“Justice League of America” – what in the heck would we do without it? With no less than seven major superhero roles to fill, the upcoming George Miller production is hands down the best and most fun flick to speculate about right now, with everyone from gangster rappers to movie comedians to MTV writers weighing in with their choices for who should be in the film.
And the whole lot of us are looking at it the wrong way, “Chasing Amy” director Kevin Smith insisted.
“‘Justice League’ feels like it’s an all-star movie to begin with and maybe they’re kind of wise to cast it with unknowns,” the director, who occasionally moonlights as a comics writer told MTV News. “It’s not like you can put Brad Pitt in it and he’s gonna be more important than f—- Batman. Or Superman. Like the characters themselves are the f—- stars of that movie. It’s tricky to cast those roles - give a bunch of people a break.”
Well, ok, not EVERY role needs to be used to give someone a break, Smith said.
“For me, it’s like, I would definitely cast Michael Keaton as Batman,” he asserted. “I thought Michael Keaton was an awesome Batman. And in world where they don’t want to crossover with what Chris Nolan is doing in ‘Dark Knight,’ I mean, why not cast Michael Keaton?”
Because he last played Batman nearly twenty years ago? Because, when he was chosen by Tim Burton as the Caped Crusader for the 1989 original he wasn’t that popular to begin with? Because he’s fifty-bleeping-six years old?
“It’d be nice if Batman was the older man,” Smith countered. “He plays such an integral part in that movie, from what [I heard] – he’s kind of the lynchpin upon which the entire machine turns. So it would be nice to see.”
Smith, of course, knows from comics. He also knows from Comic movies, having appeared in two (”Daredevil” and “TMNT”) and written one (”Superman,” which never made it into production.) So does he think his casting decisions could really hold up?
“That’s what I would do,” he said, before joking in predictably self-depreciating fashion, “But, then again, that’s why I don’t have the job - that and many other reasons I don’t have that job.”
But what about you? After all our back and forth over the past few months, do you think Smith’s plan to cast unknowns has merit? What about his call for Keaton? Sound off below.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Keaton would be wicked as Batman! I would love to see him take on the role again. His casting would make perfect sence.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
I would love to see Brandon Routh reprise his role as Superman for this movie.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
WTF?! I love you Kevin and you are right about the characters being the stars not the actors…but if Keaton was cast as Batman that would put JLA in continuity with the Burton/Schumacher films…and we all know how they turned out…
As long as this Armie Hammer guy whose apparently playing Bats has nipples on the batsuit I will be happy…
(damn you Nolan for takin away the nipples-they are integral to the Batman character!)
November 30th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Keaton as Batman would be perfect. he was the best Batman. Batman is older, he relies on his his wit more then his physical abilities. Hollywood would never make a daring move like let Keaton reprise his role.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
I believe Patrick Warburton should be Batman. I will have trouble seeing anyone else in the role.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
ahhahaha nipples….
November 30th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
What, Adam West isn’t available?
November 30th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Yeah Keaton Rocks!!!
What the hell yeah Megan is gorgeous but when it comes to making money Megan is not the one. she is insult to the stature and reputation to who and what the WONDER WOMAN character stands for. Wonder Woman is like Miss Liberty statue for America. why in the hell would cast an actress that does not know how to hold a lead role not alone she does not know how to act!!! what the hell are you guys doing. I am with Jason you need to take a look at Actress Sophia Martinez I am sure George will be impress. True talent, natural beauty and SMART!!! Casting Megan B is an insult to superheros its NOT all about the LOOKS!!!!
www.nowcasting.com/sophiamartinez
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2124314/
November 30th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
Yes, I like the idea of bringing Keaton back, that would be cool. But really this movie kinda scares me. I think it will be the worst BOMB…ever! It will make The Catwoman movie look good though, ha ha. Oh yeah, about what somebody said earlier… Hee Hee, somebody said, “Bat-Nipples”! AAAHHHH!
BATMAN FAN? Visit The Bat-Blog!
http://www.bat-blog.com
December 1st, 2007 at 9:51 am
Keaton would be cool, not since the original Batman has anyone, even kilmer, managed to bring off the angst, and split persona of Bruce wayne/ Batman. However, I think this film will have to have a very strong script, be expertly edited and have absolutely no compromises in order to be taken seriously.
The director and producer(s) will have to make this film as much of an emotional epic, as a S.F.X. epic.
Star wars wouldnt have worked if it wasn’t for the story, and Hollywood has been too complacent with relying on big budgets and big names to carry a production through to a profit.
I hope this film ( J.L.A. ) really is fantastic, as we have never had a multi-superhero-fan-flickathon before.
P.s. I would love to see ” The watchmen ” in movie form. Dr manhattan would be awesome, and the novel/comic is world famous for it’s emotional take on superheroes.
December 1st, 2007 at 10:41 am
Keaton back as Batman would be a dream come true. It would be a way to give closure to many fans like me who wanted to see him finish his trilogy with Burton.
The only thing that can save this film is Tom Welling as Superman and/or Michael Keaton as Batman !
December 1st, 2007 at 11:05 am
BALE IS BATMAN DAMNIT $$@? THIS ARM & HAMMER FOOL I HOPE THIS MOVIE TANKS IF IT DOES GET MADE BUT BETTER YET I HOPE IT FALLS APART, AND NEVER GETS MADE!
THE ONLY WAY THIS MOVIE COULD BE SAVED IS WITH TOM WELLING AS SUPERMAN, AND KEATON AS BATMAN IF NOT BALE SO I THINK THAT KEVIN SMITH IS 100% RIGHT ON THIS ONE.
