Willem Dafoe was almost cast as Batman!

Willem Dafoe was almost cast as Batman!

The actor has denied rumours he was considered for Jack Nicholson's part of The Joker in 1989's Batman but has revealed that he was very nearly cast as the caped crusader!

News
By JoshWilding - Oct 27, 2009 08:10 AM EST
Filed Under: Batman
Source: MTV Splash Page

After seeing a curious bit of "trivia" on Willem Dafoe's IMDB page stating that the actor was considered for the role of The Joker in Tim Burton's "Batman" back in 1989, MTV got in touch with the actor to see whether there was any truth to the rumour.

However, it seems that it wasn't the role of the Clown Prince of Crime that the 'Spider-Man' star was considered for, "Very early, they talked to me about playing Batman." Dafoe told MTV News.

"I hate to spread these things because unless you remember it well, you're stoking the fires of bulls---," said the actor. "But I remember it. I've had my brush with these things."

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LEEE777
LEEE777 - 10/27/2009, 9:18 AM
Yeah and JACK NICHOLSON was up for GREEN GOBLIN in SPIDEY 1!
Betty
Betty - 10/27/2009, 9:27 AM
Haha no way! Willem Defoe as Bruce? I could see the Joker but Wayne?

Leee are you kidding or are you being serious? I can't tell.
supermarioworldE
supermarioworldE - 10/27/2009, 9:39 AM
I guess they thought that the guy who played Jesus, would be perfect for the role of a dark, fear inducing vigilante. Can't go wrong with that logic.


invalensname
invalensname - 10/27/2009, 9:41 AM
Next up for Dafoe:
Captain America: The Creepiest Avenger!
ElBicho
ElBicho - 10/27/2009, 9:50 AM
At least his Batman voice would've been great!

Keaton was a phenomenal Batman.

Bale's great too, but the voice... swear to me...

JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 10/27/2009, 9:54 AM
He would make a decent Batman if they ever made a 'Dark Knight Returns' movie, lol!
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 10/27/2009, 10:10 AM
mmmk that's pretty strange
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 10/27/2009, 10:10 AM
I really don't see how his casting would have been any more bizarre that Keaton's. Both are slight build, shortish, vaguely fugly looking, but intense actors. Burton obviously had a type in mind when he was casting. Keaton pulled it off of course..well, except for being shorter than the Joker..their scenes together looked very strange.
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 10/27/2009, 10:15 AM
I mean the guys a great actor and all but... no. Just no
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 10/27/2009, 10:22 AM
Loads of actors went up for BATMAN??!

Just lucky the final result was MICHAEL KEATON!!

And BETTY, no wasnt joking lol, JACK was a hot favorite for GREEN GOBLIN! Well thats what i read years ago??!

Anyway WILLAIMS so wrong for BATMAN, im sure it was for the role of JOKER! Its BS lol.
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 10/27/2009, 10:30 AM
Well here goes whatever tiny bit of credibility I may have around here right out the bloody window.

Speaking of Dafoe, I LOVED him as Green Goblin. I thought he was amazing and perfect and....









... I also didn't mind the suit lol there I said it, don't hate.
ecksmanfan
ecksmanfan - 10/27/2009, 10:34 AM
Hmmm, that could've been very interesting. Creepy, but interesting.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 10/27/2009, 10:38 AM
DARTH @ I loved him as NORMAN OSBORN too!! Though the GG costume could've been a bit better.
invalensname
invalensname - 10/27/2009, 10:38 AM
I wouldnt see it working. Keaton and Dafoe are both intense but Dafoe is far too creepy intense.
Keaton's a funny guy but could play it down in the Batsuit and as Wayne, sublimated at least part of his humour into charm.
Dafoe may work as Batman but as Bruce Wayne? No. No, no, no. Charming? Perhaps a little, but creepy would over-ride it all.
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 10/27/2009, 10:47 AM
Yeah LEEE777 it could have been better, I agree. It could have been more like the comic.

But just the way everyone went apeshit about it like it was just the dumbest, lamest, most ultratarded thing ever done in a CBM was way out of proportion I thought.

