Batman 3: For the right price, I will help the GCPD. Unless they are going to ask the Bat-Man for help.

Batman 3 '95

Batman 2 may have had its fans, but some felt it was a bit too long so Raimi promised the fans Batman 3 would be a more focused story. 

Matt Dillon as Batman

The cowl and leather material stay nearly the same, the color, however, softens from black to navy blue, most obvious under the street lights. The logo is only slightly different. His bust reverts back to a lighter, but still dark, gray, accented by a yellow utility belt with cylinders. The pants match the bust. The knee pads are now less obvious and maintain the gray color while the straps set below the crotch that, once again, act as an homage to the underwear-over-tights-look, are now the navy blue found in the cape and cowl. Hooked to the straps are his hand-sized, navy-blue grappling gun on one side, and his navy-blue gas mask on the other. 

(Let me explain) as Riddler

Ed Harris was going to be my Edward Nigma (The Riddler) but he looks too much like Frank Gorshin and, as that was such an iconic performance, Raimi would want to shy away from that. Both Willem Dafoe and John Glover (ironically, later, voicing the character) would be great (as Joker, too. In fact, they were both in consideration in Burton's) but would probably be under pressure to ham it up. I ended up torn between 2 great actors that would play the role completely different. In third was Tim Roth. Arguably, he would be amazing, but I think his height and build, if only slightly, because it could be hidden, would diminish him as a threat. Therefore, my first choice, whom I, inevitably, didn't choose, was Laurence Fishburne. He would play it quiet, and would be just as physically intimidating as he would be psychologically intimidating; this is the reason I didn't choose him. I didn't want a rehash of Neeson's portrayal that captured both the physical and psychological threats. 

The second choice, John Malkovich, was the actor that played the exact type for which I was looking to bring to the screen "2 years ago" in the movie, In the Line of Fire. Jeremy Irons would also make an incredible Riddler. The "costume" Malkovich wears would reflect the type he is playing in a movie without spandex. Cloaked in a black suit, green vest and purple striped tie with gloves. His cane will be a fencing sword as he perceives himself as a gentleman. No fancy question marks here, except, technically, and discretely, the cane. 

As a contestant on the Clue Master, hosted by Arthur Brown, after Brown jokes about E. Nigma being the perfect foil (the premise is the contestants must outsmart Brown, a renowned tactical savant), he asks Nigma to tell the viewers a little about himself. "My problem-solving skills are second to none. I've always solved these boorish puzzles and I've always solved them far quicker than you. I even know who committed the murders on the set of the movie, Clayface from Outer Space. For the right price, I will help the GCPD. Unless they are going to ask the Bat-Man for help. That is, if they aren't still trying to convince us he isn't real. He is, Brown. He is real."

"Well, yes, um, thank you, Mr Nigma" *joining in audience laughter at Nigma 

"I wasn't done. And do not laugh at me. The Bat-Man is real. I can prove that too. I will find out, if I must, who he is."

Brown's assistant, Nina, is visibly intrigued. Nigma goes on to lose the game show before we find out Brown cheated. Nigma has a meltdown, insisting fowl play. Nina later tells him and, together, they kill Brown, leaving a clue. The police do interview Nigma to see what he knows about the Clayface murders. He pushes back for money. He is again questioned for the murder of Arthur Brown. Batman is on high alert. 

Nigma and Nina find a troubled sex worker and leave clues and riddles for the police in order to arrest her pimp. Afterwards, Nigma offers the worker, Holly, a job. 

Meanwhile, the police, unable to piece together the Clayface murders, turn to Nigma, who, after being handsomely paid, leads them to Burt Weston, a crazed fan of on-set stuntwoman Roxanne Sutton. Weston, according to Nigma was sedused into the murders because some of Sutton's scenes were diminished and some were cut completely.

Nigma, having gotten away with the murder of Brown, continues to surround himself with a team capable of discovering who Batman really is. 

