Michael Keaton wore the cowl and cape of the Dark Knight in Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). His version of Batman was lauded by audiences and critics alike, and to date, Batman is considered one of the best superhero movies ever made. The sequel, too, had the approval of the viewers, and Tim Burton’s vision shined within Michael Keaton’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne and Batman.
But after Batman Returns, Keaton found it in his interests to leave the role behind when Joel Schumacher took over from Tim Burton. His idea of the superhero did not match with the new director’s, and soon Val Kilmer was crowned as the new Batman. The more colorful and campier version of the superhero did not sit right with the audiences either, and the movie fell flat. And with that, any chance of a sequel also went away.
Joel Schumacher and Michael Keaton Had Vastly Different Ideas for Batman
When Joel Schumacher took over as the director after Tim Burton, he wanted Michael Keaton to continue as the superhero. Problems arose when his idea of who Batman is, was vastly different from that of Keaton. He wanted his Batman to be less dark and broody, and that confused the actor because… well… have you seen Batman?
Speaking to In The Envelope podcast, Keaton revealed,
“I know the name of the movie is ‘Batman,’ and it’s hugely iconic and very cool. [But] I always knew from the get-go: It was Bruce Wayne. That was the secret. It was never [Batman]; it’s about Bruce Wayne: Who’s that guy? What kind of person does that? Who becomes that?”
He further said,
“He [Schumacher] asked me, ‘I don’t understand why everything has to be so dark and everything so sad,’ and I went, ‘Wait a minute, do you know how this guy got to be Batman? Have you read… I mean, it’s pretty simple.’”
Well, it’s no surprise that he left the role and the franchise behind. He knew and understood the character and how the audiences saw Batman as well as Bruce Wayne, and that was probably why he did so well in the role.
Michael Keaton Reprised His Batman for The Flash
In 2023’s The Flash starring Ezra Miller in the titular role, Keaton reprised his role as Batman. Barry finds himself in a parallel universe after traveling back in time, trying to save his mother from being killed and acquit his father of the crimes he never committed. There, he meets Keaton’s Bruce Wayne, who has hung his cape and cowl and leads an isolated life after ending crime in Gotham.
But he takes up his superhero mantle once more to help Miller’s Barry save Supergirl, played by Sasha Calle, and to get him back to his own timeline. But in doing so, we see Keaton’s Batman die in different ways until the last one sees him succumbing to his injuries in the arms of Barry Allen. But given Barry runs back to his own timeline, he ends up undoing all the events from Keaton’s universe. We sure hope to see him reprise this role once more.
Batman and Batman Returns is available for streaming on Max.
