When it was announced that Michael Keaton would play Batman/Bruce Wayne in Tim Burton’s Batman (1989), the news was met with almost unanimous backlash. Warner Bros. Received around 50,000 protest letters, and the controversy eventually led to the hiring of the Batman co-creator Bob Kane as the film’s creative consultant in an attempt to placate the fans. The criticism was largely based on the fact that Keaton was mostly known as a comedic actor at that time, making him unfit for this role. However, this turned out to be untrue as Keaton delivered a stellar performance, portraying the intensity and emotional trauma of Batman in a manner that was remembered for decades to come. He went on to play the titular hero again in 1992’s Batman Returns.
Despite both films being huge commercial successes, Keaton chose not to reprise his role in the franchise’s third installment, Batman Forever (1995). It seemed that he would never return to the screen as Batman again, until it was revealed recently that he will be taking up the role in the highly-anticipated The Flash. As Keaton had repeatedly dodged questions about Batman over the decades, the news left many fans wondering once again about why the actor left his iconic role and what led to him choosing to play it once more.
Michael Keaton Didn't Like Joel Schumacher's Ideas
In an episode of the In The Envelope Podcast (via the Playlist), Keaton disclosed the reason why he departed from the role in what was supposed to be his third Batman movie. After the release of the gritty sequel Batman Returns, Warner Bros. felt that the franchise was becoming too dark for the younger audience, and decided to hire Joel Schumacher as the director of Batman Forever, in replacement of Burton (who remained the film’s producer instead).
While Keaton’s Batman was brooding and solemn, Schumacher wanted to focus on the character depicted in the comic books, thus calling for the actor to tone down his much more serious take on the role. Keaton argued that the key to Batman is figuring out who the man behind the mask is (similar to what Christopher Nolan set out to do in The Dark Knight trilogy). It is relevant to explore Bruce Wayne’s tortured past as that is what defines who he is — and what ultimately makes the character so popular.
According to Keaton, Schumacher dismissed this by asking “why everything has to be so dark and everything so sad”. After realizing that the director was set on his flamboyant vision of Batman, Keaton decided to exit the franchise. The studio even offered him $15 million to convince him to stay, but Keaton stood his ground. In The Jess Cagle Podcast, he also attributed the mandatory publicity that came with playing Batman (like going to conventions) as the reason for walking away from the role.
Val Kilmer Replaced Michael Keaton in Batman Forever
Val Kilmer ended up playing the titular hero in Batman Forever under Schumacher’s flashy direction. Even though the movie was financially successful, it was more in line with the 1960s television series — thus, making his inane, cartoonish portrayal of Batman one of the worst in the franchise.
Kilmer also refused to step back into the role after Batman Forever, citing the heavy Batman costume as his primary reason for doing so. In the Amazon documentary Val, he explained that he had felt his performance was being restricted while donning the suit, which weighed almost a hundred pounds and affected his hearing as well. He believed it isolated him from the rest of the cast, and his role was reduced to just showing up and following cues. As he was playing a character that essentially requires much movement, it ultimately became a struggle for Kilmer to give a compelling performance in the Batsuit. George Clooney went on to replace him in Batman & Robin (1997), the second Batman movie directed by Schumacher.
Michael Keaton Is Returning as Batman in The Flash
Keaton is finally returning to his role as the Caped Crusader for the first time since Batman Returns in the upcoming The Flash. Despite its delays, the teasers have been a huge hit among fans, who are especially excited to see the comeback of who is widely regarded as the best cinematic Batman.
The film centers around Ezra Miller’s character going back in time and creating an alternate universe in the process, in which Keaton is Batman. Although the casting decision was made before Marvel released Spider-Man: No Way Home, the movie’s success goes to show that the multiverse of nostalgia has proven to be a popular concept in superhero films. DC has the same opportunity, with Ben Affleck joining Keaton as Batman in The Flash as well. He had previously played the role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). Despite Keaton’s previous insistence that he will not return as Batman, he claimed that he had still been curious about wearing the cape again when the time was right.