Initially met with skepticism, Michael Keaton’s casting as Batman in the 1989 film is now regarded as a pivotal moment in comic book movie history. In a recent interview with GQ, Keaton, known for his role in Beetlejuice, revisited the controversy surrounding his casting and praised director Tim Burton’s groundbreaking vision.
At the time, Keaton’s selection as the Caped Crusader sparked protests from 50,000 comic book fans. Despite the backlash, Keaton credits Burton with transforming the superhero genre. “Tim deserves enormous credit. He changed everything,” Keaton said, suggesting that without Burton’s daring choices, there might not be a Marvel or DC Universe as we know them today. “He hasn’t gotten himself enough credit for going, ‘Yeah, that guy.’”
Burton himself explained his decision to cast Keaton, citing the actor’s unique energy. “You just look in his eyes, and he seems intelligent, scary, crazy—everything all at once,” Burton shared with GQ.
Keaton’s portrayal of Batman is now celebrated as one of the character’s best, despite the many actors who followed, including Christian Bale and Robert Pattinson. Keaton even reprised his iconic role in 2023’s The Flash and the unreleased Batgirl film. Reflecting on the latter’s shelving, Keaton said, “I didn’t care one way or another. Big, fun, nice check.” However, he expressed empathy for the film’s directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, saying, “I like those boys… I think they felt very badly, and that made me feel bad.”
Looking back on his Batman legacy, Keaton admitted, “I’m proud of it actually because I like to prove everybody wrong. It’s fun for me.” Burton’s Batman would go on to win an Oscar for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration in 1990, cementing its place in film history.
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