IF NOT BALE THEN I ALSO WOULD GO AFTER KEATON.
December 1st, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Warner Brothers would be stupid if they did not ask Keaton to reprise his role. Since Batman 1989 is still the top grossing Batman off all time. Keaton is a few decades younger than Harrison Ford who just finished shooting the new Indy movie.
Even though Christian Bales performance was great in Batman Begins, his performance seemed to scripted and stiff. Keaton expressed how haunted Batman was by his parents death in his eyes without saying a damned thing. NOW THAT IS GREAT ACTING THAT IS HARD TO PULL OFF. Plus, I loved the few moments of character depth that he added to the characters charisma.
I love action movies and I am aware that George Miller is a God in the action genre just like John Woo is. The combination of Keaton and Miller would make one hell of a movie that everyone would want to see. It will be a fresh recipe to Batman and even if the script or the rest of the cast might be bad well, having Keaton on board would be a very SMART insurance policy to a successfull movie.
December 1st, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Agreed! Cant wait for Brandon Routh in Superman: Man of Steel!!!! Perfect Superman!
December 1st, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Keaton would be great for this movie. Really, he’s the only one who could play the role besides Bale. And since I REALLY don’t think Chris Nolan’s Bat-movies should have anything to do with these (because those movies, while awesome, don’t fit into the same “universe” as a Justice League flick), Keaton would be perfect. A WHOLE LOT more perfect than the 21 year old Armie Hammer, the kid that the rumor mill is saying nabbed the Batman role.
December 1st, 2007 at 7:21 pm
KEATON ALL THE WAY! He was, is, and always will be the best Batman.
How about Michael O’Hearn (from Sandy Collera’s WORLDS FINEST fan film) to play Superman?
Megan Fox or Jennifer Love Hewitt for Wonder Woman.
Eric Balfour as Martian Manhunter.
Seann William Scott as Flash.
Justin Timberlake as Aquaman (since that character is a big joke, anyway).
Taye Diggs as Green Lantern.
Akira Lane as Black Canary.
December 1st, 2007 at 7:47 pm
I like the guys that are already in the movies. Brandon Routh and Christian Bale are both great as Superman and Batman. They should bring them back for Justice League!
December 2nd, 2007 at 2:08 am
I think it would be great to see Keaton as Batman again. He played a very interesting Bruce Wayne - more eccentric, which is what you have to expect from a grown man who dons a rubber bat suit.
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December 2nd, 2007 at 6:21 am
I just took a look and with inflation adjusted this is where the batman movies rate in the TOP GROSSING MOVIES OF ALL TIME:
FIRST PLACE GOES TO: Tim Burton’s Batman which is 20th
Batman Forever is 73rd
Batman Returns is 95th
Batman Begins is 147th
LAST PLACE IS: Batman & Robin is 281st
Batman & Begins obviously beat Batman & Robin since Batman & Robin was total garbage and Tim Burton had NOTHING to do with it. But, Batman Forever has gotten an unjustified bad wrap since it was directed by Schumacher however, Burton was involved with that film and more people went to see it than Batman Begins.
I also, remember a whole lot of people praising Batman Forever after it came out. Don’t let Batman and Robin taint the reputation of Batman Forever since it was a great movie. I enjoyed Batman Forever better than Batman Begins and obviously based on the results so did the rest of the country since it made way more than Batman Begins.
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:34 am
Kevin Smith has to be the stupidest mother!@#$er on earth.
December 2nd, 2007 at 4:43 pm
PERFECT choice! even though bale got the gretaest movie and script ever, for me keaton will always be batman. and to have batman be the old mentor of the group would be amazing.
December 4th, 2007 at 2:33 am
Actually I could see him doing a pretty good job if they make a Kingdom Come movie in like 10 or 15 years. Then his age would be totally appropriate.
December 5th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
excelent choice keaton will allways be batman as far as the comic book goes a mature mentore is what the justice league need i pesonally think thats what the movie needs to work go go kevin smith just no killer spiderrs lmao
December 5th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
excelent choice keaton will allways be batman as far as the comic book goes a mature mentore is what the justice league need i pesonally think thats what the movie needs to work go go kevin smith just no killer spiderrs lmao also tom welling as superman brandon routh has nothing on superman im sorry guys but the great chris reev was all superman and tom welling is the next in line to where the red throne brandon routh just aint the super you have to go back to the comic books and revise
December 6th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
i agree, michael keaton will always be batman to me. i very much enjoyed tim burtons vision for the batman character for both his films. he is and was just simply, the best batman ever. i would love to see him return, and the thing that is cool about batman is that he can be played as both younger or older. you can have him as the younger just-starting-out type like with blaes batman or as a brooding older batman like keatons. keaton could totally do a DKR batman nowadays, for real. i would love to see that.
December 7th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Without a doubt, casting Keaton as Batman would be the greatest decision in film ever. Kevin has a great plan here.
December 9th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Batman = Michael Keaton
Superman = Nicolas Cage
Wonder Woman = Megan Fox
Flash = Seann William Scott
Green Lantern = Taye Diggs
Plastic Man = Alan Cumming
Black Canary = Michelle Krusiec
February 14th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Kevin Smith got it right if he picks Keaton. Only he and Bale will forever be remembered as Batman. The mentor role is fitting for him in JLA. They’ll use stunt actors for action scenes anyway.
The only Superman I see is Tom Welling. He has grown a lot as both Clark Kent and Superman. Even the last true Superman picked him (Reeves). If they cant get him then stick with Routh tho he lacks the presence/charisma and made Kent as stupid as a stick (script fault mostly). But absolutely no one else.