Tim Burton’s Batman was one of the first comic book movies that took the material as seriously as it did and as a result, a movement was launched. For many Batfans, this was their first exposure to the Bats and continues to be their definitive Batman movie, with many still considering Michael Keaton to be their Batman. Younger fans look to Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan for their definitive Batman.
The cape and cowl has yet again been passed on to a new, very capable but controversial actor, Ben Affleck. With Batfleck being such a hot-button issue these days, journalists will continue to hound previous Batman actors about their tenure in the mask. About a month ago, Bale expressed some jealousy over not being able to play the Caped Crusader again.
Recently, Michael Keaton sat down with the ShortList to do press for his newest movie Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). In the movie, he plays a washed-up actor once known for playing a superhero, known as Birdman. Sound familiar? Though the subject matter greatly resembles Michael Keaton, Keaton denies that it is based on him. With the recent news of Bale’s jealousy, the interviewer made sure to ask if Keaton ever felt the same. In a move that will greatly please fans, Keaton responds, “No. Do you know why? Because I’m Batman. I’m very secure in that.”
Prior to that, the reporter asks a question regarding Batman and its influence on superhero movies since then, to which Keaton replied:
“Tim changed, or started, everything. And I’m proud of the choice I made, in terms of how to play Batman. It’s probably easier now because Tim paved the way, and if I did anything to pave the way, I’m proud of that, too. I’ve never seen [a superhero movie] beginning to end. Oh actually, I saw the first Spider-Man – I thought that was really good. You can step into it more easily now, is my guess. Technically, [superhero movies] do everything for you. They create a world where all you’ve basically got to do is show up, not [expletive] it up too much and you’ll come off OK.”
A little sad to know that he hasn’t seen any superhero movies, but he comes off as down-to-earth and very charming.
Check out the rest of the interview here.
Source – Shortlist