The Hughes Brothers' "The Dark Knight Returns"

[Rac]

EXCLUSIVE: 'Book Of Eli' Directors Offered 'The Dark Knight Returns'... With Clint Eastwood As Batman?!

Posted 1/11/10 4:31 pm ET by Rick Marshall in DC Comics, News


Here's another one for the ol' "What If?" files — and this time around, the almost-happened project is a big one, and close to comics fans' hearts. While chatting with "The Book Of Eli" directors The Hughes Brothers, the pair revealed to MTV News that years ago they almost found themselves behind the camera for a big-screen adaptation of "The Dark Knight Returns," Frank Miller's much-beloved tale of a retired Batman well past his prime who is called back into service.

"Three different Batman projects were presented to us over the years," revealed Albert Hughes. "The first time, it was 'The Dark Knight [Returns].' I remember how dark the comic book was. Batman was old. He had to rely more on his tools and other sh--, and he was a decrepit, 60- or 70-year-old man in this comic book."

But that's not the most mind-blowing part of their tale. Possibly the most interesting aspect of their story is who they had in mind to play the role of an aged Bruce Wayne.

"I remember saying to them back then, 'We want to do this, and you should get somebody like Clint Eastwood to do it,'" he added.

However, one of the reasons the project never came to be was the studio's realization that it would likely mean the end of the Batman franchise, according to Albert.

"Basically, what we were telling them it was the death of their franchise, " he laughed. "Looking back now, we definitely would've killed that franchise."

Even so, the directing duo behind "Menace II Society" and "Dead Presidents" agreed that the world of Batman and Superman really wasn't their thing — even though they already had one comic book adaptation (2001's "From Hell," based on Alan Moore's Jack the Ripper story) under their belts.

"It was a different regime at the time at Warner Brothers, and they did offer it to us a couple times, but we were never going to do that," said Allen Hughes. "Nolan's done a phenomenal job with Batman — especially the first one — and that's what we would've done if we were interested, but we were never going to do a Batman or Superman movie. I know we couldn't do that."

"After our first movie, we were getting offered everything, but we're not capable of delivering a corporate project like that," agreed Albert. "It's not in our blood."

"The tragedy is that they actually made a movie called 'The Dark Knight,' but it wasn't [Frank Miller's] 'Dark Knight,'" he added. "It wasn't what fans know as 'The Dark Knight.'"

That would have been interesting to see.

 

[skiddyboy]

That would have been interesting to see.

I have alway said Clint Eastwood would have made a fantastic Batman in his younger days....a bit like Dirty Harry in a cowl!

 

[Two-Face]

Yeah Eastwood would been great older Bruce/Batman.

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

Clint for old Bruce in a Batman Beyond movie! It'll never happen.

 

[Brother Jack]

"The tragedy is that they actually made a movie called 'The Dark Knight,' but it wasn't [Frank Miller's] 'Dark Knight,'" he added. "It wasn't what fans know as 'The Dark Knight.'"

Like Frank Miller has a copyright on that name whatever. He was far from the first to coin "The Dark Knight".

 

[Pythagoras]

We will get a TDKR movie one day eventually. In the film I like Gotham City to have a 1980s vibe and for the film to actually take place in the 80s...1986 to be exact. Also Batman being 60-70 years old in the film proably will not work at all.

 

[BH/HHH]

Zak Snyder should do the Dark Knight Returns.

 

[Comics N' Toons]

Zak Snyder should do the Dark Knight Returns.

He wants to do it, but Warner's won't let him... not yet anyway.

 

[BH/HHH]

He wants to do it, but Warner's won't let him... not yet anyway.

yeah they should wait until after Batman 3

 

[Two-Face]

There are great stories before TDKR, I want to see them first which we haven't see in movies yet.

 

[Pythagoras]

Be awesoem to see Superman and Batman on the screen together.

 

[Brother Jack]

Zak Snyder should do the Dark Knight Returns.

Spoiler

 

[Wesley Dodds]

Always felt Oliver Stone should've directed TDKR.

Look at his work on NBK, the way he uses different styles and techniques and mediums to create this kind of weird, disorientating media collage... TDKR should be like that...

 

[Pythagoras]

Spoiler

Why not?

 

[Gilpesh]

Why not?

Because Zack Snyder sucks in the way that only someone that is completely mediocre can.

 

[El Payaso]

Because Zack Snyder sucks in the way that only someone that is completely mediocre can.

 

[Travesty]

I like TDKR, and I know a ton of people are always split on their love/hate for the story, but even though I like the story, I just don't think it would make for a good live-action movie. Maybe an animated version, sure, but I just don't see it working live.

 

[Pythagoras]

It could work out live action and proably make more money then in animated flick.

 

[Spoonman]

Am I the only person in these boards who doesn't care for TDKR? A friend lent me both TDKR and B:YO and I was expecting to like TDKR more because of all I've read from people but I ended liking B:YO way more, TDKR kindad bore me to be honest.

 

[Travesty]

It could work out live action and proably make more money then in animated flick.

I really don't think it'll work. I mean, Batman is an old timer, and in the comics, he's still pretty big. If they got somebody old like Clint Eastwood, then it would just look silly, because old guys are skinny as hell. I hate how Magneto looks on film, and I don't want another skinny old person playing somebody who is still supposed to be "big".

And if they went down the black rubber-suit route, then I also think it would be a disservice to the comic. I dunno, I just can't see it working out, while being faithful to it's comicbook counterpart, without having a wimpy looking Batman, and I really don't want to see that. Sure, Clint Eastwood is old, and he's still a badass, but he isn't even close to looking like TDKR-Batman.

 

[Pythagoras]

I highly doubt Eastwood would be in the movie. I like Sly Stallione as Bruce Wayne/Batman since he in great shape for an old man and can play the part of the old man Batman.

Also they could just use the black suit like they have done in all the Batman live action flicks without it being a big issue. Trust me with Stallione as Batman in TKDR it will not be a wimpy Batman.

Also Magneto in X-Men movies did not have to be or look big considering he has mutant abilities and no one could touch him cause he would just push them away from him. So he was a threat without looking all on steriods.

 

[Brother Jack]

I like TDKR, and I know a ton of people are always split on their love/hate for the story, but even though I like the story, I just don't think it would make for a good live-action movie. Maybe an animated version, sure, but I just don't see it working live.

I don't think it would be impossible for it to work in live action, but I agree that doing it as an animated feature would be easier to pull off.

 

[Bruce Malone]

For those of you wishing to see zack snyder direct TDKR, just pick up the book and flip the pages really fast in front of your face. That is pretty much it.

 

[Pythagoras]

What about J.J. Abrams? Doubt it though.

 

[BH/HHH]

For those of you wishing to see zack snyder direct TDKR, just pick up the book and flip the pages really fast in front of your face. That is pretty much it.

Ha ha ha