Batman Foreverwriter Akiva Goldsman gets candid about Joel Schumacher’s original cut of theDCsuperhero film. One of the actors who had a short run playing the Dark Knight in live-action was the late Val Kilmer, who took over for Michael Keaton after Tim Burton’sBatman Returns,before George Clooney took over the gig inBatman & Robin.
WhileBatman Foreverwas a box office hit, raising $336.9 million at the worldwide box office, there was initially a different iteration of Schumacher’s movie, which was said to be a lot darker. Fans have attempted to getthe Schumacher cut ofBatman Foreverreleased, with a screening almost happening for the film this year.
In a recent interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Goldsman explained how he tried to get Warner Bros. to allow fans to finally see Schumacher’s originalBatman Forevercut. However, the screenwriter got candid about how tricky it has been to get the studio to cooperate, as he shared the following:
After Joel died [in 2020], I reached out to Warners and said, “There’s a darker version of this movie.” We found it. It exists and it’s incomplete, but more complete than you would think. Today there would be giant sections where the VFX wasn’t done. In those days, so much of it was miniatures and practical effects — they were done. We were trying to dust it off, and then everybody stopped caring. But I lobby for it.
THRalso asked Goldsman about some of the key differences between Schumacher’sBatman Forevercut and the version that the general public has seen. Per Goldsman, there was a bigger focus on Bruce’s recurring visions of a red book, which was actually Thomas Wayne’s diary:
Bruce is having these recurring visions of a red book, which turns out to be his father’s diary. There’s an entry that says, “Martha and I want to stay home tonight. Bruce wants to see a movie, so we’re going to take him out.” So he holds himself responsible [for their deaths]. There’s a section in the movie where he actually is hit in the head. He doesn’t remember that he’s Batman, and he goes back into the cave. There’s this now rather famous Rick Baker bat that he faces.
What Akiva Goldsman’s Batman Forever Comments
It’s worth remembering that after the release ofBatman Returns, the film was heavily received as too dark, leading to a lighter tone forBatman Forever. While Schumacher’sBatman Forevercut still exists,there may be apprehensions about unveiling it due to the potential costs that could come with re-releasing the film.
Screening Schumacher’sBatman Forevercut could also be considered a more complicated prospect due to the recent creation of theDC Universe timeline, as the DCUSupermanmovie was just released, paving the way for the new franchise. WithBatman Foreverreleasing in 1995, the time that’s passed since may also have made a potential re-release less of an appealing prospect for Warner Bros.
Our Take On Akiva Goldsman’s Batman Forever Comments
The Schumacher cut being released right now currently seems less likely, as DC Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery have their focus on the DCU, as well as active Elseworlds properties, including Matt Reeves’The Batmanfranchise. Releasing Schumacher’sBatman Forevercut today for any screenings would also possibly cause confusion for the general public.
However, once the DCU timeline is further established, it doesn’t seem impossible for the decision to be made to release theSchumacher’sBatman Forevercut. But as of right now, fans can always relive theBatman Forevertheatrical cut through home media release and streaming.
Batman Forever
Cast
After Tim Burton’s plans for a third Batman film fell through, director Joel Schumacher took over the franchise with 1995’s Batman Forever. Replacing Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer stars as Bruce Wayne opposite to Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones, who play The Riddler and Two-Face, respectively. Batman Forever also marks the first time Robin appears on the big screen since Burt Ward reprised his Boy Wonder role in 1966’s Batman: The Movie.