Raimi's GG wasn't so much about a guy dressing up in a stylized goblin costume, as it was about an inventer who lost his mind and used his inventions for crime. One of which was an experimental green flight suit.
Whether or not you support Raimi's decision to go that way with it, you mist admit it makes sense. It's understandable.
Nemesys
Nemesys - 10/27/2009, 10:52 AM
As skinny as he is, one punch would have laid him low! I say he should play the Hobgoblin in Spidey 4. Have it turn out Osborne wasn't actually dead, but took years to recover and his already warped mind was warped even further.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 10/27/2009, 11:11 AM
@ mulder

i agree with you about GG. i thought he did fine. i liked the costume too, i just didn't like the helmet. it couldn't been better looking. but it didn't ruin the movie or anything.
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 10/27/2009, 11:21 AM
cool
Denn1s
Denn1s - 10/27/2009, 11:23 AM
man i love this actor. he is the green goblin after all. and he would have nailed the joker. as for the batman...i don't think he has the looks of a billionaire playboy.
and this is my idea of the riddler in the TDK sequel. johnny depp has to play him. facial hair not necessary. the riddler is a genius so he must be eccentric. like depp

BillyBlack
BillyBlack - 10/27/2009, 11:25 AM
Dude, they could've painted DeFoe's face green and given him a purple sock hat, and he would've been a dead ringer for the goblin!

That said, I also liked Raimi's take. In fact it was the only Spiderman movie I really liked.

As for Batman, uhhhhh No.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 10/27/2009, 11:29 AM
DARTH @ Yeah man!!

DENN1S @ Awesome DEPP/RIDDLER picture Kudos!!
Denn1s
Denn1s - 10/27/2009, 11:29 AM
thanx again LEEE777. the only bad thing about green goblin in the movie was that he was all green. he should have some purple parts
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 10/27/2009, 11:49 AM
I didnt hate the Green Goblin's costume in Spider-Man but the concept ones that I saw in the 'making of' book that came out alongside the film were much better. If Dafoe does come back as Osborn I really hope we'll see something a little closer to the comic book version! Still, seeing as he's been in all 3 so far Im hoping he's back and alive for Spider-Man 5/6!!!
FlashThompson
FlashThompson - 10/27/2009, 12:12 PM
I think Christian Bale's Batman voice is hilarious. It reminds me of a girl I used to work with that was a habitual smoker that always asked me if I wanted to "drink some beers" with her. God she was sexy.

I don't think it would have been bad, Dafoe as Batman, we can't picture it now because we still have the lasting impression of Keaton and Bale as Batman. I think he's a great actor who can fill any part given to him very well.
FlashThompson
FlashThompson - 10/27/2009, 12:46 PM
@BmanHall - I bet I made her feel all warm inside when I plowed that shit. HEY NOW!
FlashThompson
FlashThompson - 10/27/2009, 1:02 PM
@ BmanHall - where do they think they came from? More than likely a booty call, an amatuer porno film, or a drunken night of sloppy sex.
thegreek
thegreek - 10/27/2009, 1:24 PM
@EL bicho - LOL ... that was funny

And very true Keaton was and probably still is the best batman even though he didn't have the physic for it
InTylerWeTrust
InTylerWeTrust - 10/27/2009, 1:28 PM
I can't see him as Bats at all. He would have been an AMAZING Joker IMO though.

Denn1s: Cool drawing, but Depp is not Riddler my friend ;)

The only Riddler is David Tennant!
FlashThompson
FlashThompson - 10/27/2009, 1:28 PM
Children and most slutty co-workers. I agree Keaton is a great actor he just didn't look like Batman. Not to sound limp wristed but isn't Batman supposed to be good looking? Keaton I thnk was lacking in that department. Also another problem I have with Bale as Batman is that his mouth and lisp are hideous and you would be able to point him out just by his mouth and lisp alone.
thegreek
thegreek - 10/27/2009, 1:31 PM
@ Flash Thompson - LMAO
skmaster
skmaster - 10/27/2009, 1:33 PM
I bet u he is lieing he just wants peps to talk about him
antz1104
antz1104 - 10/27/2009, 2:04 PM
@ Flash: Bale is a good all around bruce wayne/ batman, but when he does the batman voice too much (the dark knight) it sounds forced and fake. Keaton had that DOWN, and he owned the whole "I'm batman, I don't have to run for anything dammit" cool persona.
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 10/27/2009, 2:19 PM
KEATON-HAD EVERYTHING BUT MUSCLES...VAL KILMER-JUST TOO PRETTY...CLOONEY-COULDN'T TAKE HIM SERIOUS WHEN HE HAD BAT NIPPLES,A BAT CREDIT CARD,NO....BALE-HE HAS EVERYTHING BUT THE VOICE, ALL THAT MONEY AND SPACE AGE TECH NOT ON THE MARKET AND LUCIUS FOX CANT INSTALL A VOICE CHANGER INTO YOUR COWL?...
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