In what is currently titled The Batman, Ben Affleck will become the latest of many actors who have headlined projects as Batman/Bruce Wayne. You can pick your favorite Batman: Christian Bale or Michael Keaton? George Clooney or Val Kilmer? Even past voice Batmans like Kevin Conroy or Jason O’Mara?
But before all of them, there was Adam West. West played Batman on the popular, campy 1960s TV series that ran from 1966 to 1968, as well as the 1966 movie and various specials and animated adaptations in the years that followed, including a new animated movie in which he once again voices the character. West and the show did perhaps more than anything else to spread the popular idea of what Batman was in the middle in the 20th century and West, who’s now 88 years old, has another idea for contributing to the Batman legacy.
West would like to cameo in Affleck’s upcoming Batman solo film, and even has an idea for how to do it, the actor said in an interview with ComicBook.com. West went into detail in the interview, which was to promote his voice role in the upcoming animated movie Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders.
"You know what I'd love to do? Those guys are all wonderful talents in their own ways, and they approach the role differently, but if I could approach it in a darker way, of course, in a more serious way, however, it would be wonderful to play Bruce Wayne's father coming back. You know he was murdered, but coming back one dark and stormy lightning-riven night through a library window. Bruce Wayne is there thinking, 'I'll never solve this. This is the most difficult thing in my life.' In comes old dad, like a bat, almost.”
As pointed out in the interview, versions of that have happened in the past. DC Comics' Flashpoint featured a scenario in which Bruce Wayne and his father switched places and Thomas Wayne became the Batman. Though if that were the case, West would have to compete with Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who has called dibs on the Flashpoint Batman Character, and already has the part of Bruce's late father in Zack Snyder's DCEU films.
While the idea of West returning as Bruce's father is likely off the table entirely, that doesn't necessarily preclude him from making a cameo of a different kind. After all, the DC films might find themselves well served by a bit of fan service that's not altogether unlike Stan Lee's routine appearances in the MCU. There are plenty of minor roles that West could fill, so who knows? With everyone campaigning for a role (seriously or not) in Affleck's upcoming film, maybe the star and director will see some potential in such a pitch.
Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders is now available on Digital HD and will arrive on Blu-ray Disc November 1.
Source: Comicbook.com
