Barry Keoghan says he spent $10 on self-taped Riddler audition for The Batman

Speaking in an interview with Esquire, Dubliner Barry Keoghan has revealed that his viral self-tape audition for Matt Reeves' The Batman, only cost him ten dollars.

Keoghan sent in a tape to play the Riddler, with Paul Dano getting the role instead, acting alongside Robert Pattinson as Batman.

"I just made it up," Keoghan said of the audition, in which he eerily prowls down a nondescript hallway in "Clockwork Orange style."

“I wanted to make it Kubrick-y: symmetrical, the X on the back, the square doorframe, everything square. I just wanted swag to come across", Keoghan explained.

"Swag and endearing. It was just me giving my idea. And then I’s like, ‘I’ma send this in!"

The audition impressed director Matt Reeves, ultimately landing Keoghan the iconic role of The Joker in a deleted cameo scene of the film. After the film was released last year, Warner Bros. officially released an extended scene showcasing Keoghan's menacing rendition 0f the Joker.

“The Batman wants you to play the Joker — but you cannot tell anyone,” Keoghan was told by his agent.

Keoghan described his take on the Clown Prince of Crime as “a bit charming and a bit hurt” and “a broken-down boy.” He also refused to let the makeup team change his blue eyes for the role.

“I wanted some sort of human in there behind the makeup," Keoghan said.

“I want people to relate to him…[to know] this is a façade he puts on...”

Reeves told Variety after The Batman opened in theatres that including Keoghan’s Joker in the film was not an inherent tease for the character’s return in a sequel: “It’s not an Easter egg scene. It’s not one of those end credits Marvel or DC scenes where it’s going, like, ‘Hey, here’s the next movie!"

"In fact, I have no idea when or if we would return to that character in the movies...” Reeves said.

The Batman Part II is already scheduled for release on Oct. 3, 2025 from Warner Bros. Keoghan’s return has not yet been confirmed.

Watch the audition below: 

Now watch @BarryKeoghan's audition for Matt Reeves' The Batman. This one got him the role of Joker. pic.twitter.com/vOPsKRdoid

— British GQ (@BritishGQ) October 3, 2022