Ask 411 Movies for 8.27.07: I’m Batamn, Well Not Really
Posted by Leonard Hayhurst on 08.27.2007
Halloween remake, Sartana is coming, books into movies and more Batman than you can shake a bat-stick at
I will up date you next week on my time at Monster Mania. I had to get this in before I left because I would be getting in very late Sunday night. And then I'll be dead for at least two days after.
From YouTube this week we have the trailer for the spaghetti Western If You Meet Sartana Pray for Your Death, just because I think the title is cool. Other films in the series include Sartana's Coming Get Your Coffins Ready, Have a Good Funeral My Friend Sartana Will Pay, Light the Fuse Sartana is Coming, Sartana if Your Left Arm Offends Cut it Off and Trinity and Sartana are Sons of Bitches. Those are what we call exploitation titles.
Q: Leonard,
I love the column, and I just have a quick question for you. Where does the new Halloween film fit into the timeline of the franchise? I have heard it's a remake of the original, and also that it happens before the original, so which one is it?
Thanks,
-Chris
A: It's what the Hollywood types are calling an updated reimagining. It's sort of a mix of a remake and a prequel. There are many elements of the original film in this new version along with more fleshing out of the initial incident of Michael killing his sister and his ensuing years in the asylum. Director Rob Zombie has said in interviews that he wants to give Michael more of a back-story, including an origin for his mask and giving him a stronger relationship to Dr. Loomis.
Q: Leonard,
Great column as always. You recently had a question about retaining film rights to movies. What about optioning a book? How long does a studio typically have to make a movie based on a book? Also, is there a resource available to figure out if a studio or an individual owns the rights to certain books? Hate to saddle you with a legal question, but if anyone knows the answer, I figured it'd be you.
-Keith
A: Option rights for books are negotiated with a studio, production company or producer and the book's author and/or publishing company. Time of option and fee paid can differ. In general, a producer has a couple years to get a screenplay in place and pre-production started. If they have not met the terms of the option by the end of the agreed upon time limit then the rights of the book or other property would revert to the original owner and they can shop it elsewhere.
Filmtracker.com is an industry insider sight that tells producers what films are in production or optioned by other producers and studios among other things. You can sign up yourself, but it will cost you. Any trade publications like Variety or the Hollywood Reporter usually keep track of such matters too. If you are interested in if a specific book has been optioned for film or television you can always contact the publisher, but good luck in getting anywhere.
As promised, a lot more Batman.
Batman (1989): The first draft of the film dates back to 1980 by Superman screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz. His script included Batman and Robin fighting the Joker and Penguin. Barbara Gordon and Rupert Thorne were major secondary characters. Original producers Michael Uslan and Benjamin Melniker were taken off the film by Warner Brothers and replaced by Jon Peters and Peter Gruber. They tapped Tim Burton to direct. Burton didn't like the script in place and wrote a 30 page treatment with his then girlfriend Julie Hickson. This was turned over to Sam Hamm. Due to the writers strike he wasn't able to put a polish on his script and Burton used Warren Skaaren of Beetlejuice to put on the finishing touches. However, Tim Burton and Michael Keaton did a lot of rewriting during the shoot, including a bulk of the dialogue during the final fight with the Joker and the line "I'm Batman" early in the film. Originally the line was "I am the night." Cool, but not as cool. At one point, Burton contemplated an adaptation of the comic story "The Dark Knight Returns," but executives felt that it would be a good idea to introduce the darker Batman character first before showing the finale of his crime-fighting career.
Choices for Batman included Alec Baldwin, Charlie Sheen, Bill Murray, Pierce Brosnan, Mel Gibson and Tom Selleck. Keaton worked out for months to get in shape for the role and took kickboxing lessons from his stunt double David Lea. Keaton did a lot of his own fight scenes.
Sean Young was originally cast to play Vicki Vale, but broke her collarbone filming a horse-riding scene. That part was then dropped from the script. Young would famously campaign to play Catwoman in the next film by making talk show appearances in full character. This added to the perception that Young was a head case. Burton originally wanted Michelle Pfeiffer for Vale, but she would go onto play Catwoman in the sequel.
Marin Landau turned down the role of the gangster boss eventually played by Jack Palance. Young's old beau James Woods was considered for the Joker, as well as Willem Dafoe, David Bowie, Tim Curry, John Lithgow, Robin Williams and Ray Liotta. Liotta was also considered for Harvey Dent, but did Goodfellas instead. Billy Dee Williams took the part knowing that his character would eventually become Two-Face and worked into his contract that he would have first dibs on the part in any future movies. The studio bought out his contract for a good bit of coin for Batman Forever. If you want to talk money though, Jack Nicholson pulled a percentage of the merchandising royalties. The film pulled in about $750 million dollars in merchandising. Nicholson netted about $60 million total. In an interview, Williams stated that he was "used as bait" to get Nicholson to sign on when he was trying to play games with producers.
Michael Jackson was the first choice for the soundtrack, but various commitments to his record company prevented him from taking part.
