DC ELSEWORLDS: Reimagining Keaton Sequels & DC Films that Never Were

[Frodo]

The Flash (1964)

Director : Rod Serling
Script : Rod Serling , Charles Beaumont

Flash/ Barry Allen : Michael Landon
Iris West : Janet Leigh
The Reverse Flash/ Eobard Thawne : Robert Shaw
Flash/ Jay Garrick : Jimmy Stewart

 

[BobJM]

Lol Frodo I want to enjoy your casts but I don’t know any of these names! Throw us a few pics

 

[BobJM]

In another world,

BATMAN: YEAR ONE
directed by Darren Aronofsky
Summer 2005

Bruce Wayne / Batman: Ryan Gosling
Alfred Pennyworth: Christopher Plummer
Lt. James Gordon: Ethan Hawke

villains
Carmine Falcone: Robert DeNiro
Commissioner Loeb: Scott Glenn
Det. Arnold Flass: Karl Urban

supporting
Selina: Rosario Dawson
Det. Sarah Essen: Toni Collette
D.A. Harvey Dent: Kyle Chandler

additional
Stan: Mickey Rourke
Capt. Branden: Josh Charles
Jefferson Skeevers: Ving Rhames
Barbara Gordon: Bridget Moynahan


BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN
directed by Darren Aronofsky
Summer 2008

Bruce Wayne / Batman: Ryan Gosling
Comm. James Gordon: Ethan Hawke
Harvey Dent / Two-Face: Kyle Chandler

villains
Joker: Jake Gyllenhaal
Carmine Falcone: Robert DeNiro
Sal Maroni: Al Pacino
Alberto Falcone: Ben Whishaw

supporting
Selina Kyle / Catwoman: Rosario Dawson
Alfred Pennyworth: Christopher Plummer

additional
Mad Hatter: Michael Stuhlbarg
Vernon Fields: Colin Hanks
Barbara Gordon: Bridget Moynahan


BATMAN: DARK VICTORY
directed by Darren Aronofsky
Summer 2011

Bruce Wayne / Batman: Ryan Gosling
Dick Grayson / Robin: Asa Butterfield
Comm. James Gordon: Ethan Hawke

villains
Joker: Jake Gyllenhaal
Harvey Dent / Two-Face: Kyle Chandler
Tony Zucco: Ray Liotta

additional
Alberto Falcone: Ben Whishaw
Eddie Skeevers: Wood Harris
Mad Hatter: Michael Stuhlbarg
Scarecrow: Paul Bettany
Mr. Freeze: Lance Reddick

supporting
Selina Kyle / Catwoman: Rosario Dawson
Alfred Pennyworth: Christopher Plummer
Janice Porter: Vera Farmiga

 

[Frodo]

THE FLASH (1964)
Director : Rod Serling

Barry Allen/ Flash : Michael Landon

Iris West : Janet Leigh

Reverse Flash/ Eobard Thawne : Robert Shaw

Jay Garrick/ The Flash : Jimmy Stewart

 

[Frodo]

GREEN ARROW AND GREEN LANTERN (1972)

Green Arrow/ Oliver Queen : Steve McQueen

Green Lantern/ Hal Jordon : Paul Newman

Black Canary : Honor Blackman

Sinestro : Yule Brynner

Speedy / Roy Harper : Jeff Bridges

Carol Farris : Ali Macgraw

 

[Frodo]

Coppola's Batman main cast 1974

Batman/ Bruce Wayne : Clint Eastwood

Alfred Pennyworth : David Niven

James Gordon : William Holden

Harvey Dent : Robert Redford

Catwoman/ Selina Kyle : Faye Dunaway

Vicki Vale : Diane Keaton

Joker : Jack Palance

Penguin: Rod Steiger

Riddler : Robert Duvall

Dr Hugo Strange : Donald Pleasence

 

[BobJM]

Coppola's Batman main cast 1974

Batman/ Bruce Wayne : Clint Eastwood

Alfred Pennyworth : David Niven

James Gordon : William Holden

Harvey Dent : Robert Redford

Catwoman/ Selina Kyle : Faye Dunaway

Vicki Vale : Diane Keaton

Joker : Jack Palance

Penguin: Rod Steiger

Riddler : Robert Duvall

Dr Hugo Strange : Donald Pleasence

Really like this

 

[Frodo]

Really like this

Thanks !

