Matt Reeves, director of The Batman, has publicly defended actor Paul Dano after Quentin Tarantino called him the “weakest actor” in the Screen Actors Guild. Tarantino made the remarks on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, criticising Dano’s performance as preacher Eli Sunday in the 2007 film There Will Be Blood.
Tarantino described Dano as a “weak, weak, uninteresting guy” and labelled him the film’s “big, giant flaw”. He suggested that Austin Butler, who starred in Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, would have been a better choice for the role.
Reeves, who directed Dano as the Riddler in The Batman, responded on X, stating: “Paul Dano is an incredible actor, and an incredible person.” He added that Dano is “a terrific actor” and “an astonishing director who exudes control and tremendous empathy”. Dano is expected to reprise his role as the Riddler in the upcoming sequel, The Batman Part II.
Dano, 41, is widely recognised for his roles in Little Miss Sunshine, Meek’s Cutoff and The Fabelmans. His performance in There Will Be Blood is considered his breakout role, and his portrayal of the Riddler in The Batman received widespread praise.
