Bill Baldwin almost landed the role of Batman

[louiebling$]

http://www.geekweek.com/2009/12/baldwin-was-nearly-batman.html

But alas the poor lad got beat out by Kilmer.

 

[Mace Dolex]

I suppose since William looks and sounds like Alec that he would've done ok as Batman but I think Val was the better choice.

 

[Changeling]

wow, he wouldve been ok

 

[Matt.S99]

Alec Baldwin would have been the only good Baldwin as Batman

 

[GREEN =w= DAY]

although Michael Keaton did an incredible job, i think Alec would have done just as good if not better as Batman/Bruce

he definately had the looks and the voice

 

[Spoonman]

Rumor has it that Burton and Alec Baldwin didn't get along on the Bettlejuice set and that pretty much put Baldwin out of the running for Batman 89, Keaton did great but I would've liked to see Alec Baldwin on the role too. As for William Baldwin as Batman I'm not too sure, I think Kilmer was the way to go at that time honestly.

 

[Catman]

Alec Baldwin would have been the only good Baldwin as Batman

Amen.

 

[Bathead]

Rumor has it that Burton and Alec Baldwin didn't get along on the Bettlejuice set and that pretty much put Baldwin out of the running for Batman 89, Keaton did great but I would've liked to see Alec Baldwin on the role too. As for William Baldwin as Batman I'm not too sure, I think Kilmer was the way to go at that time honestly.

I can believe that. Burton is one of those directors that likes to use the same people over and over in all his films. I could see where Alec would have been a good candidate for Batman '89, but the idea that they didn't get along seems a likely reason why Burton didn't use him again. There was a rumor that initially Burton wanted Keaton to play the Joker. Might have been an interesting movie with Baldwin as Batman and Keaton as Joker.

 

[Cain]

I can believe that. Burton is one of those directors that likes to use the same people over and over in all his films. I could see where Alec would have been a good candidate for Batman '89, but the idea that they didn't get along seems a likely reason why Burton didn't use him again. There was a rumor that initially Burton wanted Keaton to play the Joker. Might have been an interesting movie with Baldwin as Batman and Keaton as Joker.

Indeed, I love that movie like it was one of my children but the original script prior to the rewrites was to me even more interesting and compelling and would've been the perfect route to go with those 2 on board in those respective roles. Keaton would've killed as The Joker the way he was written originally I'm positive of that.

 

[Catman]

There was a rumor that initially Burton wanted Keaton to play the Joker.

Jack Nicholson was everyones #1 choice for The Joker since the project's inception in 1979. Tim Curry was the #2 choice among the creative team. Robin Williams was the #2 choice among the studio.

Alec Baldwin was never Burton's choice for Batman. Someone mentioned him and Burton simply explained that they had feuded during Beetlejuice. That's it. Keaton became Burton's choice while they worked on Beetlejuice. He felt like Keaton had the eyes of a crazy man which is what Batman needed since that was to be the only sign that this character wasn't right in the head. Prior to Keaton, the main choice was Mel Gibson...for obvious reasons. But, Lethal Weapon 2 got in the way.

 

[Mace Dolex]

Keaton as Joker would've been cool, at least he had an average build and not pot bellied like Nicholson.

 

[Two-Face]

Alec Baldwin would been better choice but Michael Keaton owned the role. Is true Mel Gibson was also considered to play Batman in Forever as well?

 

[Ace of Knaves]

I thought Willem Dafoe was the no 2 pick for Joker?

 

[Road Warrior]

Is true Mel Gibson was also considered to play Batman in Forever as well?

No. He was directing and starring in Braveheart at the time. Tom Hanks, believe it or not, was the one they were considering at the time. The studio that is. Joel Schumacher, being the gay man that he is, wanted a pretty boy. Hence why Val Kilmer was cast.

I thought Willem Dafoe was the no 2 pick for Joker?

No. The studio wanted a name. Willem Dafoe wasn't a name at the time. Respected actor? Yes. Movie star? No. Robin Williams was the #2 choice and the studio was prepared to make him an offer if Jack Nicholson passed the role. In fact, that's how Nicholson was cast. They simply told him, "we have Robin Williams on speed dial." Williams was upset when he found out because he felt like he had been used.

Tim Curry was Tim Burton's #2 choice because of Rocky Horror Picture Show.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Interesting. I think Dafoe would of been immense as Joker.

 

[Mace Dolex]

It's interesting how fan uproar was so big regarding Keaton as Batman because of his height and build, IMDB has Keaton listed as 5'9" give or take a couple of centimeters.

