As a gamer with a soft spot for ’80s and ’90s pop culture, I can’t help but appreciate the audacious move that Tim Burton made by casting Michael Keaton as Batman. Back then, it was like suggesting Spider-Man should be played by Jim Carrey or Iron Man by Eddie Murphy – it just didn’t seem to fit! But boy, was I glad I was wrong.
Today, many people acknowledge that Michael Keaton delivered an outstanding live-action Batman portrayal, a performance that stands out among others. However, it might have come as a surprise given the controversy when he was chosen for the role back in the ’80s. Over time, director Tim Burton discussed the criticism surrounding his casting choice, and Keaton himself reflected on those days
In the late 1980s, Michael Keaton was predominantly recognized for his comedic roles, having just wrapped up one of his most significant ones yet, “Beetlejuice.” Not long after this film’s release, Tim Burton, its director, was chosen to create a “Batman” movie. At Burton’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, Keaton shared insights about being cast for the role and the media’s initial response to this decision
Tim has just handed me a script and tells me to read it, giving me his thoughts. This is following Beetlejuice, and he wants the studio to take notice of my performance in that movie. I can’t fathom why this caused such a stir, but the reaction was immense – almost as if an invasion were taking place. The media went wild over it, yet he stood by me throughout the ordeal
Here’s a possible paraphrasing:
Regardless of the challenges, Tim Burton remained loyal to his principal actor, and this decision shaped history as we know it. Not only did Michael Keaton deliver outstanding performances in the Batman films directed by Burton, but the actor emphasized that their collaboration had an impact extending beyond his own career. Keaton expressed these thoughts:
The guts it took for him to make that decision will always be special to me, obviously – but also what that [film] spawned. There are a lot of people making a lot of money out there with their superhero movies because of his choice and his vision of what those movies could be, because he changed everything. I’ve said it a hundred times, but it’s true.
Michael Keaton gained immense popularity and when he reprised his role in The Flash, it was undeniably one of the most discussed aspects of the entire film. Moreover, a significant reason fans were disheartened that the Batgirl movie was cancelled was due to Keaton’s anticipated portrayal as Batman once more. However, Keaton himself expresses less disappointment about the movie not being made, since he still received payment for his work
There’s certainly no argument that Tim Burton started it all and, perhaps, if he had gone with a more conventional choice, Batman would not have been the success that it was. Michael Keaton knows what it meant to his career, and many of us know as well. You can stream that 1989 flick as well as its sequel, Batman Returns, using a Max subscription now.
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2024-09-05 16:08