He gathers an electrical expert, Cameron Lawrence, who taps into cameras across the entire city, effectively spying on everyone everywhere all at once. When his OCD gets the better of him and he obsesses with the idea that he will achieve notoriety after outing the Batman's identity, Lawrence corrects him and says "we will." Nigma side eyes the expert before the girls crush a tv over his head and kill him. 

Drury Walker, a compulsive liar, was a down on his luck fool who had pretended to be a very elite, highly regarded criminal, and the only one truly capable of protecting the criminals of Gotham from Batman. He fashioned a suit that he claimed was designed by Batman in which he stole from the crusader. When the Riddler got wind of this, he propositioned the liar and immediately put him to work committing crimes until Batman caught him, beat him up, and left him for the police. Riddler used his pawn to study Batman.

Nigma points the police officers, still looking for Brown's killer, in the direction of Paul Dekker, a blind painter, who was denied the opportunity to appear on the show. When the police arrive at Dekker's home, they find that he has killed himself and left a riddle. Of course, this was planted by the real murderer, Nigma. Nigma and the women decide on the aliases, Riddler, Echo, and Query. The riddle proposes that the true killer, Riddler is out there and will find Batman before Batman finds him.

Bruce Wayne, in a live broadcast, during a plea to keep crime alley from being condemned, is interrupted by the Riddler, and outed as Batman. Riddler says it was too easy and proceeds to break it down before the entire crowd laughs and mocks him. Wayne doesn't press charges. To him (he would have the public believe), it was a harmless joke. Later,  he speaks to Alfred in "serious Batvoice," saying it's time for Catwoman to know... 

2 more riddles are left, one at the scene of the murdered Mayor before the final confrontation in front of the club, Westward, where Wayne has rented a private room with some lady friends; one of which is Selina Kyle, who was supposed to guide the others away from the room but, instead, joined the fight. "Those girls won't remember a thing."

Clearly, Batman wins but, always one step ahead, to prove Bruce is not Batman, Bruce Wayne exits the club at just the right time to see Batman scale a building, pose, and grapple out of sight. While the world now knows Batman is real, the last person suspected to be the dark knight is Bruce Wayne. Batman gets to his Batjet and takes off the cowl to reveal its Alfred "insert British wit" Pennyworth. 

Demi Moore as Selina Kyle 

While her role as the closest example to what Batman would consider his equal in the field, she doesn't abide by the same regulations as the Dark Knight, and that clash in ethics makes for a combustible relationship. In an effort to give her a bigger role, she finds herself coming to terms with her past and present and how she deals with that will directly affect Gotham City. Decked out in the purple suit from the 90's minus the stilettos. 

(Let me explain) as Robin

Initially, I chose Brad Renfro. I went as far as explaining how his real life pain would seep through the role. I intended on combining the Robins, similar to BTAS, but after sitting on it, Dick Grayson, being the light to Batman's dark, is better than the angst that Renfro would bring.

Elijah Wood is far and away the best actor on my list of potential Robins, but I feel his look doesn't lean towards intimidation.

Thomas Ian Nicholas probably looks the closest to a young Dick Grayson but lacks the graceful ease of Grayson. 

Andrew Keegan might be the choice the studio would want in order to bring the young teens to the theatre, but I think he isn't a great enough actor to carry the role.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (was) an extremely talented actor with a ton of charisma and he absolutely had a lock on the charming nerd next door gimmick. He was both a teen idol and a dweeb. I think he was ironically perfect for Dick Grayson and therefore my choice.

Whereas, I went with plan B for Catwoman, I'm skipping that logic and going with plan A (and, in hindsight sight, my plan B for Catwoman was the superior actor of the 2 anyway)

Flashes of the death of his parents and Wayne speaking with officials in order to offer his estate as a temporary home to him are shown over the opening credits. Filled with emotions, Grayson, geared in an old Dr Midnight Halloween costume he found in a cupboard, has taped his hands and chosen to patrol alone for an impactful portion of the movie, trying to uncover who is behind the hit on his family. Once he learns it was Zucco, he hunts him down before Gordon...

