Ray Liotta Passed On The Chance To Audition For Tim Burton's Batman!

Ray Liotta Passed On The Chance To Audition For Tim Burton's Batman!

While Michael Keaton eventually ended up nabbing the role of the Caped Crusader in Tim Burton's Batman way back in 1989, did you know that Ray Liotta was offered the chance to play the DC icon? So, why did he say no? Find out here...

News
By JoshWilding - Nov 04, 2011 09:11 AM EST
Filed Under: Batman
Source: The Playlist



In a lengthy interview with The Playlist about his career, Ray Liotta reveals just how close he came to playing a superhero before ultimately turning the offer from director Tim Burton down. Below is an excerpt from the story, but you can read much more (including what he makes of James Mangold helming The Wolverine by clicking on the link below.

When asked whether or not he’d ever auditioned for a superhero movie, Liotta revealed that he once had a unique opportunity to get in on the ground level of a promising – and ultimately hugely successful – superhero franchise. "I remember right after a movie I did, ‘Something Wild,’ Tim Burton wanted to meet me for Batman. And at that time, I said, ‘What are you kidding me? I’m an actor.’ But now it’s changed; now it’s good because if you do that you get other movies."


As mentioned above, the role eventually went to Michael Keaton, but would you have been happier seeing Liotta face off against Jack Nicholson's Joker in the cape 'n cowl? Be sure to share your thoughts in the usual place.



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RunDTC
RunDTC - 11/4/2011, 9:42 AM
hm, interesting. Liotta's a good actor but I can't picture him as Batman.
nuck82
nuck82 - 11/4/2011, 9:57 AM
hes got to much of a bad guy look, wouldnt fit in as batman, maybe 2 face if burton did more back then
skiteman
skiteman - 11/4/2011, 9:57 AM
Keaton was great in the role. But I would loved to have seen a young Ray Liotta take a stab at Batman.
CaptainPresley
CaptainPresley - 11/4/2011, 9:59 AM
I think he would have been great. Too bad.
DDub
DDub - 11/4/2011, 10:04 AM
And at that time, I said, ‘What are you kidding me? I’m an actor.’

says the guy who was in 'Wild hogs'
dnno1
dnno1 - 11/4/2011, 10:04 AM
I still think he would make a great Maxwell Lord.
Rowsdower
Rowsdower - 11/4/2011, 10:05 AM
They didn't want him for Bruce Wayne, he was considered for the Joker.
MassExecutions
MassExecutions - 11/4/2011, 10:10 AM
‘What are you kidding me? I’m an actor.’

HA! No doubt famous last words for many.
REMY1
REMY1 - 11/4/2011, 10:14 AM
" For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be a Gangster "-- He didnt need to be Batman.
Rowsdower
Rowsdower - 11/4/2011, 10:20 AM
Probably would've been a pretty different movie if he'd been cast the Joker. The Joker's role in script was embellished after Nicholson signed on, donchaknow.
TyrannicalOverlord
TyrannicalOverlord - 11/4/2011, 10:21 AM
He's an actor? Really?
TyrannicalOverlord
TyrannicalOverlord - 11/4/2011, 10:22 AM
@Remy- Unfortunately, gangster roles are abut all he can really pull off.
Trapdinsteel
Trapdinsteel - 11/4/2011, 10:25 AM
As much as Michael Keaton got the job done, it would have been interesting to see Alec Baldwin as Batman in the Burton films...

