Joel Schumacher's original idea for the much-maligned Batman Forever would have made the film not just darker but much better. After the success of Tim Burton's Batman in 1989, its 1992 sequel Batman Returns was moderately less successful. This prompted Warner Bros. to select Joel Schumacher to helm their next Batman movie, eventually leading to the exit of Michael Keaton from the titular role. He was replaced with Val Kilmer, and Batman Forever was made.

Alongside Kilmer's version of the hero, Batman Forever introduced other well-known Batman characters Robin (Chris O'Donnell), The Riddler (Jim Carrey), and Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones). It also deviated from the darker tone set by Burton's two Batman movies, taking a more cartoonish approach to the source material. This is ultimately what led to the film's mixed reception with critics, and also ensured that Batman Forever would be remembered as one of the worst live-action Batman movies ever made (second to 1997's Batman & Robin).

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However, director Joel Schumacher's original vision for the film was a darker and more considered approach to its characters. Schumacher's intention was to show Kilmer's Batman struggling with guilt over his parent's death and going into crisis regarding the impact of Batman on Gotham. Many such scenes were shot, but never made it into the finished film - if they had, Batman Forever would have been a much better movie.

Schumacher Wanted To Explore The Human Side Of Batman

Val Kilmer as Batman in Batman Forever

Reportedly, Joel Schumacher originally wanted Batman Forever to more deeply explore the psyche of Bruce Wayne by having him enter a crisis over his role as Batman and guilt over his parents' death. This would have shown Batman Forever's Batman as a much more human and vulnerable character, as well as properly established that his turning to vigilantism was actually a response to emotional trauma and not a heroic deed. Having the character grapple with such deep existential and personal questions would have altered the film's tone considerably, and Schumacher's planned approach was ultimately scrapped. However, some of these ideas made it into the finished film, and they're much more fleshed out in Batman Forever's deleted scenes, hinting at what might have been.

Batman Forever's Failure Wasn't Actually Schumacher's Fault

Val Kilmer raises hands above head in Batman Forever batsuit

The more serious and introspective tone that Schumacher was interested in incorporating into Batman Forever was dropped at the insistence of Warner Bros. This was largely because they were dissatisfied with Batman Returns' profits, as well as criticisms that Burton's films were too dark. Batman Forever proved to be an overcorrection, as it was criticized as too cartoonish and campy — something which wouldn't have been an issue had Schumacher's original idea been entertained.

Ultimately, Batman Forever was a disappointment, partly because it did have genuine potential. However, by moving away from Schumacher's interesting and innovative ideas regarding how to continue Bruce Wayne's story and make Batman a more human hero, Warner Bros. effectively doomed Batman Forever to mediocrity. Had movie director Joel Schumacher's vision been adhered to, Batman Forever might have been a much darker - and better - film.

Next: Joel Schumacher's Batman Movies Aren't As Terrible As People Think