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
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 .
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 ) .
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