Batman Forever, with Tim Burton

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

On the Special Edition DVD of BR, Burton said he was full into returning to complete his trilogy with Batman Forever.
He also said he was laying down ideas in a board meeting with WarnerBros. executives when they tried to convince him not to return, but to go off and make something else.
Burton took the hint, and left.

And thing that Burton did say he was interested in exploring in Baman Forever was Billy Dee Williams Harvey Dent character, and his transformation into Two-Face.

Also, Burton's hate of Robin is well know. Same as Nolan. Warners wanted Robin in B89 and BR, but Burton managed to oust him out of the script re-writes.

So thats another thing. No Robin.

Another thing I've heard is that that chick from Lethal weapon 3 &4 was cast as Dr. Chase Meridian opposite Michael Keaton, but was let go after Val joined the cast and a nother woman was sought out.

Any truth to this?

Anything to add?

What would you have liked to see?

 

[DocLathropBrown]

There's a lot of false stuff going around on the internet. All we know for a FACT is that Tim wanted to return.

There are likely things, though. There's no evidence that the Riddler was going to be used by Burton. None at all. IF he was going with Two Face, he would have definitely brought back Billy Dee. IF he used Robin, there's no proof that he would have re-cast Marlon Waynes. Waynes WAS cast as Robin in BR, but he was let go when Robin was cut from the script, and there's no proof that he ever even shot any scenes.

So, yeah. The only thing we know for sure is that Tim was up for it. We'll probably never know what he pitched to the WB executives. Needless to say, it would have been spectacular.

 

[Penismightier]

Unfortunately, another fact is that WB executives wanted it more kid-friendly, and that they basically forced Burton off the project.

 

[ab38416]

I believe Billy Dee's contract was bought out before Batman Returns went into production. That's why they replaced Harvey Dent with the Max Shreck character. So even if Burton planned on using Two-Face in 3, Billy Dee couldn't have played him.

Riddler was always going to be the main villain in the third movie no matter what. WB always wanted to use all four of the popular villains from the 60's show: Joker, Penguin, Catwoman and Riddler.

 

[TLH]

I'm sure this is known, but Burton was let go because Batman Returns didn't gross as much money as the original Batman. Warner thought that a change was needed in the film's "feel", and that Burton would only continue to give the dark and dreary edge to Gotham (which was brilliant by the way).

What Warner really didn't realize is that villians sell the film. If Batman Forever were done by Burton with The Riddler and Two Face, you really could've had one mean trilogy. But alas, Warner made a stupid move and we're stuck with two classic Burton Batman films. I would've absolutely loved three.

 

[DocLathropBrown]

BR was the highest grossing film of 1992, I believe. It wasn't the money, and until the complaints from McDonald rolled in (from complaints from Soccer moms), WB didn't care what Burton did as long as they knew it would bring in the dough.

 

[Batman Beyond]

It was both.

If you can't make a movie that makes almost as much if not more money, back in those days, you were gone.

Same with Spielberg (where he actually left by himself, admiting that "if the sequel doesn't outgross the original, I won't be back as the director"), and others.

And the MacDonald's thing only brought Burton to a tougher position.

I feel he shouldn't have gone. If anything, I would want to see his third Batman. But now, we'll never know.

 

[Catman]

BR was the highest grossing film of 1992, I believe.

3rd under Aladdin and Home Alone 2. HOWEVER...it was the highest grossing movie of the summer.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

There's a lot of false stuff going around on the internet. All we know for a FACT is that Tim wanted to return.

There are likely things, though. There's no evidence that the Riddler was going to be used by Burton. None at all. IF he was going with Two Face, he would have definitely brought back Billy Dee. IF he used Robin, there's no proof that he would have re-cast Marlon Waynes. Waynes WAS cast as Robin in BR, but he was let go when Robin was cut from the script, and there's no proof that he ever even shot any scenes.

So, yeah. The only thing we know for sure is that Tim was up for it. We'll probably never know what he pitched to the WB executives. Needless to say, it would have been spectacular.

The Billy Dee/Two-face thing was real though. Burton confirmed this on the DVD.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Ok everyone, what would you have liked to see in Burton's BF?

I would have liked that Batsuit to look like a compination of the first two. B89's chest armor with BR's cowl.

Also, I would have prefered a return to B89's cityscape.

Catwoman maybe to return also.

On main villain: Two-Face.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I'm still kinda hoping that after Nolan completes his trilogy, WB will allow Burton to complete his. A sequel to BR, without the continuity of BF and B&R.

Batman film with Keaton set years after BR.

 

[DocLathropBrown]

I'm still kinda hoping that after Nolan completes his trilogy, WB will allow Burton to complete his. A sequel to BR, without the continuity of BF and B&R.

Batman film with Keaton set years after BR.

