BATMAN (1989) Concept Art: Alternate Batmobile & Batwing Designs

BATMAN (1989) Concept Art: Alternate Batmobile & Batwing Designs

Conceptual illustrator, David Russell ("The Wolverine"), worked on designs for the Batmobile and Batwing for Tim Burton's 1989 comic book movie, Batman. Check it out!

Feature Opinion
By nailbiter111 - Jun 01, 2014 02:06 PM EST
Filed Under: Batman (1989)
Source: David Russell
Emmy and Golden Globe-nominee Michael Keaton ("Herbie: Fully Loaded," "White Noise") stars as the legendary nocturnal crime-fighter. Academy Award and Golden Globe-winner Jack Nicholson ("About Schmidt," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest") is the Joker, Batman's maniacal arch-nemesis, and Academy Award and Golden Globe-winner Kim Basinger ("L.A. Confidential," "9-1/2 Weeks") is Vicki Vale, the beautiful photojournalist with a passion for Batman's alter-ego, Bruce Wayne. Directed by Academy Award-nominee Tim Burton ("Tim Burton's Corpse Bride," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"). Featuring songs by music legend Prince ("Purple Rain") and a score by Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominee and Emmy-winner Danny Elfman ("Tim Burton's Corpse Bride," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"). Selected by the prestigious American Film Institute as one of the 400 greatest American films of all time, who also added Batman and the Joker to its list of 100 Greatest Heroes and Villains.

BATMAN (1989) was directed by Tim Burton, from a screenplay written by Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren. The film starred: Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Jack Nicholson as Jack Napier/The Joker, Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale, Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth, Tracey Walter as Bob, Robert Wuhl as Alexander Knox, Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon, Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent, Jack Palance as Carl Grissom, and William Hootkins as Lt. Eckhardt. With a budget of $48 million, the filmed earned $411 million at the worldwide box office.
BATMAN Star Michael Keaton Says He'll Never Understand Why People Had An Issue With Him Being Cast
Related:

BATMAN Star Michael Keaton Says He'll "Never Understand" Why People Had An Issue With Him Being Cast
Tim Burton On Difference Between BATMAN And Today's Superhero Movies, SUPERMAN, And Possible Return To Genre
Recommended For You:

Tim Burton On Difference Between BATMAN And Today's Superhero Movies, SUPERMAN, And Possible Return To Genre

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Do you have what it takes to write for us?
Want to contribute?
1 2 3
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 6/1/2014, 2:57 PM
Best Batman ever, don't think he's gonna be beat ol' Keaton ;p
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 6/1/2014, 3:00 PM
Great find @ NAIL!
Nivekian
Nivekian - 6/1/2014, 3:01 PM
Kids these days, spoiled...
mmadadamm
mmadadamm - 6/1/2014, 3:01 PM
fear leads to anger, anger leads to stress, stress leads to doobies, and doobies.. lead to twinkies...
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 6/1/2014, 3:02 PM
Badass
write33
write33 - 6/1/2014, 3:02 PM
those designs are fantastic...'very much a 50's influence...they were drawn in what, '87? '88? 'neat view into CBM design History. I have much love for this movie, great find Nail.
nikgrid
nikgrid - 6/1/2014, 3:05 PM
@LEEE777
Best Batman ever, don't think he's gonna be beat ol' Keaton ;p


If he can turn his head, Keaton's beaten. Lol
campblood
campblood - 6/1/2014, 3:07 PM
more of this in the movies. also white eyes can work if done right

WakeOfMagellen
WakeOfMagellen - 6/1/2014, 3:08 PM
I remember seeing that movie as a fresh faced 18 year old....
in the theater the day the movie came out and the place was PACKED.
I have to admit..... the movie changed things ;-)
Ahhhhh good times :-p LOL
Abary
Abary - 6/1/2014, 3:15 PM
25 years later and we're still getting new concept art from the movie. Nice find Nail.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 6/1/2014, 3:15 PM
nikgrid @ ROCK on :p

Lol, yeah still he was awesome, Bale never touched him tho I love Begins and TDK.

This and Superman: The Movie made what comic book movies are today, without 'em who knows what we'd have today, if many of anything... damn we're spoiled :D
Jcool
Jcool - 6/1/2014, 3:23 PM
That Batmobile would not have looked good on film.
BlindJustice
BlindJustice - 6/1/2014, 3:25 PM
BlindJustice
BlindJustice - 6/1/2014, 3:32 PM
One of my favorite movies of all time. This one ranks right up there with Superman II and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Such a classic movie!

