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Could Kurt Russell have been the "second best" option to play Batman behind Michael Keaton?

posted 4 years ago by TMC-4 (20475)
13 replies | jump to latest

Even before I came across this, I imagined Snake Plissken would be relatively close to how I could've pictured him as Batman:

https://screenrant.com/retro-cast-recasting-dark-knight-batman-in-1980s/

Kurt Russell's 1980s filmography was loaded with back and forth performances featuring stoic anti-heroes and wisecracking funnymen. The former would have worked to his advantage as Batman, while the latter could have served his Bruce Wayne alter-ego.

It's not hard to imagine Russell in the bat-suit, either. He'd already practiced his rough, gravely voice in the signature John Carpenter classics The Thing and Escape From New York. All that would have been left would be to sign on the dotted line and green-light the picture.

http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/7446

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:NI9MPda0bFMJ:https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-07-03-9807030199-story.html+&cd=18&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

[–] KaiMaster (923) 4 years ago

He would've made for a good Batman.

[–] wrlord (1218) 4 years ago

Nope, would have been horrible. Bruce Wayne has class, not swagger.

[–] TimMC (9143) 4 years ago

That's an interesting point but I think KR would have made a fine Batman. Better than Keaton??? Probably not, IDK.

[–] Cristianos (303) 4 years ago

I disagree. Kurt Russell would have been a good Bruce Wayne/Batman. Granted, I think he would have played Batman similar to how he played Snake Plissken.

[–] Capnbucky (2218) 4 years ago

What an interesting topic . Although I don’t agree with Tylenol 4 guy there . My dad though Mel Gibson should have done it .

[–] Capnbucky (2218) 4 years ago

I don’t disagree but I don’t agree

[–] e3e34ifj (1912) 9 months ago

I think he would've made an excellent Batman, but I'm not sure if he would've made for a good Bruce Wayne. But I agree his Batman would've been really similar to Snake Plissken I imagine.

[–] Jones70 (6853) 4 years ago

Yeah he would have been good as well.

[–] seanwhelan2310 (576) 2 years ago

Could have worked, he would've had the right height. Other names that would have made good Batman back then were Alec Baldwin, and Ray Liotta (he could have also made a better Two Face than TLJ).

[–] DoctorThirteen (15227) 2 years ago

Ray Liotta as Two-Face is something I would love to have seen! 👍

[–] MaximRecoil (4830) 9 months ago

"Could have worked, he would've had the right height."

Kurt Russell is 5' 9", the same height as Michael Keaton. Batman is supposed to be 6' 2".

[–] BOandBarbecue (2264) 2 years ago

yes he would have been good choice as wayne/batman.

he would be by second choice after keathon.

[–] DoctorThirteen (15227) 2 years ago

No. Russell is one of those guys who always looks 'full' in the face, no matter how fit he might me. He wouldn't look right in the mask. Affleck suffered from the same thing in BvS; he looked good in the armoured suit/helmet, but the more form-fitting cowl of the standard suit made him look like he was carrying some extra pounds (which he definitely wasn't). And I agree with the poster who said that his Wayne wouldn't have class. I'm not a Russell hater. I've liked him in some things, but he's not Batman.