So as we all know, the 1988 Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Returns" was baised on the 1986 graphic novel of the same name by Frank Miller, who was brought on as a production consultant. The film is largely credited with bringing the 1980s "comic revolution" created by DKR and Watchmen (which would itself get a highly acclaimed movie in 1989 thanks to DKR the movie's success) into the pop culture "mainstream". Adam West won an academy award for his role as grizzled older Batman, and in the process completly deconstructed and overshadowed his earlier role of Batman as portrayed by the infamously campy 1960s TV show. Casting Christopher Reeve to play opposite him as Superman made the epic battle scene at the end of the film even more memorable, not to mention what a good Joker Mark Hamill was. So good he even did the voice of the Joker in the 1990s cartoon! Director Quentin Tarantino, who had his major studio debut with this film, would go on to change film forever in later decades. So what if this highly successful, highly acclaimed, and highly controvertial movie of the comic was never made? What if the studio had gone with it's original plan to use an original script, with Tim Burton directing, and Michael Keaton as Batman? Would such a radically different movie have been nearly as influential?
Last edited: