Batman vs Superman 1995
-
Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
bozo_500 — 12 years ago(July 31, 2013 04:39 AM)
what if theyd made it for 1995 instead of Batman Forever (so roughly 20 years before its actually going to come out)
WBros wernt too pleased with Batman Returns in 1992 (made almost half the box office of Bat89 and had alienated audiences/parents by being too gothic/German expressionist/plain weird). they wanted another Bat film but i dont think they wanted Burton back and i dont think he was all that bothered about doing another anyway (he said so himself in an interview about initial talks for the 3rd film on one of the dvd docs)
and of course Superman IV had bombed 5 years previous. in the early 90s there were rumours of another Superman film with and without Reeve (Lois and Clark had started on tv in 1993)
but if theyd decided to do BvS then as a way to boost Batman with Superman - (like is happening now with the MOS sequel -bringing in Batman to boost Superman after MOS didn't quite hit it out the park) and to rejuvenate the Superman franchise, my guess is they wouldve still offered it to Burton (as they had with Forever) who possibly wouldve been more interested in doing it than another Bat film (he almost made Superman Lives a few years later)in which case Keaton wouldve more than likely decided to do another. As for Superman i think they wouldve considered a new actor initially and maybe Dean Cain, but probably wouldve ultimately gone with Christopher Reeve as despite the failure of Superman IV he was still firmly established as THE superman in peoples minds back then (and still now really), it wouldve been such a big deal to have him facing off/teaming up with Keaton Bat and he was age appropriate with Keaton (Reeve had appeared alongside Keaton in 1994 rom com Speechless)in addition Reeve probably wouldnt have been able to compete in the fateful horse riding show due to attending premieres, interviews etc (wouldve been filmed in 94 then released the same time as Batman Forever early June 95 - Reeves accident was 27 May 95) plus it'd have given his movie career a huge much needed boost, potentially leading to more Supermans and other big movie roles
It wouldve been more Batcentric than Superman as it would really have been Batman 3 co-starring Superman. the story couldve been a loose adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns (which Bat89 was also influenced by)
so itd have been:
WBros presentsA Tim Burton film.
Batman vs Superman
Starring Michael Keaton, Christopher Reeve, John Travolta, Rene Russo, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, and Gene Hackman
(cameos - Kim Basinger, Jack Nicolson, Margot Kidder, Jackie Cooper, Mark McClure, Terence Stamp, Marlon Brando)
*John Travolta as Two Face instead of TLJ (JT was hot off his Pulp comeback at the time and was doing villains). Rene Russo would be more age appropriate than Kidman for Reeve/Keaton (and was in everything back then.) Basinger an a cameo as VV who shows interest in Reeve. Nicolson would've cameod as the joker in a flashback or dream sequence. No Robin. The Reeve support cast just cameos in the opening set Metropolis. Stamp/Zod maybe something to do with Doomsday? Plus Brando as Jor el (voice only) in a poignant Superman Returns style appearance talking to Reeve. Score would be Elfman (who would incorporate the Williams themes) or maybe an Elfman/Williams collaboration -
bozo_500 — 10 years ago(April 19, 2015 09:38 AM)
BvS (1985 after SIII)
Superman cast (Reeve, Kidder, Cooper, McClure, Hackman)
Batman/BW - James Brolin
Alfred - Alec guiness
Lucius Fox - Sidney Poiter
Cmsr Gordon - Charlton Heston
Thomas Wayne (flashback cameo)- Robert Redford
Mrs Wayne (flashback cameo)- Faye Dunaway
Bruce Waynes girl - Bo Derek
Joker - Postman Always Rings Twice Jack Nicolson
director Richard Donner or Lester -
wallacesawyer — 10 years ago(March 16, 2016 07:34 PM)
A Christopher Reeve/Michael Keaton Superman and Batman crossover could have been so awesome. Frankly I'm stunned it has taken this long since Time Warner bought DC to even take the idea seriously.
http://www.freewebs.com/demonictoys/ -
bozo_500 — 10 years ago(March 23, 2016 03:51 AM)
Cool BvS '95 poster available to buy!
https://www.madduckposters.com/blogs/news/113452741-dawning-of-justice-by-steve-kurth -
Tiberius27-1 — 9 years ago(April 15, 2016 11:34 PM)
I REALLY like the imagination and creativity you've put into this! I come up with similar "What if?" creative exercises myself and this one is pretty spot on!
That being said, a couple of constructive criticisms which are just my opinions mind you. None of us can definitively say what would or wouldn't have happened with a speculative scenario like this.
1)I really don't think that Tim Burton would have done a Batman versus Superman film after Batman Returns. The bottom line for the failure of BR was that Warner Brothers gave him the complete creative freedom which he lacked on the first successful film and with that mandatory freedom he gave us penguins walking with rockets strapped to their backs and the inevitable failure of BR. He had as bad a taste in his mouth for the franchise at that point as Warner Brothers no doubt had for his freaky deaky take on Batman which was a love/hate thing for them no doubt seeing as how they loved the grosses for the 89 Batman but hated Burton's difficult and avant garde style which seemed incapable of producing a studio hit without outside guidance whilst at the same time fighting such guidance tooth and nail.
2)While I can see why you'd assume that Danny Elfman would or should score a Tim Burton directed film featuring Michael Keaton as Batman, if Burton is removed from the equation the clear answer would be to get the best of the best and not for a collaboration: John Williams to score solo not only reprising his classic Superman themes but composing new ones as well for the Dark Knight.
3)In my opinion practically the only director who could have made this work at that time would have been Richard Donner himself. Whether he would have or not who knows? But IF he chose to he could have and would have done it successfully of that I have no doubt.
But great work on the creativity!
I appreciate others who think outside the box like I do!
"Be nice until it's time to NOT be nice." -
bozo_500 — 9 years ago(April 16, 2016 05:47 AM)
thanks. I guess the other way would've been BF and B&R happen in 95/97 as happened (or maybe Burton does BF in 95 then no more batman movies) and then Burton does Superman Lives with Cage in summer 98(with Keaton Bat cameo) leading to a Dark Knight Returns inspired BvS (Cage v Keaton) in 2001, then JLA (2002)
-
Tiberius27-1 — 9 years ago(April 16, 2016 01:09 PM)
Idk how much you've heard about what would have happened in Superman Lives had it been made but as a huge Superman fan myself I'm glad that it never was. Between Burton and Jon Peters, they had enough horrible ideas in it that it was practically guaranteed to be at best a Showgirls style "So bad it's good" cult fave and at worst an instant Golden Raspberry award winner destined for the Mystery Science Theater treatment. As so so as Superman Returns was at least it wasn't the travesty that Superman Lives would have been.
"Be nice until it's time to NOT be nice."