But get this, Mel Gibson is also listed as 5'9" but in Mel's case I suppose his muscular build (at the time) makes him appear bigger on screen.

 

[Brother Jack]

Interesting. I think Dafoe would of been immense as Joker.

He still would be perfect for Dark Knight Returns-era Joker.

 

[Catman]

It's interesting how fan uproar was so big regarding Keaton as Batman because of his height and build, IMDB has Keaton listed as 5'9" give or take a couple of centimeters.

But get this, Mel Gibson is also listed as 5'9" but in Mel's case I suppose his muscular build (at the time) makes him appear bigger on screen.

In 1985, when Burton was hired to develop the project, Mel Gibson had just been in his third and final Mad Max movie. The two sequels were produced by Warner Bros. Gibson was already a successful action star. An international one as well. Or especially, I should say. His big success, in the U.S., would be the first Lethal Weapon movie which was his next picture and just happened to be made by Warner Bros. So, WB was in love with him. The producers didn't have a problem with him. Sam Hamm was okay with it. And, since he's always had a crazy man reputation, Burton was fine with it as well. So, Gibson was the go-to-guy...in 1985! The project stayed in development hell too long. WB hired Burton. They were fans of him, but the bottom line is..."can he make us money?" So, they waited till Beetlejuice was released till FINALLY giving the project the greenlit. By that point it was too late. Gibson was off to other things.

EDIT:

I got way off topic. Anyway, the point is that Gibson was already proven as an action star. Michael Keaton wasn't. Keaton's height and built were just "excuses" being thrown around. He had never done an action movie, so that was the main concern. With Gibson, not only had he done action but he performed martial arts in the Lethal Weapon movies. So, WB didn't need to convince the fanbase with Gibson.

 

[Spoonman]

No. He was directing and starring in Braveheart at the time. Tom Hanks, believe it or not, was the one they were considering at the time. The studio that is. Joel Schumacher, being the gay man that he is, wanted a pretty boy. Hence why Val Kilmer was cast.

I don't think you have to be a "gay man" to consider Val Kilmer as a viable option for Batman / Bruce Wayne, I for once believe Schumacher actually had greater common sense than the studio to cast him over Tom Hanks I mean come on, if you actually read the interview with William Baldwin that the original poster quoted Schumacher was considering Daniel-Day Lewis and Ralph Finnes for the role too....sometimes one has to let go the blinded hate for Schumacher, If a Batman director considers the good looks of Wayne in the comics while casting Batman it doesn't mean its due to the director "gayness" and yes I know Schumacher is actualy gay or bi or whatever.

 

[Mace Dolex]

I got way off topic. Anyway, the point is that Gibson was already proven as an action star. Michael Keaton wasn't. Keaton's height and built were just "excuses" being thrown around. He had never done an action movie, so that was the main concern. With Gibson, not only had he done action but he performed martial arts in the Lethal Weapon movies. So, WB didn't need to convince the fanbase with Gibson.

That actually makes more sense in fact if I remember correctly with Keaton (mostly known for comedies at the time) in the role the fans were angry that it was a retread to the 60's campy Batman.

I even remember a rumor that indeed the Batman would be a comedy in the mid-80's with Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy.

 

[Catman]

I even remember a rumor that indeed the Batman would be a comedy in the mid-80's with Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy.

In 1984, after Ghostbusters, WB flirted with the idea of Ivan Reitman directing and Bill Murray starring in a more comedic version. That didn't work out. Then they met with Joe Dante (Gremlins) and that didn't work out either. Finally, after Pee-Wee's Big Adventure became a sleeper hit in the summer of 1985, Tim Burton was hired. And he hired Sam Hamm to write the script.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Val Kilmer is a great actor and was a decent Bruce/Batman with what he had to work with. I'm 100% sure he would of been THE best Bruce/Batman if he had better material.

 

[Two-Face]

Val Kilmer is a great actor and was a decent Bruce/Batman with what he had to work with. I'm 100% sure he would of been THE best Bruce/Batman if he had better material.

Yeah imagine he worked with Burton or Nolan, he'll would get more praise like Keaton & Bale.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Definitely.

 

[3atman]

To me Kilmer is the second or even first best ACTOR out of the 4. Clooney I think is overrated (and one dimensinoal) as hell, Bale is good but kinda slipping recently, Keaton was "pretty good" but with Kilmer you have ghost and the Darkness, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Wonderland, all kinds of good stuff. Although Bale's American Psycho is the single best performance any of them have.

It's funny that you guys are talking about how Burton loves to use the same guys in movies with all the supposed Johnny Depp as Riddler (yuck) gossip.