As a seasoned movie enthusiast who’s witnessed the evolution of cinema from the golden age to the modern superhero era, I wholeheartedly agree with Michael Keaton‘s sentiments about Tim Burton’s groundbreaking impact on the superhero genre.
In Michael Keaton’s view, Tim Burton played a crucial role in shaping today’s popular superhero genre. Before performances like Robert Pattinson as Batman and Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in the first Marvel Cinematic Universe film, before Wesley Snipes donned the Blade costume, Tim Burton reshaped the comic book movie landscape with his 1989 Batman film. Michael Keaton believes that fans have not given enough credit to Burton’s groundbreaking work in the superhero genre.
Reflecting on his return to the iconic character Beetlejuice after a long absence, Michael Keaton reminisced about his professional journey and collaboration with Tim Burton. After making waves as Beetlejuice in the original film, Burton chose Keaton for the title role of Batman, giving the character a more brooding twist than previous portrayals such as the one by Adam West on TV. At the time, Burton’s version of Batman was revolutionary, but it has been eclipsed by an unending tide of contemporary superhero films. In his words:
“Tim Burton truly deserves a great deal of recognition. His work transformed the landscape significantly. While it’s hard for me to definitively claim this, it seems quite plausible that there might be no Marvel or DC Universes as we know them today without Tim Burton’s contributions. He was often met with skepticism and scrutiny.”
Michael Keaton Praises Tim Burton for Casting Him in Batman
Prior to Michael Keaton being selected for the role in Batman, he was recognized primarily for his comedic acting roles, with his standout performance in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice being particularly notable. When it was disclosed that Keaton would portray Bruce Wayne in Batman, fans were taken aback and expressed their disapproval. This occurred before the advent of social media, when only a physical protest by over 50,000 comic book enthusiasts was employed to voice their dissent towards Keaton as the iconic Gotham City vigilante. However, once the film premiered in 1989, the skeptics fell silent, and Burton’s dark rendition of Batman became the benchmark, until Christopher Nolan reintroduced the character 16 years later through a reboot.
Reflecting on his casting, Michael Keaton thinks that Tim Burton doesn’t get enough recognition for having faith in what Keaton could contribute to the role. After the film was released, fans admired Keaton’s performance, some even saying they had always believed he was capable of it. However, according to the actor, the appreciation should be directed towards the respected director instead.
“He didn’t receive as much recognition as he deserved when he acknowledged knowing Michael. People were surprised because they knew him from Beetlejuice, but it seems like Tim saw the movie ‘Clean and Sober’. I believe he deserves more credit for making that decision, which was quite daring.”
GQ interviewed Burton about the article, and they asked him why he chose Keaton for the main part. Burton didn’t refer to “Clean and Sober” during his response, but he stated that he immediately believed Keaton possessed the necessary qualities to portray Batman.
“I have a deep affection for Michael due to his unique vitality. This is the reason behind my desire to cast him as Batman; when you gaze into his eyes, he exudes an intelligence, menace, madness, and intensity that are all simultaneously captivating.”
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2024-08-23 19:31