Batman Returns (1992): Keaton and Burton were not signed for a sequel. Burton came on after he was allowed complete script approval. Keaton joined up when Burton did for a hefty pay increase to $11 million. Sam Hamm was brought in for the script again, but Burton didn't like his plot idea of the Penguin and Catwoman uniting to go after a secret treasure deep under Gotham. Daniel Waters did the rewrite. The movie was much more a direct sequel to start, with Vickie Vale returning and becoming Bruce Wayne's fiancée along with the Joker having an after death plot to get Batman. A plot element involving an attack on Wayne Manor and the Batcave was scrapped and later used in Batman Forever. The character of Max Schreck was supposed to have been Harvey Dent with the explosion at the end of the film causing him to turn into Two-Face.
Due to complaints from Keaton, the Batman suit was streamlined from 70 pounds to 55 pounds. A zipper was also added to the pants. Some coloring was also altered and the design of the chest plate.
Annette Bening was originally cast as Catwoman, but became pregnant. Lena Olin and Madonna were considered. Susan Sarandon was interested, but took Lorenzo's Oil when Pfeiffer left that role. Pfeiffer wound up netting $2 million more than was offered to Bening. Some 60 Catwoman suits were used during filming at $1000 a pop. As mentioned above, Young campaigned heavily for the part. Burton once hid under his desk to avoid talking with her. Burton wanted Marlon Brando for the Penguin, but the studio balked. Dustin Hoffman and Christopher Lloyd were also considered. Nicholson talked DeVito into taking the part after the success he had as the Joker. Danny DeVito spent just two hours a day in makeup, but was sworn to not reveal any details of it. The makeup scared the monkey who delivered a letter to the Penguin from Batman and made the scene hard to do. Burgess Meredith was going to play the Penguin's father, but couldn't due to illness. Paul Reubens and Diane Salinger from Pee-Wee's Big Adventure played the Penguin's parents. Marlon Wayans was hired to play Robin in this film and the sequel, but the part was taken out here and recast for the sequel. Wayans was paid due to contractual obligations.
If you thought Nicholson made out like a bandit on the first film, the penguins used here maybe did better than he did. The real penguins used for the Penguin's minions had their own refrigerated trailer, a swimming pool with a half ton of ice, fresh fish and their own bodyguard.
Batman Forever (1995):
Warner Brothers was concerned with the darker turn Batman Returns took from the original and felt that it was partly to blame for the decreased revenues from the first film. They wanted Burton to make the third installment lighter and more action packed. He stepped aside as director, but did stay on as a producer due to contractual obligations. Sam Raimi threw his hat into the ring for the gig, but the studio didn't feel he was a big enough name. Thankfully this wasn't the case when Spiderman came around. Joel Schumacher was coming off of two hits for Warner Brothers with Falling Down and The Client. In meeting with him, Schumacher expressed the desire to do a 180 from Burton replacing dark shadows with neon lights, putting nipples on the bat suit and going hipper and younger with the overall feel. He just played the tune they wanted to hear and landed the gig.
Michael Keaton was attached to the third film from the outset. After Burton stepped down as director he consented to meet with Schumacher and discuss the project. Keaton objected to the direction that Schumacher wanted to go in and declined the part. Alec Baldwin was then tapped, but with Schumacher wanting to go ‘hipper' he wanted a younger feel to Batman and selected Val Kilmer. Kilmer took the lead without ever having read a script. He later regretted his decision as he had frequent clashes with Schumacher during filming. The casting change had a ripple effect as Rene Russo had been inked to play Dr. Chase Meridian. It was thought that she was too old to play opposite Kilmer and Nicole Kidman was hired to replace her. At the time Kilmer was 36, Kidman was 28 and Russo was 40.
Among those considered for the Riddler were Mark Hamill, John Malkovich, Robin Williams, Damon Wayans and Brad Dourif. Up for Two Face were Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood. Christian Bale, Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, Scott Speedman, Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon were all up for Robin. A famous story is that the part was down to Chris O'Donnell and DiCaprio. Producers showed pictures of the two actors to teen boys at a comic convention and asked them who they thought would win in a fight. O'Donnell won hands down.
Batman and Robin (1997):
The weight of the Batman costume shot back up here at 90 pounds. The Mr. Freeze suit was 75 pounds. Robin and Batgirl had 50 pound suits. George Clooney in full regalia surprised his friends on the set of "ER" during filming. Clooney injured his leg playing basketball while making the movie and the suit had to be cut to allow his cast. He can be seen limping in some shots.
To show where Joel Schumacher's mind was, his top choices to play Mr. Freeze were Anthony Hopkins, Patrick Stewart, Hulk Hogan and Sylvester Stallone. Julia Roberts, Sharon Stone and Demi Moore were considered for Poison Ivy.
Dr. Jason Woodrue who creates Bane is a comic character also based on vegetation in his alter ego as the Floronic Man. His super soldier serum is also the name of the concoction that created Captain America for Marvel Comics. Jesse Ventura has a bit part as a guard. He starred alongside Arnold Schwarznegger in Predator and The Running Man.
A fifth film, Batman Triumphant was in the works until this one bombed badly and killed the franchise for the foreseeable future.
And we'll finish with some shots of Bat Babes.
Don't die. I can't promise though on my end.
"I hate to disappoint you, but my rubber lips are immune to your charms."
