What If Tim Burton Had Made Batman 3: All DC Changes & Nolan Impact

If Tim Burton had made a third Batman movie, the character’s cinematic legacy would have shifted considerably, as the film would have had far-reaching consequences for Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and the DCEU. After the flamboyant wackiness of the 1960s, Batman underwent significant changes before his next cinematic outing. Tim Burton’s 1989 film, Batman, introduced a darker version of the character that was still able to capture the essence of the hero’s fantastically gothic world, balancing the subtly self-aware seriousness of Michael Keaton’s Batman against the exaggerated comical villainy of Jack Nicholson’s Joker.

After successfully establishing a Batman universe that was both comics-accurate and informed by Burton’s own characteristic touch, Burton started work on Batman Returns. The sequel doubled down on the gothic elements of the first film, delving into the darker nature of Burton’s Gotham City by introducing such colorfully unsettling characters as Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman and Danny DeVito’s Penguin. However, Batman Returns was less successful than its predecessor, and despite having plans for a sequel, Tim Burton was quietly replaced in order to take the franchise in a more family-friendly direction.

If Tim Burton had made another Batman movie, it would have radically changed the character’s cinematic future. Not only would Michael Keaton have returned for Batman 3, but other subsequent movies would either have been incredibly different or simply would have never been made. Had it been made, Tim Burton’s Batman 3 would have drastically altered the Dark Knight’s cinematic trajectory in a number of significant ways, particularly as it may have helped maintain a more consistent tone for the character moving forward.

What Burton’s Batman 3 Would Have Looked Like

As the film never came closer to fruition than Burton’s original concept, it’s difficult to say exactly how it would have turned out. However, over the years, information about Burton’s plans for the sequel has been revealed, which gives a good indication of what Tim Burton’s Batman 3 would have looked like. Reportedly, Burton’s proposed title for the film was Batman Continues, which is a rather obvious summation of the sequel’s intent: it would have seen the return of not just Michael Keaton’s Batman but also of Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman and Billy Dee Williams’ Harvey Dent.

Tim Burton’s Batman Continues also, reportedly, would have continued to expand upon the world of his previous movies by introducing new heroes and villains. As well as the potential for Billy Dee Williams’ Dent to become Two-Face, it was reported that Burton approached Robin Williams to play the Riddler and that Marlon Wayans would appear in the role of Robin (Wayans was initially intended to appear in Batman Returns as Dick Grayson/Robin but was ultimately cut). Burton’s plans would have continued to establish his Batman universe as a definitive adaptation of the Dark Knight and his supporting character’s stories and also would have further cemented Keaton as the definitive version of the Caped Crusader.

Burton’s Batman 3 Would Have Prevented Schumacher’s Movies

Had Tim Burton been able to make his Batman 3, Joel Schumacher’s infamous movies, almost certainly, would never have existed. As Burton’s continued role in the Batman franchise was usurped by the more cartoonish efforts of Joel Schumacher, Burton’s Batman 3 and Schumacher’s Batman Forever are mutually exclusive. Schumacher even seemingly used a number of Burton’s story ideas: Two-Face and the Riddler were both slated to appear in Batman Continues (albeit played by Burton’s original actors rather than Schumacher’s replacements).

Though the late director is usually blamed, the highly-criticized lighter tone of Joel Schumacher’s Batman movies was actually down to the studio. Schumacher was brought in as a response to complaints from licensing partners after the darker nature of Burton’s films reportedly hurt merchandise sales. Had the studio shown more faith in Tim Burton’s storytelling ability and gone ahead with Batman Continues, the reviled Batman Forever and Batman & Robin (widely considered one of the worst superhero movies ever made) would never have come to pass, and the role would never have passed to Val Kilmer or George Clooney because Keaton’s departure was prompted by Schumacher’s approach to Batman Forever.

How Burton’s Batman 3 Would Have Affected The Dark Knight Trilogy

After the disaster that was Batman & Robin, Batman movies underwent another drastic tonal shift with Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. However, if Tim Burton had made Batman 3, it’s entirely possible that Nolan’s critically-acclaimed trilogy wouldn’t have been made either. Though Nolan was praised for his gritty, realistic approach to Batman’s story and the criminal underworld of Gotham City, this general idea seemingly came to life as a course correction after the abysmally wacky Batman & Robin.

If Burton’s Batman 3 had prevented Schumacher’s movies from being made, it may have also prevented Nolan’s highly-celebrated trilogy from coming to fruition – mostly because the general success of Burton’s Gotham would have been seen as something of a safe bet. Without the massive failure of Schumacher’s movie, it’s unlikely that the studio would have signed off on Christopher Nolan’s gritty take on Gotham City because, objectively speaking, it was a radical decision. Though Nolan brought the idea to life brilliantly, it’s almost a certainty that Burton’s comic-accurate and well-liked take on Batman would have quashed any chance of DC taking a risk on Nolan’s vision.

Burton’s Batman 3 Could Have Changed Batman’s Cinematic Legacy

The idea that Burton making Batman 3 would have prevented both the best and the worst of Batman’s cinematic outings is obviously both a blessing and curse. On the one hand, the critically panned and generally despised Batman & Robin would never have existed, but it also would have made Nolan’s grounded take on the character an unnecessary risk. As the innovation of Nolan’s trilogy was necessary to fix the mistakes of Schumacher’s Batman movies, preventing one would likely have prevented the other, which would have had a negative impact on Batman’s cinematic legacy.

Had Batman 3 been made, it would have either prevented or at least radically changed the approach of Nolan’s trilogy. This would have also impacted Batman’s role in the DCEU and Matt Reeves’ The Batman, too: both Ben Affleck’s and Robert Pattinson’s versions of Batman drew inspiration from the Dark Knight trilogy, namely, in their respective over-grittiness of the DCEU and the more grounded approach of The Batman. Burton’s well-rounded version of the hero lacked some of the tonal edge that Batman has since come to possess, and though balancing the character’s brooding nature with appropriate humor and fantastical gothicism has proved difficult to replicate, it’s ultimately better that Batman & Robin and the Dark Knight trilogy were made. Tim Burton’s Batman 3 would have negatively impacted Batman’s cinematic future, particularly as it would have stifled the ideas that have enabled Batman’s continued presence in film.

Why Burton Didn’t Make Batman 3

The reason that Tim Burton didn’t make Batman 3 was mostly due to the tone of his films and the way that this was perceived by the studio. The licensing of merchandise for Batman Returns was huge, but the dark and mature tone of the film made marketing toys to a younger audience difficult. When it came time for Tim Burton to pitch a sequel, it was reportedly gently suggested that he step away from the project in order to allow for a more family-friendly approach. As Tim Burton’s movies had Keaton’s Batman rack up an impressive kill count and also introduced Danny DeVito’s dark, mutated iteration of the Penguin, it’s all too clear why the studio wanted to make a change, even if it was a bad decision.

Exactly what Tim Burton’s Batman Continues could have meant for the wider Batman mythos is difficult to define. Burton’s movies served as the starting point for a number of tonal shifts starting with Batman Forever, so if he’d made his third movie, it’s entirely possible that the current landscape of superhero cinema would be incredibly different. The knock-on effect the unmade film has had on the character of Batman and on DC’s cinematic development is clear – had it been made, Tim Burton’s third Batman movie could have changed everything.