For a Brief Moment, Clint Eastwood Could Have Been Batman

The big picture

• Clint Eastwood was considered for the role of an older Bruce Wayne in a live action
  Batman beyond
  film, which unfortunately never came to fruition.
• Batman beyond
  was a popular animated series set in the future and featured a retired Bruce Wayne mentoring a new Batman.
• Eastwood's participation in a
  Batman beyond
  The film could have revitalized the Batman franchise after the disappointing one
  batman and robin
  and offered a new take on the character.

Clint Eastwood he has played more iconic characters than almost any other actor in film history. While his role as the enigmatic “Man with no name” a Sergio Leone's A handful of bucks, for a few bucks morei The good, the bad and the ugly is perhaps his most iconic, Eastwood also directed in Western classics such as now Outlaw Josey Wales, pale rideri unforgivable. Enter his infamous role as the titular rogue cop in Dirty Harry franchise and his Oscar-nominated performance in his second Best Picture winner, Million Dollar Baby, Eastwood certainly doesn't need any additional credentials to add to his resume. That said, the idea of ​​him playing Batman is incredibly interesting, and it almost happened.

Clint Eastwood almost cleaned up 'Batman & Robin's Mess

In an episode of Kevin Smiththe podcast of Fatman in Batmanthe acclaimed comic book writer Paul Dini he said that he and AlanBurnett he had been approached to write a script for a live action Batman beyond movie with Remember the Titans director Boaz Yakin Attached to the film's lead, Dini explained that it was set in Gotham's future, but lacked the “fantasy, futuristic edge”. Eastwood was to be approached for the role of an older, grizzled Bruce Wayne in what Dini described as an “amalgam,” where “there was a bit of The Dark Knightthere was a bit of contemporary comedy and there was Terry McGinnis and the suit and everything.” Unfortunately, the film was never meant to be during a time period when Warner Brothers was desperately trying to find a new direction to take the Batman franchise after the disaster that ensued. batman and robin.

Batman beyond was at the height of its popularity, and given that the animated show had a much darker tone than any other Joel Schumacher films, it would probably translate into a more serious and grounded film. While this is the direction that Christopher Nolan finally took with Batman Begins, there is no one better to play a dark and brooding character like Bruce Wayne than Eastwood. Eastwood was at the height of his career after winning the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director unforgivablebut he was still acting in films of other directors like Wolfgang Petersen's In the line of fire. It's not guaranteed if Eastwood would have said yes, but the idea of ​​him stepping into the Batsuit would have completely changed where the franchise went.

What is 'Batman Beyond' about?

Batman beyond was a popular animated series for Warner Brothers Animation developed by Dini, Burnette and Bruce Timm which aired shortly after the end of both Batman: The Animated Series i The New Adventures of Batman. while Batman beyond it retained much of the same visual language it had done Batman: The Animated Series such a game-changing success for animation, it told a completely different story than anyone had seen before from the franchise. Set 20 years after the end of The New Adventures of Batman, Batman beyond takes place in a futuristic version of Gotham City where Bruce Wayne finds himself in the mid-1950s. After breaking his rule of never threatening criminals with a gun, the weapon that had been used in his parents' murder, Bruce decides to retire from his duties. His allies Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl and Red Robin, are now separated, and most of his rogue's gallery is assumed to have been killed or imprisoned.

Batman beyond initially received a more mixed response from fans, but has grown in stature as one of the biggest DC comic book adaptations ever. Kevin Conroy reprized his role as Bruce becomes a mentor to the teenage Terry McGinnis (Will Friedle), and trained him to become the new Batman. The dark, cyberpunk approach was different Batman: The Animated Series, as well as its focus on a teenage character dealing with youthful anxieties. The series spawned the second DC Animated Universe feature film afterwards Batman: Mask of the Ghost with the 2000s Batman Beyond: The Return of the Joker. while The return of the Joker it wasn't released in theaters like its predecessor, it didn't drop in quality in any way.

Clint Eastwood and Batman went in different directions

After batman and robinAt the release of, several new film proposals were discussed and later scrapped by Warner Brothers. Akiva Goldsmith had a field for Batman v Superman film, an adaptation of the beloved graphic novel Batman: First Year proposed with Darren Aronofsky directing it Despite being thoroughly developed, these projects fell through as Warner Brothers was also trying to plan a proposal Superman reboot The notion of a Batman beyond The movie was certainly intriguing. Fans might have been more receptive to a reboot that focused on a new character, and Eastwood's involvement would certainly have given them enough reason to be excited. Who better to erase memories of the Bat credit card, rubber nipples and all George Clooneythe version of the character that someone like Eastwood?

Eastwood was also at an interesting point in his career. Although it looked like he might have been flirting with different movie genres after swearing off westerns later unforgivable with the romantic drama The Bridges of Madison Countythe emotional thriller A perfect worldand the paranormal mystery Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Despite this, Blood work, true crime, i Space Cowboys seemed to confirm that he hadn't given up on acting entirely, so perhaps the role of The Dark Knight would have appealed to him.

looks like one Batman beyond the film may be doomed. Warner Brothers reportedly scrapped plans to develop a new adaptation with the return of Michael KeatonBatman, and a new actor will be cast as Bruce Wayne's father The brave and the daring. Although you can never count Eastwood out completely, it seems Juror #2 will be his last film as a director, and he is unlikely to do any additional acting work. However, it's always fun to imagine a “what if” scenario where the coolest actor of all time could play the coolest superhero in the multiverse.