FOX’s ‘Gotham’ Finds a Riddler: Cory Michael Smith to Play Young Edward Nygma
This isn't entirely surprising given that early insight into FOX's 'Gotham' suggested the Batman prequel drama would also feature a teenage Catwoman and a young Riddler, and now its question-marked baddie has a name. 'Oliver Kitteridge' star Cory Michael Smith will appear in the 'Gotham' pilot as forensic scientist Edward Nygma, but how long will we have to wait before he riddles us this and that?
Via Deadline, Smith will appear in the pilot episode of FOX's 'Gotham' as Edward Nygma, as a brilliant but socially awkward forensic scientist described as eccentric and outgoing and desperate to be liked. For the moment, the character only appears in the pilot, but considering the character's proximity to Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie), Smith may end up promoted to series regular before long.
FOX’s ‘Gotham’ will explore “the origin stories of Commissioner James Gordon and the villains that made Gotham famous,” with its pilot featuring Gordon’s investigation of the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne. The pilot will also be written and executive produced by Bruno Heller ('The Mentalist'), along with Warner Bros. Television, and directed by ‘Judge Dredd’ helmer Danny Cannon. It has been confirmed that ‘Gotham’ will not have any direct ties to Ben Affleck's take on the Dark Knight for ‘Man of Steel’ follow-up film ‘Batman vs. Superman' or The CW’s ‘Arrow' series.
Elsewhere, we’ve already seen first official looks at Robin Taylor’s Oswald Cobblepot, Sean Pertwee’s Alfred Pennyworth, Camren Bicondova’s Selina Kyle and Donal Logue’s Detective Harvey Bullock. Someday soon, we can likely expect Jada Pinkett Smith’s Fish Mooney and an official glimpse of David Mazouz as young Bruce Wayne, who himself has also already popped up on set.
Cast in other known roles thus far are Drew Powell as Mooney’s other associate Butch Gilzean, ‘Burn Notice‘ star Zabryna Guevara as Gordon’s GCPD boss Captain Essen, and Erin Richards as Gordon’s fiancée Barbara Kean.
'Gotham' certainly has quite a few Batman characters going for it, but in the meantime, what do you think? Can the addition of a future Riddler tip the scales for FOX's prequel drama, or the more, the merrier?