The Michael KeatonBatmanmovies have led to numerous sequel and spinoff properties , taking place in as many as 4 dissimilar DC Universes . Critically , commercially , and culturally , 1989’sBatmanwas a huge success for DC and Warner Bros , cementing itself as a pop culture phenomenon and go out a lasting impact on how major blockbuster film are market . The picture show ’s 1992 continuation , Batman Returns , did not hit the same soaring heights as its predecessor , at least ab initio . Returnswas a controversial film whose violent and intimate substance – and meaning deviations from theBatmancomic rootage material – breach many spectator .

Batman Returnsdoes hold up in many regards , however , especially with TV audience front back with fresh eyes , appreciating thelive - action Batman movieand its bold choices and esthetic qualities . Even with the picture show ’s initial controversy , it was barely the end of the original franchise . The level of Michael Keaton ’s Batman continued in a variety of holding , with many taking place in freestanding population and 1989’sBatmanandBatman Returnsbeing overlapping canyon . alternative timelines and overlapping persistence are common in superhero fiction , but each of the different Michael KeatonBatmanuniverses has a different and fascinating intellect for live .

Live - activeness portrayals of Batman range from silly and lighthearted , like Adam West , to dark and serious , like Christian Bale and Robert Pattinson .

Split image of Adam West, Christian Bale, and Robert Pattinson as Batman

Joel Schumacher’s Batman Movies Were The Original Sequels

The controversial reception toBatman Returnsled Warner Bros to take theBatmanfilms in a more family - friendly direction , and thus Joel Schumacher substitute Tim Burton . Schumacher ’s two films – Batman ForeverandBatman & Robin – are arguably more comic - accurate than Burton ’s films , but their more light-hearted tones and knowing encampment resulted in poorer receptions than the Burton duology . The Schumacher pic drastically reimagined Gotham City as a smart and more futurist setting , Michael Keaton was supersede with Val Kilmer ( and by and by George Clooney ) as Batman , and Billy Dee Williams was replaced by Tommy Lee Jones as Two - side .

Despite this , the Schumacher film are sequel to Burton ’s movies . Michael Gough and Pat Hingle reprise their part as Alfred Pennyworth and Commissioner Gordon , severally , and there are even some continuity nods . InBatman Forever , Dr. Chase Meridian references Catwoman , and Bruce Wayne ’s warnings to Dick Grayson against killing Two - Face allude to him killing The Joker . Alfred ’s joke about the Batmobile inBatman & Robinmay also reference Batman ’s vehicle being destroyed in the Burton films . A canceled 5th film – Batman Triumphant – would have see the villains of both the Burton and Schumacher motion picture appear as Fear Toxin - make delusion .

Batman ‘89 Comics Are Closer To The Keaton Batman Films

2021 image the going of theBatman ’ 89comics by Sam Hamm and Joe Quinones , and whilethey are not part of the same creation as Joel Schumacher’sBatmanmovies , they also follow up on the events of 1989’sBatmanandBatman Returns . Sam Hamm wrote the script for 1989’sBatmanand the original story discourse forBatman Returns(despite it being replaced with a drastically different story by Daniel Waters ) , making him an ideal author forBatman ’ 89 , which is a far more direct continuance of the events and characterizations of the Burton films .

Billy Dee Williams was set to play both Harvey Dent and Two - Face in 1989 ’s Batman , but what bump to his grapheme after Tim Burton ’s picture ?

Batman ’ 89makes unremitting nods and references to the Burton filmsand develops lineament like Bruce Wayne and Commissioner Gordon consequently . Harvey Dent – who retains the likeness of Billy Dee Williams – becomes a importantly different Two - expression thanBatman Forever’sversion . Batman ’ 89also introduces a novel version of Robin ( now the original grapheme Drake Winston ) , using Marlon Wayans ’ likeness as a nod to Wayans virtually playing the Boy Wonder inBatman Returns . Batman ’ 89is tailor - made for those who perhaps wish well to see what hypotheticalBatmansequels would look like if they were still being lead by Tim Burton .

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The Flash Almost Made Keaton’s Batman Part Of The DCEU’s Future

Michael Keaton himself returned to the Batman part , this time in the DC Extended Universe filmThe Flash . The pic is a loose adaptation of theFlashpointcomic storyline , in which Barry Allen accidentally creates a different timeline by travel back in prison term and redeem his mother ’s living . In the DCEU , this new timeline looks like a hybrid of the chief population and the BurtonBatmantimeline , with Keaton ’s Batman replacing Ben Affleck ’s iteration . In this DCEU Flashpoint existence , the events of 1989’sBatman , Batman Returns , and perhaps even theBatman ‘ 89comics all occurred years ago .

The Flashends with Keaton ’s Batman dying in battle against General Zod ’s Kryptonian extremists and then get his timeline erased when Barry Allen vivify the timeline . Fascinatingly , The Flashwas initially belong to stop with the DCEU remaining a hybrid of the pre - Flashpoint timeline and the BurtonBatmanuniverse . With Ben Affleck stepping down from the Batman role , Keaton would have replaced him as the DCEU ’s Batman andsome of the Burton - era traditional knowledge would conduct over into the new post - Flashpoint DCEU . Ultimately , these plans were scrapped and the DCEU would be part rebooted into theupcoming DC Universe .

Batman: Resurrection Continues The Story From Batman ‘89

Other continuations of the BurtonBatmanmovies are not in a clearly defined continuity . During the Arrowverse’sCrisis on Infinite Earthstelevision event , a BurtonBatmanuniverse appears , with a newsprint headline revealing that The Joker ( seemingly having returned from the deadened ) has been captured by Batman . Michael Keaton ’s Batman andJack Nicholson ’s Jokerhave similarly appear in recent DC comics , with the first proceeds ofDark Crisis : bragging Bangbeing one notable example . While these property apparently separate off from the Burton films , it is not well-defined if they inhabit the same continuity asBatman ’ 89 , for example .

John Jackson Miller ’s novelBatman : Resurrectionwill be let go of in October 2024 , and will be set between the case of 1989’sBatmanandBatman return . As an interquel , Resurrectionwill most likely not reference , allow alone contradict , the established character or traditional knowledge of the Schumacher films or theBatman ’ 89comics , as it may be more focused on bridging the taradiddle of the two Burton film . This might allowResurrectionto inhabit all of the branchingBatmantimelines , make it a third case of overlapping continuity between the original two Michael KeatonBatmanmovies and their various subsequence .

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