These days Michael Keaton has experienced a rejuvenated career as an actor with performances in Birdman, The Founder, and Spotlight, but there was a time when he played Batman in Tim Burton's adaptation over 20 years ago. The actor recently opened up about the films in a conversation with The Guardian, and when asked about why he didn't return for the third Batman film (after Batman (1989) and Batman Returns), he said the quality just wasn't there.
"[The film] just wasn't any good, man. I tried to be patient, but after a certain point, I was like, I can't take this any more, this is going to be horrible. But, look, there was some really horrible taste in the '90s, and I probably contributed to that, unfortunately. It was a time of nouveau riche excess - everyone was known for their jets and their stuff."
Joel Schumacher was the director who followed Tim Burton, and this third Batman film turned into Batman Forever, a remarkably different take on the superhero, going from a darker style with Keaton to a more colourful and over-the-top one with Val Kilmer.
Does Keaton regret the decision, though? Well, it seems not, as he explains that a lot has changed since the nineties. "I thought, I'm in this job for the long run, I don't want this," he said. "And the truth is, I'm not boasting, but I was correct. There are a whole load of people who ran things that are long gone."
Is Keaton one of your favourite Batmans?