Rowsdower
Rowsdower - 11/4/2011, 10:31 AM
@Trapdinsteel: Agreed, his voice is awesome and he had superhero good looks. It's especially odd considering that he had already worked with Burton on Beetlejuice. They must've not been on the same wavelength, as Baldwin never appeared in Burton film again.
pintoman
pintoman - 11/4/2011, 10:32 AM
It was great to see Batman on the screen...but ultimately, because of Burton, what we got should have been called "The Joker". Burton's films have yet to feel expansive. They all feel as if they are done at a studio and Batman was no exception.
comicsxaminer
comicsxaminer - 11/4/2011, 10:44 AM
Actually, Liotta was considered for The Joker and not Batman according to an old Comics Scene magazine article as well as a Starlog issue that mentioned a little bit about the development of Batman 1989 before it was filmed. Liotta doesn't specify in this interview which role he was offered other than saying he was a part in Batman.
Nicholson was always offered the role, however the WB had to do some major butt kissing before he committed to it. Alec Baldwin and Charlie Sheen were favored for Batman by the studio but Burton campaigned for Michael Keaton and the rest is history.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 11/4/2011, 10:50 AM
Guess he doesn't take super hero movies very seriously, many don't. He's a great actor though so [frick] it, each to his own.
headlopper
headlopper - 11/4/2011, 11:05 AM
I'd pass on anything Tim Burton's making.
He's a novelty film maker. Don't like his stuff except 'Edward Scissorhands'.
Will never forgive him for butchering 'Planet of the Apes'.
StrangerX
StrangerX - 11/4/2011, 11:09 AM
Don't know about Batman but he would have been a better Harvey Dent
StrangerX
StrangerX - 11/4/2011, 11:12 AM
Than Billy Dee Williams
nuck82
nuck82 - 11/4/2011, 11:46 AM
@Trapdinsteel if he was batman then we might have missed out on that great the shadow movie.... oh wait
TyrannicalOverlord
TyrannicalOverlord - 11/4/2011, 12:02 PM
Never cared for Balwin too much but I must agree that he might have been a good cast for Batman.

@headlopper- Don't be to ticked at Burton for Planet of the Apes. Heard he was at odds with the studio about all sorts of changes the wated to add in for the sake of $$$. I bet if they would have just let him have it we would have gotten a better film. I agree it wasn't one of his best though.
plasticman
plasticman - 11/4/2011, 12:24 PM
I don't know how you replace Michael Keaton in that situation. He had just the right amount of sauve/quirkyness to bring that role to life in the environment that Tim Burton had created.

Liottw would have been great as a Green Lantern though. Either him or Dennis Quaid would be perfect fitting for an emerald ring.
GrayFox1025
GrayFox1025 - 11/4/2011, 12:29 PM
@Headlopper

I agree, I was not too thrilled with his Planet of the Apes either, however this year we were blessed with a new Planet which destroys Burton's. The only other Planet movie better than Rupert Wyatt's is the original with Charlton Heston
AlexDeLarge87
AlexDeLarge87 - 11/4/2011, 1:32 PM
StrangerX@ Thought the exactly samething.

As much as i loved Keaton as Batman i think Alec Baldwin would have been even better Bats.
Willem Dafoe would have been great Scarecrow or Man-Bat.
Jack Nicholson was The Joker and i couldnt think anyone else who would have been better in the role in that time than him. He had that classic Joker look.
Robert De Niro would have been great Mr. Freeze.
Viking
Viking - 11/4/2011, 2:57 PM
@RunDTC what are you kidding me ? how can you not picture him as Batman =S
Alphalad
Alphalad - 11/4/2011, 4:02 PM
"I'm an actor. That's funny."
What do you mean funny? Am I here to amuse you Liotta?
Bartman87
Bartman87 - 11/4/2011, 6:25 PM
When he states that "I'm an actor" remember everyone thought of superhero movies as tights and capes and Batman was the worst because of the 60's campy TV Show. If this movie had failed he would be in worse shape than he already is in his career, too bad he didn't take it maybe his career would have been much more.
Blackmatter
Blackmatter - 11/4/2011, 7:48 PM
(in my Johnny carson voice)"I did not know that"

loved him in gfellas
Floke
Floke - 11/5/2011, 11:56 AM
Perhaps he said it like this:
-What are you kidding me? I’m an actor?!
Superdan2012
Superdan2012 - 11/7/2011, 6:28 PM
I think in the SHAZAM film Ray Liotta can play Billy Batson's father. We need to get him off from that subject what the original Batman films discuss
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