Michael Keaton on the difficulties of playing Batman in 1989 (video)

At a press conference for his new movie RoboCop, Michael Keaton talked about the difficulties and challenges of playing Batman in Tim Burton's 1989 movie. The actor explained that he was claustrophobic and had panic attacks while in the Batsuit. Keaton also talked about not being able to move his head while wearing the restricting Bat-cowl. Costume designers weren't able to solve that problem until 2008's The Dark Knight, when Christian Bale's new Batsuit was designed to allow him to move his head more freely.

Keaton was a smart enough actor to use this to his advantage. He took his discomfort and put it into his Batman performance. The video above is a really interesting behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to play Batman. Check it out!

SOURCE: DesdeHollywood.com

77 comments

diogo02000

January 27, 2014

Behold the origins of 'The Batman Spin'!

diogo02000

January 27, 2014

The man became a icon with that movie, escape for that kind of thing its just worse, you have to embrace it and use in your favor.

Antrozous
January 27, 2014
If you can´t acknowledge Batman as Keaton´s high point career you´re missing out on something...
1. Antrozous
  January 27, 2014
  Are you honestly comparing Beetlejuice with Batman in terms of iconic roles?
  1. Antrozous
    January 28, 2014
    First of all, do not label me. Secondly I´m well aware of the cult status Beetlejuice has and how Keaton was cast as Bruce Wayne/Batman because of that movie but if you thing it can hold a candle to Batman 1989 in terms of worldwide notoriety for Keaton then you´re a fool.
    1. C. Richard
      January 28, 2014
      I don't think you understand what you're saying guy
    2. C. Richard
      January 28, 2014
      That's fair enough
    3. thefallen83
      January 28, 2014
      Have you noticed that you can't handle difference of opinion without sounding like a spoiled little brat? Although that's not even close to the word I had in mind. I just keep it Rated G, so you as a little kid can get it.
    4. John
      January 28, 2014
      go have a Snickers, internet troll^^^
    5. Matthew T Wagner
      July 12, 2014
      Easy on the Snickers, just cause he's a little excited about this topic. We all like Keaton... Right...? Most of us probably if you're like me think the stuff they call Batman now is ...CRAP! Keaton nailed the voice... Kilmer wasn't bad...Clooney almost as bad as AffLACK ..I mean Affleck
2. GodsAdvised
  January 28, 2014
  Yep, 'Multiplicity' came years after 'Batman'

thefallen83

January 27, 2014

It's amazing how I can still see Beetlejuice in some of his gestures! Awesome!

Antrozous
January 27, 2014
And soon he´ll be back as Beetlejuice, Tim Burton is making the follow-up.
1. thefallen83
  January 28, 2014
  Hmmm... not sure I wanna see that... Bettlejuice's a cult classic, a "I grew up with that one" kinda movie... I'm barely hanging in there with the RoboCop reboot...
  1. lethargicj
    January 28, 2014
    That Robocop remake should be dowsed in Holy Water.
    1. William L
      January 28, 2014
      Watch Elite Squad I and II. Maybe it would calm you down for Robocop.
  2. Antrozous
    January 28, 2014
    It´s not a remake and since it has Tim Burton at the helm I will not be judging it too much in advance...
    1. thefallen83
      January 28, 2014
      Nah I'm not prematurely judging... I'm just saying those 80's classics are called classics for a reason lol
    2. Antrozous
      January 28, 2014
      Classics are classics depending on the generation that grew up with it; for a guy like me heading for my forties the 80´s sure are filled with movie cult classics that no remake will ever surpass the original. For instance Robocop 2014 could even win the Oscar for best movie, will never beat Paul Verhoeven´s masterpiece in my book.
    3. thefallen83
      January 28, 2014
      Now we're talking...
    4. William L
      January 28, 2014
      I'm one of the biggest fans of Verhoeven's work, specially Robocop. Maybe i'm wrong but i think Padilha will deliver something special. The only main sin that i foresee in the remake would be the lack of gory violence.
    5. Antrozous
      January 29, 2014
      Robocop was the first time i went to see a R rated movie at the local cinema back in 1987, I still recall me and my two buddies had to be escorted by an adult, a older sister of one of my friends. I was so impressed by its raw violence and gritty style, I didn´t get its satire that first time, I was totally mesmerized by what a badass Murphy was... I agree Willie, PG13 for Robocop is dead wrong and they have changed too many things, however i must admit the more I see from the trailers the more i feel interested in giving it a chance in two weeks when it opens...
    6. William L
      January 30, 2014
      I remember that i watched the movie at the cinema escorted by my dad. At the time, people were allowed to see two sessions in a row without paying! And that was what we did! Lovely old times.
    7. Matthew T Wagner
      July 12, 2014
      Oh god spare me this Robocop blows!! And I'm 28 If this new Robocop wins a award I'm gonna lose it!! #SNaPCRackAndPop and you could'nt be any righter then you are sir Verhoeven is to Robocoop like what Kilmer is to Batman...

