After taking on the role of Caped Crusader in Tim Burton’s 1989 superhero film, Michael Keaton reprised his role in the sequel Batman Returns alongside Danny DeVito and Michelle Pfeiffer. And the film’s screenwriter Daniel Waters has revealed that the actor had a very crucial role in shaping the direction of the 1992 film.
In an interview with IndieWire, Waters disclosed that he had envisioned injecting comedic elements into the script through meta jokes, similar to the approach Marvel has adopted in recent years with its superhero projects. However, the 72-year-old actor requested the removal of any such references from the movie.
Michael Keaton Made Alterations to Batman Returns Script
In an interview with IndieWire, Batman Returns screenwriter Daniel Waters shared insight into the making of Tim Burton’s Batman movies. Talking about the 1992 sequel, he shared that he wanted to include a series of meta jokes in the film.
These jokes were intended to satirize the commercialization and merchandising associated with the Batman franchise, which had soared in popularity following the success of Tim Burton’s original 1989 film. Waters shared that he intended to feature a clever jab at the franchise’s merchandising frenzy, with the camera panning down from the iconic Bat logo to reveal an in-universe store.
However, when Michael Keaton read the script, he swiftly asked the writer to remove such references, saying, “This is very clever. Cut it.” His decision prevented the film from adapting a Marvel-esque style of storytelling, characterized by self-aware humor and meta-narratives, that has been prevalent in some of the MCU projects in recent years.
While it would have deviated from prevailing trends in superhero cinema at the time, Marvel has embraced meta references in several projects, such as She-Hulk destroying the fourth wall in the Disney+ series. Although some of these references have been positively received, others have not fared very well among fans.
Batman Returns Screenwriter Admits Lack of Research Led to Controversial Alterations
While Batman Returns is considered a classic in the superhero genre, the film faced criticism upon its initial release for its reinterpretation of iconic characters such as Catwoman and The Penguin. In a candid confession, Daniel Waters admitted that he and Burton approached the project with minimal knowledge of the Batman universe.
“It was a weird assignment in that I didn’t need to please anyone but Tim Burton,” he told IndieWire. He further highlighted the lack of research into the characters, which resulted in significant alterations. The screenwriter admitted,
“It was just two guys in a room riffing. We didn’t know shit about Batman villains—We didn’t really understand the whole comic book thing. I just found out DC Comics stands for Detective Comics.”
He also acknowledged that the film faced criticism as fans felt that it departed too much from the traditional portrayal of Batman, especially considering it was only the second film in the series. However, the audience has grown to admire the film for its distinctiveness over the years.
Batman Returns is available to stream on Max.
