From the LA Times… 1988

“Mr. Mom as Batman?
July 03, 1988

So Michael Keaton has been cast as Batman/Bruce Wayne?

He might have made a good Joker, but his comic style, which he seems unable to shake (but can amplify), has doomed this promised “serious” treatment of Bob Kane’s character to the same tired, boring level of artificial “camp” that made the TV series a hit yet simultaneously doomed it to an early cancellation.

The painful lesson of “Superman III”–when you don’t treat venerable superheroes with respect the audience rejects the property–has been ignored in this cynical, opportunistic attempt to capitalize on the success of “Beetlejuice” (same director, same star).

The Sam Hamm script that director Tim Burton is filming has many blunders, but does treat the characters basically seriously. Obviously, in casting Keaton, Burton is rejecting this approach altogether and going after a manic comedy.

Batman has been a popular character for almost five decades–not because he is a figure of comedy, but precisely because he is \o7 not\f7 , especially in the last couple of years. By ignoring this, by casting a clown as Batman, Warner Bros. and Burton have defecated on the history of Batman and on the hopes of those who appreciate the character and his potential.

Better they should have filmed Frank Miller’s “Batman: the Dark Knight Returns.” But that would have required courage, taste and imagination.

ALLAN B. ROTHSTEIN”

Sources say that Affleck has been signed for multiple other movies. The talks were so secretive that many Warner execs and most WME agents remained unaware of their existence.

Cosmic Book News has learned a few details about the casting process and decision that went into the new Batman from a source close to Warner Bros. As we previously told you, Tyler Hoechlin was up for the role and was given heavy consideration. We are also told that Karl Urban was up to be the new Batman, but his schedule prevented it. Regarding Ben Affleck, he was #3 on the list, behind the two aforementioned names. We've been told WB went with Affleck because they love his dedication as an actor and director. It's said Ben Affleck made a "HUGE" positive impression on Warner Bros. during the Justice League talks, "they feel he truly gets it."

You completely ignored the quote I pulled from wikipedia that says Siegel and Shuster denied that they intended any religious allegories.

Have you ever even read any of those early Superman stories? I described their extreme violence earlier. You really think a character that violent was intended to be based on Moses or Jesus?

Oh, and we all know Wikipedia's 100% reliable about everything...oh, wait...

Jesus was loving and graceful, but He wasn't soft. He drove a whole crowd of money-changers out of Solomon's Temple with a triple-cord, braided whip! Jesus was no wuss.