Could a Series Based on the Burton-Schumacher Films Work

[TMC1982]

When I say "series", I mean something in the form of an animated series ("Batman: TAS" was influenced somewhat by the Burton films, but it still had it's own style and personality) or comic book series based on the Burton-Schmuacher era continuity. Examples (please note, that this isn't an example of "a fanboy venting" about the movies not staying closer to the source material):

Spoiler

*Jack Napier being responsible for the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne instead of Joe Chill.

*Two-Face being responsible for the murders of Dick Grayson's family instead of Tony Zucco.

*Batgirl being Alfred's niece, Barbara Wilson instead of Gordon's daughter.

*The presence of "movie created" supporting characters like Alexander Knox, Max Schrek, and Chase Meridian.

*"Movie created" henchmen and women like Bob the Goon and Lawrence (Joker), the Red Triangle Circus (Penguin), Sugar and Spice (Two-Face), and Frosty and Ms. B. Haven (Mr. Freeze).

*Bane being Poison Ivy's monosyllabic sidekick/enforcer/bodyguard.

*Edward Nygma being an inventor at Wayne Enterprises before he became the Riddler (who has some Jervis Tetch-like qualities in his schemes).

*Penguin being a digusting, homicidal, mutant, who lives in the sewers.

*Once nerdy/mousy Selina Kyle turning into the crazy Catwoman after her evil boss pushes her out of a window.

I would explain the differences in the production designs (Aston Furst in the first movie, Bo Welch in "Batman Returns", and Barbara Ling in the two Joel Schumacher films) by saying that those are different boroughs (a la New York City) of Gotham City.

I guess I would use the Val Kilmer model (although Michael Keaton is still my favorite Batman) for the most part only because I consider him sort of the "fusion Bruce Wayne/Batman" in relation to the change from the Burton era to the Schumacher era.

 

[AndrewGilkison]

I wouldn't mind a Nightmare Before Christmas style animated film from Burton based on his 89/Returns continuity.

 

[BlueLightning]

Mmm wouldn´t the majority of the villans dead?

 

[Jochimus]

Eh, I dunno. Maybe it would work, in some odd way.

Personally, if I were to try adapting the previous films to another medium, I'd take the approach I suggested on a previous thread:

In terms of continuity, I prefer to think of the events of BF and B&R as having happened in the "Burtonverse", except that the version of them we saw was through a horrible drug-induced haze.

In my mind, Keaton's still Batman and the suit becomes MORE armor-looking as the villains become more powerful and more terrifying, and Furst's Batmobile remains; Billy Dee remains Harvey Dent and becomes Two-Face - in a two-tone suit and a gory "half 'n' half" look that looks like his skin really has been eaten off - opting to let his actions and his coin speak for him; the Riddler would be a more restrained and twisted version, more like Alex DeLarge than Frank Gorshin; Bane is a mastermind posing as Ivy's henchman so as to play Batman, Ivy and Freeze into destroying each other and leaving Gotham for his own; Freeze is a brooding, steampunk-looking Karloff tribute who's more like Dr. Phibes than a walking embodiment of the old '60s Batman TV series.

I'd further refine this idea by establishing the "hallucinogen" angle as a poisoned Keaton's life flashing before his eyes, the result of a Smilex-variant attack by Harley Quinn and the Scarecrow (owing to "Begins" as well as Schumacher's scuttled plans for another follow-up); that's also how I'd start the next story, so that we have that tonal nightmare out of the way immediately and get back to serious business. Also, I'd stick with Robin in the red overalls and an old yellow raincoat (as per previous plans for the character that were kiboshed), put Christina Ricci in the Batgirl suit, and leave Bane mute rather than monosyllabic (more like Odd Job or Jaws, though the latter did ultimately speak).

To be civil about it, I just think Schumacher's whole approach to the franchise contrasts too much with Burton's to make the two directions balance out properly, so I say gloss one over to fit into the other, and IMO Burton's approach was simply more favorable.

 

[TMC1982]

Mmm wouldn´t the majority of the villans dead?

It would be a "loose continuity" in the sense that it would directly follow the continuity of the films, just take some of the more key plot/character elements as I laid out in the first post.

 

[TMC1982]

Eh, I dunno. Maybe it would work, in some odd way.

