but one choice. It was never a question who I, and apparently many others, would love to see portray the slippery mastermind. He is a man with an intellect to match his angular looks. He is the right physique, the right voice, and the perfect hint of madness. Ladies and gentlemen, if Crispin Glover is cast as The Riddler, fans across the world may simultaneously wet themselves.

While I am merely speculating that a third addition to the franchise will even be made, the success of the first two films lends itself to the possibility. If this is the case, and The Riddler does, indeed, become a major part of the plot, I can do nothing but implore the casting agents to consider Crispin for the role. The old rumor from the 80s that Crispin is difficult to work with are just that; rumor. He is a genial man, albeit a little strange, but isn’t that what they should be after? He has the capacity to ignite the screen as The Riddler. I wait in eager anticipation as this unfolds, as I did waiting for the announcement of The Joker. The wait is half the fun.