In the 1990s, Michael Keaton changed the face of "Batman" on the big screen.
For the first time, movies about the caped crusader had taken on a darker tone. Keaton's new anti-hero featured in 1989's Batman and 1992's Batman Returns. But he left the role before the third film, Batman Forever, which starred Val Kilmer instead.
Michael Keaton finally confirms why he quit Batman
Rumours have long existed about why Keaton skipped out on the third movie. But, in a new interview, the 70-year-old actor finally opened up about what went down all those years ago.
It turns out Keaton was unwilling to budge on his vision of the gritty "Batman." For the third film, director Joel Schumacher was taking over from Tim Burton, and Keaton knew immediately that the filmmaker wasn't right for the project.
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In a new podcast appearance, Keaton recalled speaking to Schumacher about "Batman" and walking away going: "Oh boy, I can't do this. He asked me, 'I don't understand why everything has to be so dark and so sad?'"
Keaton ditched Batman Forever over the creative differences. Kilmer's film was met with a mixed reception, and it's follow-up Batman & Robin with George Clooney is infamously called one of the worst films of all time.
So Keaton may have gotten out at the right time. But he'll be back reprising his role as "The Dark Knight" in an upcoming Batgirl film with HBO Max.
For Keaton's full comments on leaving "Batman" in the '90s, please watch the video above.