Personally, if I were to try adapting the previous films to another medium, I'd take the approach I suggested on a previous thread:


I'd further refine this idea by establishing the "hallucinogen" angle as a poisoned Keaton's life flashing before his eyes, the result of a Smilex-variant attack by Harley Quinn and the Scarecrow (owing to "Begins" as well as Schumacher's scuttled plans for another follow-up); that's also how I'd start the next story, so that we have that tonal nightmare out of the way immediately and get back to serious business. Also, I'd stick with Robin in the red overalls and an old yellow raincoat (as per previous plans for the character that were kiboshed), put Christina Ricci in the Batgirl suit, and leave Bane mute rather than monosyllabic (more like Odd Job or Jaws, though the latter did ultimately speak).

To be civil about it, I just think Schumacher's whole approach to the franchise contrasts too much with Burton's to make the two directions balance out properly, so I say gloss one over to fit into the other, and IMO Burton's approach was simply more favorable.

The OnStar commericals from several years back seemed to try to merge the Burton universe with the Schmuacher universe:
*Michael Keaton's Batmobile

*George Clooney's Batsuit (although, when I first saw it, I assumed that it was Val Kilmer's since it's jet black and the Bat-oval is yellow)

*Production designer Barbara Ling's Gotham City

*Danny Elfman's music

*A Jim Carreyesque Riddler

 

[Catman]

A direct to DVD movie based on Burton's ideas for Batman 3.

 

[ross2287]

Tim Burton Presents Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns
Starring Michael Keaton.



I can dream can't I?

 

[BlueLightning]

Mmm I think not. Leave Miller with All Star Batman and Robin.

 

[ShaneHelms]

What are you talking about..?

 

[El Payaso]

^ Exactly.

 

[CFE]

A direct to DVD DC Universe animated movie based on Burton's ideas for Batman 3.

fixed...

and yes...yes yes yes yes YES!!!!

Do Richard Donner's "Superman 3" while you're at it.

 

[BlueLightning]

What are you talking about..?

Sorry I didn´t read it complete. I am all in for a The Dark Knight Returns adaptation.

 

[El Payaso]

 

[Jochimus]

fixed...

and yes...yes yes yes yes YES!!!!

Do Richard Donner's "Superman 3" while you're at it.

I wouldn't mind seeing "Last Son" animated, at that.

 

[dude stannis]

fixed...

and yes...yes yes yes yes YES!!!!

Do Richard Donner's "Superman 3" while you're at it.

They did.

I'd love to see the old Burton team come back to do a few DC Animated Batman films.

 

[CFE]

They did.

I'd love to see the old Burton team come back to do a few DC Animated Batman films.

Animated???

Or are you talking about the 'Action Comics' run that Donner did.

 

[dude stannis]

I meant Supman Returns. Donner gave the story the OK.

 

[Jochimus]

I meant Supman Returns. Donner gave the story the OK.

IMO "Last Son" is more Richard Donner's Superman III than SR is...mainly because Donner was actually involved beyond simply saying OK (that, and frankly, I think "Last Son" succeeds in places where Singer stumbled).

 

[CFE]

Yeah 'Returns' is clearly more Singer, Dougherty and Harris' take than Donner's.

But if they took that "Last Son" run and animated with Donner as either Executive Producer or Director, then that would be awesome. It'd be even cooler if they could nab Brandon Routh/Kate Bosworth/Frank Langella to be the voice cast.

And to stick to the Original Topic, they should do the same with a potential "Burton Batman 3." Bring back Keaton, Gough, Hingle...it'd be so AWESOME...

 

[Grommers]

As awesome as that would be, I can't see it happening. The best would be a cartoon series, preferably to show billy dee as two-face, a black robin, I think it'd be a very different take.

 

[CFE]

I meant animated. Have Keaton, Gough, Billy Dee and Hingle come back to do voice work.

 

[Doctor Jones]

^ I've been saying this for months. Burton loves animation, and if there's any chance we would have of a Burton Batman 3, it would be in animation. I wouldn't mind that at all. As long as it's not in stop motion technology.

Do it as originally planned. Bring in Billy Williams and Robin Williams for their roles, and write a great story.

 

[BatSocks]

Something like that would make me the happiest little girl in the world. I have little hope it will ever happen, though.

 

[Jochimus]

Actually, I'd find the prospect more appealing if it was animated in the style of the MIB or Godzilla '98 cartoons - not that I dislike Bruce Timm's art style at all; I just think that if you're gonna animate something that was done in live-action, you at least put a little more effort in having the animated version resemble the live-action version.