Ironically, Coppola would probably refuse to make it given his views on cbm's, but I think he could deliver a serious, grounded, noir driven Batman film in the mid to late 70s.

With Coppola directing and Eastwood starring, and the film written by Mario Puzo, the film would have been epic.

 

[Eddie Dean]

GREEN ARROW AND GREEN LANTERN (1972)

Green Arrow/ Oliver Queen : Steve McQueen

Green Lantern/ Hal Jordon : Paul Newman

Black Canary : Honor Blackman

Sinestro : Yule Brynner

Speedy / Roy Harper : Jeff Bridges

Carol Farris : Ali Macgraw

Shouldn’t Redford be Green Arrow here?

 

[Frodo]

Shouldn’t Redford be Green Arrow here?

Funny you should say that.

I was going to make him Oliver Queen, but I decided to make him Dent in Coppola's film instead. Lol.

Plus, I wanted to go for an actor who was closer to Newman's age, than Redford was at that time. I also wanted Bridges as Speedy to do the addiction story, so I needed Queen to truly be a mentor/father figure to a 20 something Bridges ,as opposed to someone who would be more like an older brother.

I sort of imagine the film as being a film about two middle aged versions of Queen and Jordon. As a result, they're men of a different generation dealing with the social upheaval of the late 60s and early 70s, much like in the comics from that time did.

Of course , they would both have very different views of the changes of the day.

So in theory, their versions would have been in costume since the 1950s, which was around the time both actors were making Westerns.

 

[BobJM]

WB decides to push back George Miller's epic Justice League: Mortal to July 2012 to avoid the ongoing production woes and writer's strike. The release delay allows for Miller to work on the script & fully refine his vision, but the cast moves on to other projects causing a recast.

It's Summer 2012, a summer that fans will remember as the Avengers vs. Justice League at the box office...

JUSTICE LEAGUE
directed by George Miller
Summer 2012

Clark Kent / Superman: Matthew Bomer

Bruce Wayne / Batman: Jon Hamm

Princess Diana / Wonder Woman: Anne Hathaway

John Stewart / Green Lantern: Common

Barry Allen / Flash: Emile Hirsch

King Arthur / Aquaman: Gerard Butler

Martian Manhunter: Chiwetel Ejiofor

villains
Maxwell Lord: Jason Bateman

Talia al Ghul: Rachel Weisz

supporting
Wally West: Logan Lerman

Iris West: Olivia Thirlby

Alfred Pennyworth: Terence Stamp

Lois Lane: Alison Brie

Perry White: Kelsey Grammer

 

[Frodo]

SUPERMAN: THE NEW MOVIE (1994)
Director : Steven Spielberg

Superman/ Clark Kent : Billy Campbell

Lois Lane : Sandra Bullock

Lex Luthor : Billy Zane

Brainiac : Ray Fiennes

Perry White : John Mahoney

Jimmy Olsen : Brian Austin Green

Metallo/ John Corbin : Sean Bean

Jor El : Sean Connery

Lara El :Carole Bouquet

Johnathan Kent : Harrison Ford

Martha Kent : Karen Allen

General Sam Lane : Tommy Lee Jones

General Zod : Ed Harris

Faora : Lena Olin

 

[Airwings]

I got really inspired by Frodo's suggestion, a Coppola-directed Batman film from 1974.

It made me want to do something similar.
This isn't made in the same universe as Frodo's vision. Meaning the films aren't connected.

Maybe there are too many villains? No problem, this could easily be a 3h epic. A one of a kind.

Batman - The Caped Crusader (1984)

Director: Sergio Leone
Music: Ennio Morricone

Bruce Wayne/Batman: James Caan
Dick Grayson/Robin: Ilan Mitchell-Smith
Alfred: Roger Moore

Gordon: Paul Newman
Bullock: Bud Spencer
Dent: Peter Fonda/Martin Sheen (sorry, couldn't pick just one so I gave you two candidates)

Sal Maroni: Telly Savalas

Ra's Al Ghul: Christopher Lee
Deathstroke: Charlton Heston

Joker: James Woods
Riddler: Gene Wilder
Penguin: Donald Pleasence
Catwoman: Claudia Cardinale

Sorry, I couldn't really find a role for De Niro here. First thought about him for Bruce, but went with Caan instead.
Savalas was a possible Ra's. In the end, I decided Lee would be better.

EDIT: Just realised that Scott Tiler who played young Noodles in OUATIA would be Leone's first choice for Grayson. Should I change my cast list?