Not gonna happen. Not only would Burton not want to return for fear of more ridicule (not to mention that he did his thing with Batman already), WB is not going to sanction a seperate continuity in the theatres to compete with the current continuity (Nolan's). Even if Nolan stops at three, the continuity he started will keep going.

Theatres are not like comics. You can't have a million continuities at once, Joe Q. Public won't understand. Hence why people assumed BB was a prequel to B89. People assume that all the films in a particular franchise are in continuity with each other.

So you can't do such a thing. Unfortunately simple as that.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Not gonna happen. Not only would Burton not want to return for fear of more ridicule (not to mention that he did his thing with Batman already), WB is not going to sanction a seperate continuity in the theatres to compete with the current continuity (Nolan's). Even if Nolan stops at three, the continuity he started will keep going.

Theatres are not like comics. You can't have a million continuities at once, Joe Q. Public won't understand. Hence why people assumed BB was a prequel to B89. People assume that all the films in a particular franchise are in continuity with each other.

So you can't do such a thing. Unfortunately simple as that.

Oh yeah, i know.
But what if after Nolan they hire Bay or someone and he messes it up. Then what? Maybe Burton could get another crack? Nah, your right, never gonna happen.

Be interesting about Bale though, i wonder if he'd stay after Nolan leaves?
And would another director keep the visual continuity going from the Nolan universe?

 

[Penismightier]

Not gonna happen. Not only would Burton not want to return for fear of more ridicule (not to mention that he did his thing with Batman already), WB is not going to sanction a seperate continuity in the theatres to compete with the current continuity (Nolan's). Even if Nolan stops at three, the continuity he started will keep going.

Theatres are not like comics. You can't have a million continuities at once, Joe Q. Public won't understand. Hence why people assumed BB was a prequel to B89. People assume that all the films in a particular franchise are in continuity with each other.

So you can't do such a thing. Unfortunately simple as that.

Quite true. Imagine if they did an Elseworlds movie? In Darkest Knight would just confuse people, while I could see someone like Rush Limbaugh calling for a boycott if Red Son ever got made.

 

[Swordmaster]

Not gonna happen. Not only would Burton not want to return for fear of more ridicule (not to mention that he did his thing with Batman already), WB is not going to sanction a seperate continuity in the theatres to compete with the current continuity (Nolan's). Even if Nolan stops at three, the continuity he started will keep going.

Theatres are not like comics. You can't have a million continuities at once, Joe Q. Public won't understand. Hence why people assumed BB was a prequel to B89. People assume that all the films in a particular franchise are in continuity with each other.

So you can't do such a thing. Unfortunately simple as that.

Apparently that's what they're doing with the Justice League movie, though. A different continuity from Nolan's Batman (and Singer's Superman) universes. IIRC, that is.

 

[DocLathropBrown]

Apparently that's what they're doing with the Justice League movie, though. A different continuity from Nolan's Batman (and Singer's Superman) universes. IIRC, that is.

But it's supposed to be CG, is it not? People wouldn't consider it part of the live action films if it's CG.

 

[Gianakin_]

No, I think it's live action. Having said that, I would've loved to see Batman 3 by Burton. Pity.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

No, I think it's live action. Having said that, I would've loved to see Batman 3 by Burton. Pity.

Yeah, its Live action. So if they can pull that one, why not pull it with Burton? lol

3 different continuities!

 

[Swordmaster]

But it's supposed to be CG, is it not? People wouldn't consider it part of the live action films if it's CG.

They keep flip-flopping, so it's hard to tell.

 

[Bat Attack]

So, yeah. The only thing we know for sure is that Tim was up for it. We'll probably never know what he pitched to the WB executives. Needless to say, it would have been spectacular.

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall during the meetings between Burton and Warners.

 

[echostation]

no, don't wish to be a fly, I wish I was the lead Warners Executive in that meeting and instead listened exactly to what Burton had to say, Agree with it and let him make his film... then the other Schumacher crap films wouldn't have been made

 

[Kevin Roegele]

There's a lot of false stuff going around on the internet. All we know for a FACT is that Tim wanted to return.

There are likely things, though. There's no evidence that the Riddler was going to be used by Burton. None at all. IF he was going with Two Face, he would have definitely brought back Billy Dee. IF he used Robin, there's no proof that he would have re-cast Marlon Waynes. Waynes WAS cast as Robin in BR, but he was let go when Robin was cut from the script, and there's no proof that he ever even shot any scenes.

So, yeah. The only thing we know for sure is that Tim was up for it. We'll probably never know what he pitched to the WB executives. Needless to say, it would have been spectacular.

Wayans DID NOT shoot any scenes for Returns. That much is fact.

The weird thing is, an actor was cast as Robin for all four Burton/Schumacher movies. Aside from Wayans in Returns and O'Donnell in Forever and B&R, Ricky Addison Reed was cast and then dropped for the first movie. So O'Donnell really was third time lucky.