Whoever said it's an overrated movie needs to go back to watching their Sponge Bob and Dora the Explorer.
ManDeth
ManDeth - 6/1/2014, 3:40 PM
Batman 1989 had some great designs and a great look. Though the costume was not functional enough it looked good.
But the amateur script with no story and a terrible miscast Batman prevent it from being a great film.

The street shots of Keaton in the Batsuit delivering lines with his meek voice make him look like some dumbass nerd in a Batsuit out trick or treating.

Everything in that film rode on selling Batman which it failed miserably at. Just as Kilmer and C-looney failed. Which is why all of the Burton/Schumacher films are epic failures.

Four movies....four piles of shit!
Dios
Dios - 6/1/2014, 3:42 PM
Does anyone remember that Kenner 89 Batman figure with the retractable belt? I used to love that thing!
SoundWave
SoundWave - 6/1/2014, 3:47 PM
Just bring back Tim Burton to make new Batman movies based on Arkham game series!
supermarioworldE
supermarioworldE - 6/1/2014, 3:48 PM
God that batwing is gorgeous.
DefcoN
DefcoN - 6/1/2014, 4:04 PM
I could watch this movie any day. Nicholson's performance is fantastic.
grif
grif - 6/1/2014, 4:16 PM
always loved that scene where the water is splashed on his face and the makeup is half washed away. would have loved to see him looking like that the whole movie
Brainiac13
Brainiac13 - 6/1/2014, 4:21 PM
I'm from a small town in England........we don't have a theater, Shopping centre (Mall) [frick]ing charity shops everywhere. ............and......

This town was buzzing with Batman in 89.
BlindJustice
BlindJustice - 6/1/2014, 4:31 PM
@Dios - I had it too haha! I even passed it down to my kids to play with. The weird thing was that toy would show up in the oddest places.



@ManDeath - Awwww... Is someone missing their nap time? Your opinion is yours, but being a troll is quite pathetic.
Dios
Dios - 6/1/2014, 4:39 PM
@BlindJustice

That's the one!!! lol Kenner made great stuff back then!
ManDeth
ManDeth - 6/1/2014, 4:41 PM
@BlindJustice Being wrong is pathetic. Something you are if you think Keaton was a good Batman. I guess you would buy Michael J Fox as Batman too.
Keaton wasn't even a good Bruce Wayne. But he fit Mr. Mom pretty good.
BlindJustice
BlindJustice - 6/1/2014, 4:44 PM
I remember people (even grown adults) sitting in the aisles at the local theater (this was before stadium seating) and giving the movie a standing ovation. It's still one of the few movies I've seen where the ENTIRE theater gave it a standing ovation. Yes, people stand up at the end of movies, but rarely do they clap and cheer for the film.

I'm pretty sure the Fire Marshall was payed to took the other way that night haha. Or perhaps it was THIS guy...
BlindJustice
BlindJustice - 6/1/2014, 4:49 PM
@ManDeath - Yes. You are certainly correct about being wrong. *wink wink nudge nudge* I'm curious though... Who would YOU have chosen to play Batman in 1989?

Remember, Tim Burton seems to attach himself to certain actors and actresses. Case in point: Johnny Depp. There really weren't many choices back then when it came to playing an iconic character like Batman. Keaton was really the best actor for the job and he brought a good fan base with him as well.

Also, Keaton was good in Mr. Mom... BUT, the more recent film (at that time) that made him was Beetlejuice. Keaton and Burton were BOTH riding high after that film was released.
Zuriel
Zuriel - 6/1/2014, 5:03 PM
I guess the angle that Burton was going for, a normal looking guy no one would expect, is just lost on some people. Keaton's Bruce Wayne had issues! He was a recluse. Picture the Bruce Wayne, in Arkham City, walking around during the day in public. No one would guess who he was? Those games are closer to the comics than any movie so far, but you can see how impracticable it is. These are the issues you have when you bring comics to the big screen. You have to balance the fantastical with the believable.
BlindJustice
BlindJustice - 6/1/2014, 5:09 PM
@Zuriel - So true! And not every casting is going to be as spot-on as Christopher Reeves. I mean come on! Talk about being BORN to play a superhero!
1 2 3
Related Headlines
Latest Headlines

Hot Headlines Hot Headlines

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Anime & Manga

Gaming

Horror

Cartoons & Animated Features

Action Movies & TV

Pro Wrestling & MMA News
View Recorder