 

[Frodo]

That's cool cast Airwings!

I like Caan as Wayne. He has that Keaton vibe, yet he also has the physical, bear- like, body type, of Miller's The Dark Knight Returns Batman.

James Woods would have made an awesome Joker. He has the look of the comics Joker, and he has that undercurrent of menace. He can also go from being bonkers ,to being snarky ,and even understated.

It's interesting you mention Wilder as Riddler since as a kid , I thought of him as a possible Riddler after Batman 1989 came out.

I like your choices for Robin. Smith looks like the spitting image of Robin and actually still would have been old enough to play Robin for Batman 89 had they decided to include the character.

A 3hr epic Batman film is how I would imagine Coppola would do it as well.

So a 3 hr Batman film directed by Leone ? I say bring it!

I still haven't seen Once Upon a time in New York, but I'm gonna have to check it out.

1984 also makes sense as a year for the film to come out given that that 83-84 was around the time the development of a Batman film was really picking up steam.

 

[Frodo]

THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS (1988)

Director : Francis Ford Coppola
Script : Mario Puzo, Frank Miller

Batman/ Bruce Wayne : Clint Eastwood

Robin / Carrie Kelly : Molly Ringwald

Joker : Jack Palance

Two Face : Robert Redford

Catwoman/ Selina Kyle : Faye Dunaway

Ellen Yindel : Bridget Nelson

James Gordon : Burt Lancaster

Alfred Pennyworth : Don Ameche

Superman/ Clark Kent : Rick Rossovich

Mutants Leader : Ron Perlman

Green Arrow/ Oliver Queen : Dennis Hopper

Robin/ Jason Todd in Flashbacks : River Phoenix

Batgirl/ Barbara Gordon in Flashbacks : Jodie Foster

Guest appearance by President Ronald Reagan

 

[Airwings]

That's cool cast Airwings!

I like Caan as Wayne. He has that Keaton vibe, yet he also has the physical, bear- like, body type, of Miller's The Dark Knight Returns Batman.

James Woods would have made an awesome Joker. He has the look of the comics Joker, and he has that undercurrent of menace. He can also go from being bonkers ,to being snarky ,and even understated.

It's interesting you mention Wilder as Riddler since as a kid , I thought of him as a possible Riddler after Batman 1989 came out.

I like your choices for Robin. Smith looks like the spitting image of Robin and actually still would have been old enough to play Robin for Batman 89 had they decided to include the character.

A 3hr epic Batman film is how I would imagine Coppola would do it as well.

So a 3 hr Batman film directed by Leone ? I say bring it!

I still haven't seen Once Upon a time in New York, but I'm gonna have to check it out.

1984 also makes sense as a year for the film to come out given that that 83-84 was around the time the development of a Batman film was really picking up steam.

Thank you

Tried to get a perfect cast, I mean perfect in every sense. Just like you did.

I noticed the similar looks between Keaton and Caan too.

Woods as Joker is a pure genius move. Especially with his young appearance/energy back then.

Gene is probably too soft for Riddler unless he gives his best acting ever and have a danger element to the villain.
Leone wouldn't go all camp. A director of his caliber is always going to make a serious film.

I imagine it to have a quite slow pace for this type of film. Not all that dumb muscle action typical for the 80s.
This is a much more character-driven story.

Most of the characters are portrayed a bit older, 40 and upwards. Leone's Batman has been around for a while before we pay him a visit here.

I'm glad I went with Ilan as Grayson. He's sorta... taken directly from the comic pages.
I must admit I considered Noah Hathaway first. Don't laugh!
Wrong actor for a Leone-type Batman film, I guess. But he was into both dancing and martial arts.
To be honest, who knows what the director would have in his mind? I've heard that Noah is partly native. Maybe that could be something Leone would find interesting, and then the character could be altered a bit while still remain all-atlethic?
But as I later corrected, Leone would have (likely) went with Scott Tiler for the sidekick.
And having a lot of the characters appearing to be italian-american (even if they actually aren't).

