![]() ![]() To this day, many still call Conroy’s performance in the animated theatrical release, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, the best take on the character ever. Since then, he’s done three other Batman series, a bunch of animated movies, as well as the very well-regarded Arkham games that made the Dark Knight a household name on video game consoles. Conroy began voicing the superhero in Batman: The Animated Series, which made its debut in 1992. Unlike Soule, Kevin Conroy could probably pull off Batman in real life, which may be why to many fans, he is the definitive Batman, giving the character a voice that has continued to influence every take since his original run in the cartoons of the late ’90s and early 2000s. In fact, rumor has it Keaton is here to stay as the DCEU’s big-screen Batman. And in 1992’s Batman Returns, Keaton again garnered positive reviews.Īnd now, 30 years later, Keaton is set to put on the tights once more as much older Dark Knight for The Flash and Batgirl. Variety magazine gushed, “Michael Keaton captures the haunted intensity of the character, and seems particularly lonely and obsessive without Robin around to share his exploits.” Keaton was rewarded by being the first actor to reprise the role on the big screen. Keaton’s performance received favorable reviews, and Batman killed at the box office. The studio and the fans had nothing to worry about. And in case you’re curious, here is Keaton, Affleck, and a long list of other great castings that fans initially thought would suck. In an effort to appease the naysayers, Batman co-creator Bob Kane was hired as the film’s creative consultant. Keaton’s casting caused such controversy that 50,000 protest letters were sent to Warner Bros.’ offices. When director Tim Burton (who like Dozier was not a fan of comic books) and Michael Keaton were announced for 1989’s Batman, fans went bat-shit crazy, thinking their beloved superhero was going to get the Adam West treatment again. It took more than 20 years for Adam West to lose his exclusivity on Batman. West died in 2017, but his Bat-legacy is immortal. Two-Face (opposite William Shatner as the special guest villain). He made regular appearances on Family Guyas “Mayor West” before returning to voice Batman in two excellent animated features that expanded on the show’s continuity, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders and Batman vs. It wasn’t picked up but took on a cult following online (check it out here). West’s resurgence as a pop-culture icon began in the early ’90s when he starred as a has-been TV action hero in the pilot episode of Lookwell, produced by Conan O’Brien and Robert Smigel. Then, in 1977, he returned to the tube as Batman, doing his voice in The New Adventures of Batman, and then on such shows as Super Friends. At one point, he was forced to make public appearances as the Caped Crusader to earn a living. Holy bad career moves, Batman!Īfter the Batman series went off the air in 1968, West was resigned to typecast hell. West declined, later writing in his autobiography that he believed Bond should always be played by a Brit. Things would almost come full circle in 1970 when West was offered the role of James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever. His campy, over-the-top portrayal of Gotham’s Guardian infiltrated nearly every medium, including a 1966 movie and several animated series. Either you love him for his goofy charm or hate him for blemishing the Bat’s image for several decades. The man logging the most hours in the Batcave, of course, was William West Anderson, whom you probably know better as Adam West. (The two also appeared together in their pre-superhero days, in a WWII anti-VD propaganda film called Sex Hygiene).Īfter Batman, Lowery enjoyed another 20 years in movies and TV. In 1956, he guest-starred on an episode of The Adventures of Superman with George Reeves, marking the first time a Batman actor shared screen time with a Superman actor. Though Lowery never played Batman in another serieal, he did get to wear the cape once more and make superhero history in the process. He also filled out the Batsuit better than Lewis, with his utility belt hanging where you would expect on a superhero. Unlike Lewis, Lowery, 36 at the time, was a veteran actor, having already appeared in The Mark of Zorro (1940), The Mummy’s Ghost (1944), and Dangerous Passage (1944). Lowery took over the role in the follow-up serial, 1949’s Batman & Robin. Wilson, however, fared better in Hollywood, becoming the executive producer of the James Bond series. A few years later he was out of showbiz altogether. ![]() ![]() His next biggest movie part was in the 1951 cult classic Bowanga Bowanga. Superhero Savings start today at PUMA with up to 50% OFF Select Justice League styles with code: PUMAXJL Valid 4/7 – 4/10Īfter Batman, Wilson’s career went nowhere. ![]()
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