Michael Keaton He is the best Batman That’s what the actor recently said while participating in a Q&A video for Wired magazine. That’s literally everything he said. While sharing his answers to the internet’s most-searched questions, Keaton faced the biggest and most important question first: Why is Michael Keaton the best Batman?
Funny enough, Keaton didn't miss a beat, turning to the camera and saying, “Oh, because I am.” This is certainly a statement that is hard to argue with, as for many, Keaton’s portrayal of the Dark Knight is hard to beat. Whether it’s because he was the first to portray the character on the big screen, the nostalgic vibe surrounding his portrayal, or the way Tim Burton brought gothic fantasy to the streets of Gotham City, it doesn’t really matter, as many fans will likely agree with Keaton’s succinct comment.
However, his success in the role was not always guaranteed, and Burton took what was considered a huge risk in casting an actor known for his comedic roles as Batman. In fact, Keaton reflected on the hatred he received before Batman It was released during his appearance at Tim Burton's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. Keaton spoke about the controversy surrounding his original casting, saying:
“I will never understand [this] Why did anyone care? The hype… You'd think we were being invaded. It was unbelievable. The press was in a frenzy. But… [Burton] “You stood by me. I will always appreciate the courage you had to support this decision.”
Michael Keaton Defines Batman in a New Light
Prior to the 1989 film, the caped crusader's on-screen appearances had been limited to television, with another Batman icon, Adam West, playing the role across 120 episodes between 1966 and 1968. West also starred in a TV movie released between the show's first two seasons in 1966. However, West's version was largely “time-appropriate,” but as the 1980s drew to a close, the Batman that appeared in cinemas around the world was a darker, more serious version, in keeping with some of the character's later appearances in comics.
While Keaton's previous work had him more inclined to present Batman in the Adam West vein, under Burton's direction, the duo came together—with the help of a deliciously bonkers Jack Nicholson—to create what would become the template for every Batman film that followed. While things began to move away from the pun-filled, unnecessary embellishment, it wasn't enough. batman and robinChristopher Nolan's trilogy put everything back on track and included arguably the greatest Batman movie ever made. The Dark Knight.
Now, fans have two Bat-Men entering their lives, with Robert Pattinson's real-life version of Bruce Wayne returning in Batman – Part 2 In 2026, James Gunn is set to cast a new actor for the role in the DCU continuity. It's not yet clear how this new star will appear in Keaton's original Batman film, but the actor seems pretty confident that Bruce Wayne will remain the number one hitman no matter how many other actors take on the role in the future.