Later, Alfred talks to the child and says, "To be a part of our family, young, Master Grayson, there's some things you should know." And proceeds to take him to the Batcave.

Danny Aiello as Tony Zucco

Zucco doesn't stand a chance. He's still the tough guy until confronted by Grayson.

Nick Nolte as James Gordon 

The stalwart of Gotham returns and all but confirms he knows more than he would have Gothamites believe when he saves Zucco from being killed by the masked child and gives the child a big speech hinting he knows who he is and later pushes to keep him in Bruce's care because they are good for each other with more allusions to him knowing Bruce is Batman.

Richard Harris as Alfred

At this point, Sean Connery has burned all bridges on set and pretty much demanded he be the star. Real lunatic stuff. It results in a recast with Raimi casting Richard Harris in a less physical role but much more fatherly, yet still stern. Coming off as regal would add to the nurturing part and be great for Dick Grayson's entrant movie. 

Robert Guillaume as Lucius Fox

Staying behind the spotlight, there's yet to be a story for Fox to show off, but he's a great utility player and Guillaume is an incredible actor.

John Rhys-Davies as Harvey Bullock

Firmly at the side of Gordon, Bullock is more respectful of Batman but still questions the need for him or his need for a mask. 

Drew Barrymore as Query 

Kate Winslet is my second pick if the irony of Barrymore is (also) too coincidental for you. The catch with this version of Query is that she will be revealed early on as Holly Robinson, the yet-to-be mentioned formally underaged prostitute that was like a younger sister of sorts to Selina Kyle. Barrymore, like Renfro, is not only a great actor, but sadly knows more than anyone at that age should know about the seedy nature of people. Winslet is a fine actor and, no doubt, would be great, but Barrymore would bring a level of depth to this role that would turn heads. When Catwoman is at her lowest, most brutal and mad, and about to cut ties with Batman due to his moral high ground, she learns that Query is Holly and her arch then becomes redemptive. In the end, she does help Holly evade arrest and Holly's arc ends with her knocking on the door of a convent where a nun answers the door saying "you must be Holly. Selina told me you were coming." Of course, Batman knew what she did. 

Juliette Lewis as Echo/Nina Damfino

I dislike the name Echo for Riddler's henchwoman; it should be Conundrum or something. That aside, after imagining how it would play out, I realized I needed an actress that wasn't going to get buried as the third wheel. As the one without a major thread, only Lewis could play this part. She is a top 10 actress for me but doesn't command attention therefore is just perfect for this role because she will never be forgotten but never absorb the attention. I could go on for days about Lewis. She makes every movie she's in better. She is truly one of the most underrated actresses. Period. 

Peter Boyle as Hamilton Hill

In Boyle, we experience the trope that sees the slimy politician get what's been coming to him

Toys

1. Batman with batarangs and grappling hook
2. Batman wrist flash lights
3. Riddler with cane 
4. Catwoman with whip and claws
5. Dick Grayson in street clothes 
6. Dick Grayson in "Midnight" gear
7. Dick Grayson: the boy wonder (flying Graysons)
8. Zucco-2 heads- mean mug and frightened mug
9. 2 pack: Gordon and Arthur Brown with Clue Master backdrop
10. 2 pack: Bullock and Cameron Lawrence with broken tv
11. 2 pack: Clayface from Outer Space Clayface 1 & 2 
12. 2 pack: Clayface from Outer Space Clayface 3 & 4
13. Ultimate Clayface 
14. 2 pack: "Film Freak" and "Roxy Rocket" with props 
15. 2 pack: "Killer Moth" with gas gun and "Crazy Quilt"
16. 2 pack: Wayne and Kyle with backdrop Westward
17. Alfred with Batjet
18. 2 pack: Query and Sister Maggie
19. Echo 
20. Light-up Batsignal
21. 2 pack: flying Graysons (parents)
22. 3 pack: Alfred as Batman, Lucius Fox, Mayor Hill