Anyone know? I'm watching the extras for the first two films on the new dvd's. All the interviews with him date back to 1992. He gives you some insight, but he never seems like he's really into the role nor does he seem to have enjoyed it. At one point he seemed kind of pissed off when he talked about how people come up to him and go "Hey, it's Batman." I understand everyone's different, and wearing the suit must've been TOUGH, but it's hard for me to understand someone not wanting to play such an iconic and loved character (I guess unless you just dislike the character/comics/mythology). There are also no current interviews with Keaton on the dvd, which makes me think he didn't even want to be involved.

Conversely, you got a guy like Jack Nicholson who apparently loved playing Joker. I believe he also stated he read the comic books and Joker was one of his favorites. But they have a recent interview with him, probably within the last year or two, and he's just gushing over how much fun it was and that he wishes he could do it again.

So does anyone know? Anyone ever read an interview with the guy when he talks about his experience with the film/character?

I heard he didn't want to be typecasted so he quit after Returns. Though I could be wrong.

I thought he quit before Batman Forever after meeting with Schumacher and hearing what he wanted to do with the franchise.

What I remember is that he quit after Burton was given the boot by WB.

This is what I remember. As for the extras, he just doesn't strike me as the interview type. Does he ever go around promoting his movies? Maybe he is just not an interview kinda person, resenting every minute of each one.

He was for sure out this year.

I'm disappointed Keaton didn't do interviews for the new set. He doesn't really strike me as all that busy and I didn't think he was that private. The last movie I heard he was in was the President's daughter movie with Katie Holmes.

In contrast, I was under the impression that Jack Nicholson was pretty tough to get to do interviews. He's done a commentary for Something's Gotta Give and isn't shy of the camera, but before this I think the only retrospective interview I've seen him do was for the "Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures" documentary.

He was in White Noise last year as the star of the film.

Maybe he didn't love the role, it certainly wasn't the grandest actiong challenge in the world. But I'm sure he loved the big, massive paychecks.

I think that's pretty much it right there. Batman isn't a great role for an actor looking to make a name for himself or show his dramatic range. But, in the case of Keaton, the Batman movies are clearly the high point of his career.

That depends on what you see as the "high point" for an actor. Believe it or not, some actors are in the business TO ACT, not just make money. And if you've seen Keaton in "Live From Baghdad", you'll know that BATMAN was clearly not "the high point" - unless you're looking strictly from a profit point of view.

I wasn't saying that actors are in the business to make money. I think that Michael Keaton really wants to be a serious actor. Unfortunately, he has picked some real duds throughout his career (commericially and critically). Other than Batman (and Beetlejuice to an extent) I haven't seen him in any roles that impressed me incredibly.

That's probably why he resents Batman somewhat. Really one the biggest successes of his career, but it is shallow and superficial.

I could go for a Johnny Dangerously or a Beetle Juice followup. Seriously.

By the way, I haven't seen Live from Baghdad - and wasn't aware of its existence until now - so I'll have to take your word for it.

"How can one not like looking this fucking cool...

...besides, I got to be straddled and licked by Michelle Pfeiffer. Not a bad gig, if you ask me. Did you check out my Bat-Boner in that scene?"

I saw an interview with him several years ago and he was pretty clear about not liking interviews, not wanting his personal life private, etc. He was especially protective of his son (or daughter, I forget). I think he also tends to see himself more as an "actor" rather than an "entertainer" if that makes sense.

I think of it like Pearl Jam deciding to suck after the album Ten so that they could prove that they were serious about the music rather than being popular.

And what does that mean exactly?

It means that if you read the thread, he was responding to say that Michael Keaton has been in a movie since First Daughter. (the post right above his)

When he's on Letterman, he still jokes and talks about having played Batman.

I remember an interview he did just before Batman Forever went into production in which he stated that doing Batman was fun but doing Batman Returns "began to feel like work" (more of the same) so he opted not to do any more Batman films after that. So, he did enjoy being Batman the first time around but after that he grew bored with it.

I.O.U. one throat-punch.

...and all this time I thought they always sucked..

He's done some pretty broad stuff -- he's excellent in Clean and Sober, Dream Team and Pacific Heights just to name a few others. He just had a knack for comedy and early in his career he got typecast as the goofball everyman.

He's always been one of my favorite actors and I think it's horrific that he has to take roles like White Noise and Herbie: FL just to get work nowadays.

I was under the impression that he left the franchise whem Tim Burton left, they seemed like they liked working as a team.