WI: Tim Burton directed "Batman Forever"?

Supposedly, Warner Bros. felt "Batman Returns" should've made more money, even though it was a Box office success, and for that reason asked Tim Burton to step down as director and be a producer. Plus, Parents complained about "Returns" being too dark. What if Tim Burton directed "Batman Forever" instead of Joel Schumacher? How much different would it be? Supposedly Michael Keaton declined to reprise Batman in part because he did not like the direction the franchise was going in. If Burton is director, does he come back as Batman instead of having Val Kilmer play the part? Is a Burton directed "Forever" more successful than Schumacher's? I watched the movie last night, and while not nearly as bad a Schumacher's second Batman movie, it still was bad compared to Burton's two movies.
 
It features Batman murdering lots of people, is dark for its own sake, and generally is a steaming pile of crap. Just like Batman Returns was. In other words, its a typical Burton film. And it inevitably gets praised when the studio goes, "hey, maybe we should portray our superhero as an actual hero," and gets rid of Burton afterward. Again, just like Batman Returns.

Say what you will about Schumacher's films, but at least they didn't feature Batman murdering people for no reason.
 
I continue to think that the problem with Batman Returns was Warner Brothers fault as would the case with Batman and Robin. What made the film unacceptable was because of Burton's Penguin. Burton did not want to use the Penguin-he had no idea what to do with him initially. If the studio hadn't demanded his inclusion-you'd have a different version of Batman Returns that would have had a different response. Or at least Burton is far more likely to be rehired for the third film.


Said third film would be a completely different project than the film that exists. Also-the movie wouldn't be called "Batman Forever" because Burton hates that title.

I have no idea what direction the film would head in. I suspect we'd be looking at some version of the Riddler as the antagonist-but I have no idea where he would take that character. I have heard the rumors of the shaved head and pet rat but I don't know how that would function in practice.

The other thing to keep in mind is the cultural aesthetics issue. Batman and Batman Returns are products of the late 80's and early 90's. Culturally speaking-the mid to late 1990's are an entirely different beast. The era of George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton may seem to be closely linked in historical terms-but culturally there's a huge difference between 1991 and 1995. Inevitably that would filter into the kind of film Burton might make or at least the studio pressure he would be under.

My divergence for keeping Burton around longer is ditching the Penguin. You end up with a version of Batman Returns that either features Catwoman as the sole antagonist or perhaps they keep Harvey Dent around in the Max Schreck role.

Fewer parents complain, McDonalds sells more toys, and Burton is rehired for a third film.

Of course any changes you make to Batman or Batman Returns would alter the course of the animated series which honestly might have a more lasting impact in fan circles.
 
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