SnakeJerusalem

January 27, 2014

Which only shows how good of a Batman he really was.

SnakeJerusalem
January 27, 2014
Than explain the lack of interest in Val Kilmer and George Clooney takes on Batman.
1. Dr Mindbender
  January 27, 2014
  Please suggest that Val and George were better than Mike so we know how not seriously to take you
  1. Worlds Finest Comments
    January 27, 2014
    I get what you're saying. The other roles Keaton's known for are Beetlejuice and Mr.Mom. He hasn't done anything else that comes close to Batman, where someone like Clooney has been nominated multiple times for Oscars after he was done with it.

John Cummings

January 27, 2014

WB wlll never return to using this logo. and that's sad. http://www.comicsbulletin.c...

Worlds Finest Comments
January 27, 2014
Well, it's like what Batman said in Dark Knight Returns, it does look like a yellow bullseye...
And even if there was armor under the symbol, he has his whole suit covered in it now, so that reason isn't relevant anymore...
1. Antrozous
  January 27, 2014
  Well there´s always the argument it had the purpose for shooters to subconsciously aim for his bulletproof chest instead of his head..
2. Andrew Arnold
  January 27, 2014
  If you picture, in your mind, the negative of the symbol, you'll see it as a Golden mouth with rounded teeth. My Mom said that growing up, she never saw the Bat, only the Teeth and had always wondered why Batman wore teeth on his chest...
  1. Antrozous
    January 27, 2014
    My grandmother used to see it like that too..
Alexis Leandro Peña
January 28, 2014
that was a sexy symbol
1. John Cummings
  January 28, 2014
  That's still the BEST Bat symbol, in my opinion.
Mal B
January 28, 2014
To me, it's my favourite batman logo.
William L
January 28, 2014
Don't like it. Too rounded. Too much golden. Looks like an opened mouth with teeth showing up. But of course, i loved it when i was a kid! lol

lethargicj

January 27, 2014

Was Michael Keaton in a fire?

Worlds Finest Comments

January 27, 2014

Hey can anyone tell me where that story about Affleck quitting due to script issues with Goyer came from? I haven't read anything about it on this site so I'm hoping that means there isn't much credibility to it...

BatmanNewsChris
January 27, 2014
No credibility. It was started by a journalist in Brazil.
1. Worlds Finest Comments
  January 27, 2014
  Phew. Thanks! =)
2. Carl
  January 28, 2014
  Holy smokes! Makes me think you're Batman knowing the location and occupation of the source.
3. William L
  January 28, 2014
  Which journalist? Maybe i know the bastard. lol
  1. BatmanNewsChris
    January 28, 2014
    This one:
    https://twitter.com/anamari...
    1. William L
      January 28, 2014
      Oh fuck no!!! Ana Maria Bahiana is THE LAMEST! In comparative terms, she's like Geraldo Rivera of film journalism! PATHETIC! LOL

Captain DC

January 27, 2014

A suave James Bond-like Bruce Wayne persona. A scary, badass, Frank-Miller like Batman mixed with Sherlock Holmes is the definitive take on Batman. Hopefully Batfleck can pull all of that off! NO PRESSURE.

Larry Lindsay
January 27, 2014
I wouldn't mind seeing Bruce Wayne crushing pussy.
Captain DC
January 27, 2014
As far charismatic and cool when he's not wearing the suit. Is what I mean. Bruce Wayne doesn't have to be dull and boring.
1. Captain DC
  January 27, 2014
  No. That's who Tony Stark is in the comic books. Robert Downey Jr. put his own little spin on the character and people love him in the role (even with the Iron man suit being CGI). Bale was okay, But I don't want Batfleck whining over some chick. (Rachel Dawes)
  1. Captain DC
    January 27, 2014
    Warren Buffett? You mean the YOUNGER version right? LOL.
    1. Captain DC
      January 27, 2014
      You're right. Downey Jr. just brought some humor to the role that basically the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe is built around. I want to see a scene where Bruce makes fun of Clark's ridiculous disguise. "Seriously, a pair of glasses, I don't have to be the World's Greatest Detective to figure out who you really are, Superman."

Spencer Nielsen

January 27, 2014

Michael Keaton, what a dude!

Guest

January 27, 2014

The batman of batmen!

