Why Tim Burton Had To Cast Michael Keaton As Batman (Despite The Backlash)
Despite the considerable backlash, Tim Burton had a strong reason for why he had to cast Mickael Keaton in Batman 1989. Before its release, comic book movies were seen as light, child-oriented entertainment. That would all change with Burton’s iconic take on the Dark Knight, but Batman 1989 wasn’t without significant controversy, specifically Keaton’s involvement.
Tim Burton brought his trademark gothic visuals and macabre humor to the world of Batman, depicting a monstrous vision of Gotham City in which Batman battles the Joker (Jack Nicholson). Batman was a defining moment for the superhero genre, but it was an uphill battle to get everyone on board with Burton’s plan. Michael Keaton’s haunted portrayal of Batman is now beloved, with a highly anticipated return in the upcoming The Flash and Batgirl, but his casting was originally ridiculed.
Related: Michael Keaton Flashback & Batman '89 Retcon Hinted At In Batgirl Photos
In the 1980s, Keaton was best known for comedies, so his Batman casting came as a shock, resulting in one of the earliest examples of fan backlash regarding a casting. Even producer Michael Uslan took some convincing, as he recalled during an interview on a podcast. Uslan described how Tim Burton had to cast Michael Keaton as Batman because he “didn’t know how” to use a “serious” actor in the role. He insisted Keaton could harness the humanity and obsession within Bruce Wayne and the typical physicality of Batman shouldn’t matter. (via Hollywood and Levine)
Uslan was determined to return Batman to his dark comic roots. He cited Jack Nicholson’s Joker casting as “the greatest moment of my career” but was “apoplectic” when he then heard about Michael Keaton. Uslan recalled, “I thought he was kidding, and
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