"Dark Knight Returns" is my absolute favorite graphic novel of all time and I've wanted to see it adapted to film since reading it when it first came out. Clint Eastwood was exactly who I had in mind for Batman (And I just recently heard that Miller is,like me a BIG Dirty Harry fan and it was in fact his dissatisfaction with "The Dead Pool" being Harry's swan song that led him to do the Sin City story that starred Bruce Willis in the film. Miller thought THAT is how Harry should go out, and after writing a final Dirty Harry myself, I appreciate how Frank handled it.) and if done right, it could be the best Batman film EVER.
Your casting choices alternated between interesting and obvious to be brutally honest PonyboyJones. Can you honestly say that if Michael Keaton HADNT already played Batman that ANYTHING in his repertoire would suggest a role like DKR requires? Willis I could see(Either for Two Face OR Batman)but Keaton is PURE nostalgia. You might as well suggest Adam West. The less said about suggesting Kim Basinger back as Vicki Vale, or Annette O'Toole reprising her Lana Lang from "Superman 3"(!), or James Brolin("The Reagans") as Reagan the better. David Warner as Alfred WAS interesting as was Rutger Hauer as Gordon.(Would you have thought of him if he WASNT in "Batman Begins"?) Brad Douriff as The Joker was inspired and I'm sure that you know that Willem Dafoe was one of the actors considered for the part. ("Batman" screenwriter Sam Hamm said he wrote younger than Nicholson with someone like Dafoe, Michael Pare, or Ray Liotta in mind. Sidenote question: I wonder if he ever envisioned how to bring back The Joker following the death plunge he gave him at the end of Burton's original?)
All in all though, I'm all for whatever talent combination CAN successfully translate DKR to film. As brilliant as Miller's writing was I'm not SURE he has the directing chops to do it. If Penn can, or even Nolan (Though I'd hope he'd get an entirely new cast.)then I'm for it. Consequently I think Miller's take on Robin (Female) is the ONLY way for the character to work successfully. A dark character like Batman doesn't need and shouldn't want a young boy sidekick by his side(ESPECIALLY one named "Robin"!)and it's no wonder the majority of fans voted for Robin to die when given the chance. Of course, DC cheated and simply brought in another Robin but that's another issue. I respect Burton's decision to NOT include Robin in his Batman films (Though he considered his usual trick of B&W casting when thinking of Marlon Wayans for the role ala Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent or Chris Rock as Jimmy Olsen in his mercifully NOT done Superman film).
Burton's films werent perfect but WERE dark.
"Be nice until it's time to NOT be nice."
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PonyboyJones
15 years ago
It is indeed one of my favorite graphic novels as well. My desire to see it brought to the big screen is probably no less than yours. That being said... in the world of opinions, one is neither right nor wrong. I've stated my reasons earlier as to why I felt Clint Eastwood was wrong for the role. But that's neither here nor there.
Some of the casting choices were made on nostalgic reasons (Vicki Vale and Lana Lang). I can honestly say that Michael Keaton COULD perform the role of Batman in the Dark Knight. Keaton, in my opinion, is the only guy who has come even remotely close to playing the character as he ought to be. As Tim Burton said about Keaton, "There's something behind his eyes that's going on and he doesn't really need to say anything." I'm not a Michael Keaton fan, I'm first a BATMAN fan. I think Keaton has outshined every other Batman performer.
The screenplay in which I've written for the story takes place in more... modern times therefore the reason for casting Brolin as Reagan. I'm sure they could put some no-name in there and that would be perfectly alright (ala Watchmen's Nixon character). I have always been a fan of Rutger since Blade Runner, so he was always my choice for Commissioner Gordon. Put a mustache on him and he's perfect.
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