A long time comic fan, William Baldwin was delighted to voice Batman in the latest animated feature from DC. He reveals in an in depth interview with IESB.net that he very nearly got to don the cape and cowl for real when Sh*t.--excuse me-- Schumaker took over the reigns of the franchise.
IESB:
"What are your thoughts about joining the list of actors from Adam West and Michael Keaton to Val Kilmer and George Clooney to Kevin Conroy and Christian Bale - that have played Batman?"
WILLIAM BALDWIN:
"I almost did join that group - I was one of Joel Schumacher's top choices when Val Kilmer wound up playing Batman. Tim Burton and Michael Keaton had left, so Joel had the luxury of replacing Michael Keaton and he told me that his four choices - which was an eclectic, diverse array - were Daniel Day Lewis, Ralph Feinnes, Val Kilmer, and me. I didn't even know it at the time - he told me when I had a meeting with him later. The next time, when George Clooney did it, (Schumacher) said, 'You were on my original short list with those other three actors, but the studio went with Val and this time I'd like to go with you.' And that Friday afternoon, I thought I was playing Batman - and then Monday morning, the headlines in the trades said that George Clooney had gotten the part. So apparently, I did actually come very close.
I was very excited to do this. I wasn't really thinking about any past Batman, but more of letting the material sort of dictate the choices that I make as an actor. What's happening physically, what's happening emotionally, what's happening in the writing. That's what really drives your performance."
Well, Daniel Day Lewis as Batman? Ralph Feinnes! Hard to imagine now, but back then, certainly something to see.
Check out the full interview by clicking on the link below.
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