You will maybe like Once Upon a Time in America (not new york).
I did!!! Top 3 epic of all epics
It clocks in on 3.50 h

 

[Eddie Dean]

Mario Bava's BATMAN RETURNS (1965)

John Philip Law - Batman

Barbara Steele - Catwoman

Adolfo Celi - The Penguin

Christopher Lee - Max Schreck

Boris Karloff - Alfred

 

[Frodo]

BATMAN :YEAR ONE (1990)
Director : Francis Ford Coppola

Bruce Wayne Aged 55 : Clint Eastwood

Batman/ Bruce Wayne age 25 : Luke Perry

James Gordon : Nick Nolte

Alfred Pennyworth : Ian Mckellen

Selina Kyle : Laura San Giacomo

Flass : Gary Busey

Commissioner Loeb : Gene Hackman

Carmine Falcone : Joe Mantegna

Leslie Thompkins : Talia Shire

Harvey Dent : Brad Pitt

Sarah Essen : Ellen Barkin

Holly Robinson : Sophia Coppola

 

[Frodo]

BATMAN 2(1976) and BATMAN 3 (1978)

Director : Francis Ford Coppola
Script : Mario Puzo , Francis Ford Coppola
Music : Nino Rota
Additional casts

Robin/ Dick Grayson : John Travolta

Ras Al Ghul : Christopher Lee

Talia Head : Barbara Bach

Scarecrow : Peter Cushing

Silver St Cloud : Cybill Shepherd

Rupert Thorne : Telly Savalas

Leslie Thompkins : Jessica Tandy

Poison Ivy : Tina Louise

Mr Freeze : Peter O'Toole

The Mad Hatter : Gene Wilder

Boss Maroni : Richard S. Castellano

Tony Zucco: James Caan

Joe Chill (Flashback) : John Cazale

Thomas Wayne ( Flashback) : Gregory Peck

Martha Wayne(Flashback) : Lauren Bacall

 

[Frodo]

THE WATCHMEN (1988)

Director : Ridley Scott
Producer : Jon Peters
Script : Sam Hamm, Hampton Fancher
Music : Vangelis

Night Owl : Dan Ackroyd

Lurie Jupiter : Demi Moore

Dr. Manhattan : William Hurt

Ozymandias : Richard Gere

Rorschach : Dustin Hoffman

The Comedian : Robert De Niro

Sally Jupiter : Susan Sarandon

The Original Night Owl : Richard Crenna

Janey Slater : Jobeth Williams

The Captain Of The Black Freighter : Timothy Dalton

 

[Airwings]

Dan Aykroyd doing superhero action?! Cool!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Frodo]

Dan Aykroyd doing superhero action?! Cool!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks !

In casting Night Owl, I wanted to go with an actor who could really come off as a naive, yet nice and good person with a heart, while also being something of a teddy bear.

I looked someone who could be awkward and funny but not in an over the top way.

At the same time, I wanted a boomer who could do action, and Aykroyd just fits the bill perfectly to play Night Owl in the 80s.

The runner up was Kevin Kline, but I felt at that time, Aykroyd would fit the role much better.

 

[Frodo]

WONDER WOMAN (1998)
Director : Joss Whedon
Script : Joss Whedon, Kevin Williamson

Wonder Woman/ Diana Prince : Catherine Zeta Jones

Steve Trevor : Nathan Fillion

Cheetah : Angelina Jolie

Queen Hippolyta : Angelica Houston

Maxwell Lord : Jude Law

Ares : Russell Crowe

Giganta : Marcia Cross

 

[Airwings]

WONDER WOMAN (1998)

Director : Joss Whedon
Script : Joss Whedon, Kevin Williamson

Wonder Woman/ Diana Prince : Catherine Zeta Jones

Steve Trevor : Nathan Fillion

Cheetah : Angelina Jolie

Queen Hippolyta : Angelica Houston

Maxwell Lord : Jude Law

Ares : Russell Crowe

Giganta : Marcia Cross

How can you create such impressive casts all the time?

 

[Frodo]

How can you create such impressive casts all the time?

You flatter me so Airwings. Thank You .

I've probably watched too much tv and too many movies since the mid 1980s. .

As a result, I remember alot actors and actresses from back in the day and I try to cast as closely to type and to the type of actor or actress that could or would have been taken seriously enough to be cast in that time period.

With WW, I took the idea of Whedon wanting to do it and partnered with Kevin Williamson of Scream , and pushed the project about a decade ahead into the 90s as opposed to the mid 2000s when the project was originally being development.

With Diana, it was a little bit easier since Mask Of Zorro and Entrapment were popular in the late 90s, and CZJ was a name that fans tossed around for WW back then.

Even though she doesn't have the physical stature of Carter or Gadot, she can do action and humor, and she had a ton of charisma.

She also had an elegance and grace about her that could make you believe she that was royalty .

.