DC‘s newest Batman movie features the tenth DC role from one actor who has had an extensive history with the franchise since their appearance in The Dark Knight some eighteen years ago. While many DC movies and shows consist of casts that have never before taken on the roles of superheroes and supervillains, it’s also not uncommon for actors to appear in a selection of releases as different figures.
Indeed, some of the most well-known DC actors obtained their reputations thanks to their extensive range of appearances in the wider franchise, with DC greats like Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill having amassed a healthy roster of different shows and movies to their names over the years that further cemented their status as some of the most definitive DC actors of all time.
DC’s newest Batman movie has confirmed another actor has expanded their own considerable DC repertoire further in 2026, as one casting for the film has netted an actor their tenth different role in the franchise’s various movies, shows and more, marking an illustrious history with DC after they first appeared in The Dark Knight almost two decades ago.
Batman: Knightfall Part 1 Features David Dastmalchian’s Tenth DC Casting Since 2008
The release of Batman: Knightfall Part 1 is exciting on a number of fronts, with several notable actors displaying their talents in the film – as choices like casting Michael Mando as Bane and having prior Injustice Batman actor Anson Mount as the movie series’ Dark Knight have paid off nicely already for the film series.
These casting choices also contain a major milestone for one prolific actor who has an extensive history with DC, as David Dastmalchian plays the Riddler in Batman: Knightfall Part 1 – as is confirmed by the movie’s credits – which marks his tenth DC role across various mediums. Of course, Dastmalchian is perhaps best known for his role as Polka-Dot Man in The Suicide Squad, but he’s appeared in far more than just the 2021 live-action film over the years.
The biggest DC film the actor has appeared in is one of his first, as David Dastmalchian appeared in The Dark Knight as Thomas Schiff, who is a member of Joker’s crew.
This was followed by a range of other DC movie roles later on, including the aforementioned The Suicide Squad, the actor playing Calendar Man and the Penguin in the two-part movie series of Batman: The Long Halloween, voicing the Flash in Justice League X RWBY: Super Heroes & Hunstmen, Part Two, and playing the villain Grendon in Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham.
These film roles would be matched by a range of show appearances, including appearing in Gotham as Jerome Valeska follower Dwight Pollard, and having an appearance in The Flash as minor supervillain Abra Kadabra. Finally, 2024 saw David Dastmalchian expand his DC roles to the world of video games, with the actor voicing detective vigilante Vic Sage – better known as The Question – in Batman: Arkham Shadow.
The Riddler Is David Dastmalchian’s Perfect DC Casting
David Dastmalchian’s acting ability means his DC castings have usually drawn in fans even when they’re smaller roles – as is perhaps best demonstrated by his performance as Polka-Dot Man, who proved something of a scene stealer and fan favorite despite having a relatively small role in the overarching events of The Suicide Squad‘s story. As it stands, this suits the Riddler’s role in the Knightfall comic story and its subsequent adaptation nicely from the get-go.
It’s also worth noting that many of Dastmalchian’s best and most beloved DC roles have been that of the franchise’s villains, especially when it comes to more eccentric and cerebral figures, which appears to have further helped him be a perfect fit for the Riddler as well. Indeed, with the actor also having earned his renown for other villain roles within the likes of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Dexter: Resurrection, it’s hard to imagine anyone could have been a more natural fit for Edward Nygma in the new Batman film.