Andrew Arnold
January 27, 2014
Kevin Conroy IS Batman!
http://www.geekosystem.com/...
1. lethargicj
  January 28, 2014
  If they ever make a movie about John Holmes dying of AIDS, Kevin Conroy has to have that part locked down.
  1. Guest
    January 28, 2014
    or just have an actual actor

Captain DC

January 27, 2014

" So you want to be able to turn your head"?. "I'll see what I can do". Keaton should have just asked Morgan Freeman for an upgraded suit. God forbid, Batman actually build something himself!

dw316

January 28, 2014

Awesome. What did Gary Oldman say about The Dark Knight and not wearing a suit or something? I couldn't hear it clearly.

Antrozous
January 28, 2014
He was making a funny remark about what Keaton was saying about building a character from within and he chuckle with the fact he does that without wearing the Batsuit in The Dark Knight Trilogy.
1. Mac
  January 28, 2014
  He was making a joke that he felt anxious and claustrophobic just looking at Bale in the batsuit (who actually had it a whole lot easier than Keaton due to certain advances).

Cygog

January 28, 2014

Vicki Vale: I just gotta know, are we gonna try to love each other?
Bruce Wayne: I'd like to. But he's out there right now. And I've gotta go to work.

BcozImBataman

January 28, 2014

I love how everyone forgot about robocop :))

Nathan

January 28, 2014

What did Gary Oldman say at the end?

Dan P.

January 28, 2014

My dad is in his late 50's now and hes always worked for the same rent a car company, we also lived in the same hometown as Kirk Douglas. A lot of times when these celebs rent cars they use alias names and so forth. So my dad, being a history buff and nerd inside saw the reservation and went to drive the car to the airport thinking he was going to see Kirk Douglas. He gets to the counter and all of a sudden it's Michael freakin Keaton! He said the reservation was for one day to Cooperstown (most likely to visit the baseball hall of fame, and to this day when my dad tells the story he always says how his face dropped and Keaton's son, looked at my dad with this big smirk on his face as if to say, yeah my dads batman :) ..Would love to meet him myself what an amazing actor and cool guy, Just thought I'd share!

Arkham Psyche

January 28, 2014

Keaton to me, was/is the batman I recognised in a cinematic sense. His Bruce Wayne was cool and understated, while his movement in the bat suit wasn't that bad considering the latex material was of lesser quality than now. Also, Beetlejuice and Jackie Brown illustrated his cool as f**k status in my eyes. Bale 2nd, and hopefully Affleck makes 3rd best, rather than some Schumacher abomination!

Conner Nielsen

January 28, 2014

Michael Keaton, why are you so awesome? And HOLY CRAP, is that Gary Oldman? Must've been BadassCon.

William L

January 28, 2014

Wow, nice video! Keaton is the man, really love his work. Much respect, although i don't like his Wayne that much.

And i'm really anticipating the new Padilha's Robocop. He's a talented director and always has something relevant to say in his work. I recomend you guys seeing Elite Squad I and II in a row. You'll know what i mean. Very good films.

Chsox203
January 28, 2014
I know that the new Robocop is getting a lot of shit , but I'm still going to see it. I always have loved Robocop when I was a kid. So far I like what Padilha has done with it. Hoping well for the end results
1. William L
  January 28, 2014
  That is the point, Sox! The first Robocop is already a absolute classic, is untouchable. But i follow PAdilha's work and i know he is a talented director, so i'll give him a chance. Que o puto não me decepcione! hehe
  1. Chsox203
    January 28, 2014
    You'll have to translate the last part for me... LoL
    1. William L
      January 28, 2014
      LOL! "i hope the son of a bitch doesn't disappoint me!"
    2. Chsox203
      January 28, 2014
      Hahaha , you crack me up Willie! I'm sure that he won't. He had a lot of promising things to say over at Comic Con about the film.. :D

MadReese

January 29, 2014

I wonder who else was up for the role at the time. I guess it doesn't matter since Tim Burton apparently had a vision for Batman that didn't involve anybody being tall or physically fit. Why do these actors read for roles that they may not be entirely happy with anyway? It can't be just $$$.

Antrozous
January 29, 2014
Some A-Listers of those days were considered;Tom Selleck, Bill Murray, Alec Baldwin, Pierce Brosnan, Charlie Sheen and Bruce Willis were all up for the role at one stage or another.

Antrozous

January 29, 2014

"Bob, gun."

Fed-EL Kryptonian

February 1, 2014

How nice that counted that story, and I think that's true, Christian Bale also had the challenge of using the suit, and hot clautrofobico and was using it, Michael Keaton was the best Batman since my childhood to Christian Bale improved it.

GregTheTroll

April 27, 2014

Hey! Michael Keaton is old enough now to make a live action "The Dark Knight Returns". Sure they will have to recast some (Robin Williams as Joker, anyone?) but I think it could work.

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Michael Keaton on the difficulties of playing Batman in 1989 (video)

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