Michael Keaton (Batman, Batman Returns)
There was a 20-year hiatus before Adam West lost his exclusivity on Batman. And when it was announced that director Tim Burton and Michael Keaton were set to create a new film about the Caped Crusader, many of the comic fans, who foresaw another Adam West-type Bats, were not happy. In fact, Warner Bros. received so many protest letters that they hired Bob Kane, the character’s infamous creator, to be the film’s creative consultant.
And with that came the first Dark Knight. Keaton possessed the charm and good looks of a billionaire playboy, but also, as producer Jon Peters put it, “he’s got that explosive, insane side.” We all remember that scene (“You wanna get nuts?! Let’s get nuts!”), and Keaton’s portrayal of the Bat remains beloved by critics and fans alike. So much so that he became the first actor to reprise the role when 1992’s Batman Returns was released.
Though it’s not aged as well as it could have, Keaton really was the first to capture the mysterious and darker side of Batman, a performance that would later influence all the later Batmen to come.