Batman

Batmanhas had various versions on the big blind so far , but there ’s a lot of confusion between the Batman creation of Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher – fortunately , there ’s a sport hypothesis that solves this in a very interesting style . After the 1966 movieBatman , which was an adaptation of the 1960s TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward , the Caped Crusader return to the big screen in 1989 in Tim Burton’sBatman , with Michael Keaton playing Bruce Wayne . The decisive and commercial-grade winner ofBatmanmade elbow room for a continuation , Batman Returns , which was dark and more violent .

Tim Burton ’s visual modality of Gotham Citywas dark but kept a comic - playscript vibe without being cartoonish , and whileBatman Returnsis now see as one of the best Batman movies ever made , Warner made major changes and for its next one , it bring Joel Schumacher as director and Val Kilmer as Batman . Batman Foreverwas a altogether unlike adaptation of Gotham and its characters , and its sequel , the infamousBatman & Robin , had another Batman now encounter by George Clooney . All this has make a lot of confusion about whether Schumacher ’s Batman movies and Burton ’s are part of the same universe or not , and a hypothesis easy solves this by suggest the formerexists within the Burtonverse .

Related : Why Michael Keaton ’s Batman 1989 Casting Was So Controversial

Batman 1989 Poster

Why Tim Burton Didn’t Return For Batman Forever

AlthoughBatman Returnshad the same vibration and purpose asBatman , it went on a darker route with its story and characters , introducing Oswald Cobblepot / Penguin ( Danny DeVito ) , Selina Kyle / Catwoman ( Michelle Pfeiffer ) , and Max Shreck ( Christopher Walken).Batman Returnswas a boxful office success and break records , and while review criticized its different tone and darker tale , the cast and their performances received a lot of praise . unluckily , the tone ofBatman Returnsalienated family consultation , which also lead to a rebound against selling partners , specially McDonald’s . Burton had mind for a third Batman pic , but Warner decide to take the next flick on a more home ( and ware ) friendly road .

After considering directors like Sam Raimi and John McTiernan , Warner prefer Joel Schumacher after his work in the legal dramaThe Client , and he catch Burton ’s favourable reception . Michael Keaton decided to not rejoin as Bruce Wayne / Batman inBatman Foreveras he did n’t match with the counselling the movie was taking and turn down the script , and he also expressed his desire to pursue “ more interesting roles ” . Schumacher was concerned in casting Val Kilmer after seeing him inTombstone , and after turn over many other histrion ( among them Keanu Reeves , Johnny Depp , Tom Hanks , and Kurt Russell ) , Kilmer agreed to play Batman . Unfortunately , the production ofBatman Foreverwasn’t smooth , with Schumacher and Kilmer clash many time and Tommy Lee Jones also being charge out as a beginning of trouble , especially after how natural he was to his co - star Jim Carrey .

Batman Foreverwas a commercial-grade winner , pee way for a sequel , Batman & Robin , which also went through a couple of change . Kilmer did n’t return to play Bruce Wayne , and after Warner suggested him and Schumacher saw his performance inFrom Dusk till Dawn , George Clooney was drift as the new Batman . Unfortunately , Batman & Robincouldn’t replicate the success of previous movies and ended up being regarded as one of the spoiled movies ever made , lead to Warner offset succeeding Batman movies from Schumacher ’s population . All this go out the liberal interrogative sentence of whetherBurton ’s Batman movies and Schumacher ’s are part of the same universeor not , and a theory work out this in a fun and easy manner .

Michael keaton batman jim carrey Riddler

Theory: Schumacher’s Batman Movies Are Movies Within The Burtonverse

A hypothesis (viaCrackedandCBR ) explains that Burton and Schumacher ’s Batman movies are part of the same universe , and this is potential becauseBatman ForeverandBatman & Robinare picture withinBatmanandBatman Returns . Crackedexpanded on this estimate by propose that , at some point afterBatman Returnsand conceive Selina Kyle is drained , Keaton ’s Bruce Wayne decide to quit being Gotham ’s vigilante and his personal identity was made public . Of course , such an interesting account of an orphan millionaire turned superhero could n’t be dismiss , so some big movie studio apartment within the Batman Burtonverse would have adapted it to the big cover – and that ’s whyBatman ForeverandBatman & Robinare so different .

Related : Everything Batman Forever & Batman & Robin get Right

Schumacher ’s movies took Burton’sdark , medieval , and industrial Gotham and turned it into a bright , colorful , and camp city , with a more kid - well-disposed glide slope , which has made it hard to place both versions in one cosmos , but this theory take in it a lot well-to-do . This would also explain why there were two different Batmen after Keaton ’s version , as the latter would be the “ real ” Bruce / Batman and Kilmer and Clooney would be actors in the Batman Burtonverse , as well as the two different Harvey Dents ( the one act by Billy Dee Williams and Tommy Lee Jones ’ , the latter the moving-picture show version of the former ) .

Composite of Michael Keaton’s Batman suit in the Batcave and Keaton’s Batman with a bloody face

How Two Batman Characters Kill This Theory

Are Burton & Schumacher’s Batman Movies In The Same Universe?

While this hypothesis lay down it easier to place all these edition of Batman in the same universe , the substantial answer to whether Burton ’s Batman and Schumacher ’s hold up in the same universe or not is a scrap complicated . The Batman Anthology can be assure as separate entity , either split up it in Burtonverse and Schumacher ’s movies , or Burtonverse , Batman Forever , andBatman & Robin , or as one , though a freakish whole . In gain to sharing the same Alfred and Gordon , Batman Forever ’s Chase Meridian makes a reference toBatman Returns ’ Catwoman , and there are references to Bruce ’s backstory as picture inBatman . In the end , it ’s up to every watcher to adjudicate how Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher’sBatmanmovies coexist , but this theory sure enough make it easier and more playfulness .

Next : What If Tim Burton Had Made Batman 3 : All DC Changes & Nolan Impact

Batman and Robin 1997 Mr Freeze Poison Ivy

Batman Burtonverse Alfred Pennyworth

Val Kilmer as Batman in Batman Forever and Michael Keaton as Batman in Batman Returns

Batman

Batman Returns