Key Takeaways:
– Actor and Director Michael Keaton discussed his new film “Knox Goes Away.”
– Discussions included his role as Batman and the challenges of its physically demanding nature.
– Recalled the unexpected approach to preparing for this iconic role.
– Expressed his personal and significant connection to Batman’s alter ego, Bruce Wayne.
– Remembered the huge cultural impact of the Batman movie franchise.
Acclaimed actor and director, Michael Keaton, shared intriguing insights on his iconic performance as Batman while on the press run for his new movie, “Knox Goes Away.”
Bally Move That Sparked Controversy
During the conversation, Keaton took a trip down memory lane to recount the controversy that surrounded his initial casting. He acknowledged director Tim Burton’s boldness in handpicking him for the role, which he attributed to their successful pairing in the movie “Beetlejuice.” The process of owning the character, he said, was far from easy.
Navigating The Batman Suit
Ironically, one of the prominent challenges Keaton found was not the character but the Batman suit itself. According to him, understanding how to move in it was quite daunting, as he described it a “deep lonely thing.” However, he later confessed that mastering the suit was instrumental to his acclaimed portrayal. “Work the suit baby; that thing will get you three-quarters of the way there,” says the actor.
Bruce Wayne Over Batman
Contrary to popular belief, Keaton’s interpretation was primarily influenced by the character’s human alter ego, Bruce Wayne. Rather than focus on the Caped Crusader, Keaton revealed he always concentrated on Bruce Wayne’s experiences, especially the trauma of losing his parents. He explained the Frank Miller approach used, which brought about a more relatable and human side to the traditionally larger-than-life comic book character.
Wrong Physical Preparation
Critical to his recollection was the yearning need to physically prepare for the role. Keaton admitted he initially approached it from a physical fitness perspective but quickly ascertained that it was unnecessary, noting a humorous interaction with co-star Jack Nicholson (Joker) triggered this realization. “What are you doing that for?” Nicholson asked him once. He had no answer but just laughed at himself. According to Keaton- “it’s better to be real, small, little, thin inside, so there’s room to breathe.”
Reflecting on Batman Phenomenon
On reflection, Keaton talked about the movie’s social significance. Expressing how the landmark film impacted movie production of comic book heroes on a significant level, he proudly stated, “I was part of something that was a friggin game changer…That changed everything.”
Michael Keaton’s new movie, “Knox Goes Away,” is currently available. This Q&A session offered insightful tidbits on his successful Batman portrayal— a performance that arguably started a shift in superhero cinematic culture. Certainly, it remains a memorable piece of film history and offers valuable lessons to aspiring actors and filmmakers.
