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If Michael Keaton was never Batman, other actors who might have pulled it off

posted a year ago by seanwhelan2310 (562)
19 replies | jump to latest

Kurt Russell: He would have been able to bring the character depth that Keaton did and given the character the more tough, physical aspects of Batman as well.

Billy Campbell: He certainly looks like Bruce Wayne stepped out of the comics and grew his hair out a bit! I like Bill a lot for Bruce Wayne, but not for Batman. More’s the pity. In 1989, the idea of masking Batman’s voice with an electronic distortion wasn’t part of the film; had that been the case, he would be a much stronger candidate in my book.
He was good in “The Rocketeer”, and I think that was a good fit for him, and though he certainly LOOKS the part, I’m not sure he could have been a good Batman

Ray Liotta: He was offered to audition but turned it down, but later regretted it, he would have handled the intimidating side of Batman, no question, but he also could have captured the human vulnerability of Bruce Wayne; which is a juggling act of emotional range not every ‘80s leading man had.

Alec Baldwin: say what you want about his private life or controversies, but he could have pulled it off in the 80s, especially if he bulked up like Cavill or Bale did for their roles. Also he looks like Bruce Wayne from the 70s comics

Others who were considered
-Mel Gibson: Good choice, but too short
-Harrison Ford: Good choice, but was probably too big of name
-Pierce Brosnan: He'd make a good Bruce Wayne, but Batman IDK, had he gotten then he wouldn't have gotten the chance to play James Bond
-Kyle MacLachlan: Would have been young enough to carry the series and grow into the role
-Dennis Quaid

[–] TMC-4 (19393) a year ago

I wouldn't out and out eliminate Mel Gibson simply for being "too short" because Michael Keaton himself, should've otherwise been written off in that regard. Michael Keaton is I believe, about 5'9" whereas Bruce Wayne is traditionally described as being 6'2".

[–] TMC-4 (19393) a year ago

Besides likely being too big of a name, Harrison Ford also probably would've been too old. He was I want to say, about 46-47 in 1988-89. He may have been the right age if they wanted to do a Dark Knight Returns type of storyline but not something about a Batman who is just becoming "known" to the general public.

[–] DoctorThirteen (10151) a year ago

'Kyle MacLachlan: Would have been young enough to carry the series and grow into the role'

I like MacLachlan a lot but I could never have taken him seriously as either Batman or Bruce Wayne. Incidentally, I watched Justice League: The New Frontier yesterday, and MacLachlan voiced Superman.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7396) 8 months ago

Though he was new and only been an actor on TV, Kevin Conroy who voiced Batman in the Animated Series, would have been a good choice for Bruce Wayne/Batman. He was in an episode of Matlock from the late 80s and he looked just like Bruce Wayne in the Animated Series.

[–] TMC-4 (19393) 8 months ago

I'm probably going to catch heat for this, but I do can't help but wonder if the fact that Kevin Conroy was gay (admittedly, I don't think that he was publicly out at the time) would've inevitably made a potential live-action casting a risk. I know that as an actor, your job is to convince people that you're somebody else, but I still would have to imagine what would it be like to see Kevin Conroy romance Kim Basinger during her prime.