Michael Biehn Spills: He Nearly Played Batman in 1989 Movie Along With Robin Williams’ Joker: “everybody who’s ever played Batman has always bitched and moaned and groaned”

by

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a twinge of nostalgia when I think about the 1989 Batman movie. It was a groundbreaking film that set the stage for modern comic book adaptations, and it still holds up today.

1989’s “Batman” film, helmed by Tim Burton, narrates the transformation of Bruce Wayne into the crime-fighting vigilante Batman in the city of Gotham. Michael Keaton dons the cape and cowl as Batman, while Jack Nicholson takes on the iconic role of the Joker in this brooding, fashionable interpretation of the superhero. This groundbreaking film was a massive success and paved the way for future comic book adaptations.

Prior to being lauded for his performance, the decision to cast Keaton stirred up quite a bit of debate. Several other actors were in contention for the role, and given that he was primarily recognized for his comedic roles, there were questions regarding his ability to deliver a convincing dramatic portrayal at the time.

It was recently disclosed by Michael Biehn, well-known for his roles in “Aliens” and “Terminator,” that he was strongly considered for the part of Batman as well.

In a recent episode of the “Just Foolin’ Around” podcast, actor Michael Biehn disclosed that he had not one but two meetings with director Tim Burton regarding the role of Batman in his initial movie. Burton was mulling over two potential duos: Biehn as Batman alongside Robin Williams as the Joker, or the eventually cast pair, Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson.

In a past occasion, I visited Warner Brothers where I encountered Tim Burton. During that time, our gatherings weren’t auditions but simple meetings. I would merely drop by and converse with him. However, I had a knack for convincing people of my potential in the role and my unique approach to playing it.

In my previous attempts, I often combined several actions with some dialogue thrown in here and there. I’ve done this numerous times. One such occasion was when I collaborated with Tim Burton. It appears that he took a liking to me. This was for the iconic Batman character, specifically the original version.

In this instance, I attended a significant meeting with Tim Burton, and his agent, Ed Lamato, accompanied me. This encounter took place at Warner Brothers, where we conversed with Tim Burton for approximately an hour. Notably, Tim Burton ultimately cast Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson in the roles following this discussion.

However, Lamato informed me that Burton faced a dilemma with two options – one of which involved me, and the other, casting Robin Williams as the Joker in his film. Apparently, Burton was still deciding on this matter at the time.

The host highly appreciated the concept of teaming up Biehn and Williams, labeling them as a formidable team. Yet, Biehn openly confessed that he held no interest whatsoever in taking on the role.

I hadn’t recognized Tim Burton previously, but his work as Batman’s director didn’t particularly grab my attention. It seems that every actor who’s portrayed Batman has complained endlessly about how challenging it was to embody him, the costume, and the role as a whole.

Have you watched the recent Batman movie? I must say, I absolutely adored it. I found it incredibly well-executed, and I’ve grown quite fond of it.

You can check out the actor’s statement below:

The 1989 “Batman” film generally received positive criticism, yet a few viewers found it overly gloomy. Many appreciated the movie’s aesthetic, art direction, and Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of the Joker, albeit some felt the narrative didn’t give sufficient attention to Batman.

Audience opinions were split regarding alterations such as the Joker murdering Batman’s parents, and although Prince’s tunes received a mix of responses, Michael Keaton’s portrayal of Batman left spectators impressed.

Read More

2024-12-02 15:44