Christopher Nolan is coming back to do to a sequel to The Dark Knight and make his Batman series a trilogy. That’s good news, because there’s at least one villain left who is tailor made for Nolan’s style — the Riddler. Gary Oldman has even hinted that the Riddler will be the baddie in the third installment. If Nolan was born to bring a Zodiac-style Riddler to the screen, Michael C. Hall was born to play that character. Anyone who’s seen his work as the titular character on Dexter knows that.

Imagine this scenario: Commissioner Gordan and the rest of Gotham City’s finest continue to hunt public enemy No. 1 — the Dark Knight himself. If that wasn’t enough for the Caped Crusader to handle, he also has a new archenemy — the Riddler. While the Joker thrived in the spotlight, the Riddler lurks in the shadows. If the Joker was a dog chasing cars, the Riddler is something more camouflaged, more cannibalistic. He’s the praying mantis.

Speaking of Dexter, picture the Ice Truck Killer meets Alex from A Clockwork Orange. Batman would have to track down this ghost of killer while he’s on the run from the law. Picture a room wrapped in plastic with Alfred on the table. How do you defeat the smartest, most-sociopathic opponent you’ve faced with one arm tied behind your back? Even Batman would have a tough time solving that riddle.

Hall is a brilliant actor who’s mastered the nuanced art of acting clever, crazy and calm simultaneously. A serene serial killer seems like an oxymoron, but Hall has been pulling it off for four seasons on Showtime. If there is one actor who can take where Heath Ledger left off and up the ante, it’s Golden Globe winner Hall. Additionally, he’s got a great sense of comedic timing. There isn’t much that could possibly be more difficult acting-wise than making an audience chuckle while playing a serial killer, but Hall does just that and does it routinely.

I’m clearly not the first person to think this as there is actually a Michael C. Hall as the Riddler in Nolan’s Batman Facebook page. That’s proof that Batman fans would get behind this casting choice. He sure the hell beats David Tennant. That guy is better suited to play Bilbo Baggins.

Hall is the Riddler. No different than how American Psycho served as Christian Bale’s Batman audition, Hall has been auditioning for this role for years as the star of Dexter. Christopher Nolan, there’s one sure-fire way to keep the momentum of The Dark Knight going. As you gear up for Batman 3, cast Michael C. Hall as the Riddler.

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