Kevin Costner has led a relatively controversial few years in the limelight of Hollywood. With an ongoing divorce battle, that is only getting uglier and messier by the day, and a recently publicized dispute with Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, Costner might even have his hands full at the moment with putting out fires every which way.
However, a couple of decades ago, the actor did run with the big leagues insomuch as he was first considered for the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman for a Tim Burton film before Michael Keaton was eventually cast in the legendary film.
Kevin Costner Was Banned From the Batman Returns Set
The Dances With Wolves actor, Kevin Costner, had a difficult time fitting among the natural crowd of Hollywood elites as his co-stars in the industry. Despite starring in one of the most expensive movies of all time (Waterworld) and being one of the best actors, directors, and filmmakers of his generation, Costner’s influence was limited in his time although he rarely ever turned irrelevant. Despite the actor’s growing influence in the industry, however, one particular incident related to his and Tim Burton’s Batman Returns is worth recounting solely for its hilarity.
During the filming of the high-profile sequel to Batman, Warner Bros. grew so secretive about the production and its plot, and so paranoid of any of it leaking, one would think they were harboring an Endgame-sized secret. The studio’s paranoia filtered onto the surroundings of the production as well after the execs shut down the sets from any outside visitors, and this included even turning away Kevin Costner from the door.
Ultimately, the tight lid on the plot and production did little to help as a snapshot of Danny DeVito in the Penguin costume did get leaked to the press prompting Warner Bros. to launch a full-scale investigation to smoke the mole out.
The Divisive Influence of Michael Keaton’s Batman ’89
The double Oscar-nominated Batman movie that immortalized the modern remake of the comic book character in the public’s mind, established the concept of an “emo” comic superhero, stunned audiences worldwide with Danny DeVito’s villainous Penguin, and forever gave us the iconic whip-wielding Catwoman with Michelle Pfeiffer was deemed so dark, notorious, and polarizing among the audience that it would be immediately replaced by a forgettable Val Kilmer reboot and an embarrassing Batman & Robin starring George Clooney.
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But by its own merits, the sequel to Batman (1989) was spectacular in its vision and ambition and both Tim Burton and Michael Keaton knew what they sought to establish in their sophomore film. However, the studio may have miscalculated its intentions aligning with that of the creatives attached to the project and as the director would soon find out, not all of Burton’s projects are endearing enough to win over every person in the crowd.
For one, the depiction of some of the violence and Catwoman antics were considered NSFW for the children in the audience although the film was marked PG-13 to ward off the younger demography. Moreover, the thematically darker undertone of the film clashed with a faction of the comic-loving crowd who called out Burton’s stylistic choice in the film despite being a critical and commercial success.
Batman Returns is available for streaming on Max.
Source: Yard Barker
