Continue reading ‘The Crowded Room’: Akiva Goldsman On Tom Holland’s Psychological Drama, His ‘Constantine’ & ‘I Am Legend’ Sequels & More [Bingeworthy Podcast] at The Playlist.

For fans of the “Batman” film franchise, there are two films that get a lot of shit from the fandom. You see, after Tim Burton released his two “Batman” films, beginning in 1989, Warner Bros. brought in Joel Schumacher to take the franchise in a new direction. And that’s exactly what happened, as the filmmaker infused the dark and gritty Burton-verse with neon lighting and heavy doses of humor with his two films, “Batman Forever” and “Batman & Robin.” Ultimately, the release of the second film, “Batman & Robin,” was the end of that run of films and seemed like the nail in the coffin for superhero films for several years. 

READ MORE: ‘Batman Forever’: Akiva Goldsman Remembers When Robin Williams Was Attached To Play The Riddler

However, recently there have been stories about a special cut of “Batman Forever,” one that was darker and more in line with Burton’s version of the character and not nearly as campy as the finished product.

Continue reading ‘Batman Forever’: Akiva Goldsman Says The “Schumacher Cut” Exists & Releasing It Would Be “A Nice Way To Honor” The Director at The Playlist.

It’s hard to believe, but Joel Schumacher‘s “Batman Forever” came out 28 years ago. And while it’s often overlooked today for Tim Burton‘s two films, Christopher Nolan‘s “The Dark Knight” trilogy, or even Matt Reeves‘ “The Batman,” Schumacher’s film was an event upon release. Four live-action Bruce Waynes later, it’s easy to forget how big “Batman Forever” was at the time of its release.

Continue reading ‘Batman Forever’: Akiva Goldsman Remembers When Robin Williams Was Attached To Play The Riddler at The Playlist.

Every actor who has put on the cowl and cape as Batman over the years approaches the character in a different way. In the case of Michael Keaton, he doesn’t have the physical stature of a superhero in the same way Ben Affleck or Christian Bale does, so his version of Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, in “Batman” and “Batman Returns,” seemed to focus on the dark psychological elements of the character.

Continue reading Michael Keaton Recalls Bailing On ‘Batman Forever’ When Joel Schumacher Asked, “Why Does It Have To Be So Dark?” at The Playlist.

With Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton both scheduled to reprise their Batman roles for the upcoming ‘Flash’ film from DC Films, people might expect to see other Batmen from various films and TV projects show up. Well, don’t expect a surprise appearance from George Clooney, who is well aware that he ruined his chances at continuing the Batman legacy thanks to the horrible “Batman and Robin.”

Speaking to Variety, Clooney explained why he won’t be showing up in “The Flash.” Basically, he didn’t get the call and didn’t expect the call after what he did to the ‘Batman’ film franchise after his 1997 travesty, “Batman and Robin.”

READ MORE: Matt Damon On Auditioning To Be George Clooney’s Robin In ‘Batman’ & Almost Playing Two-Face In ‘The Dark Knight’

“They didn’t ask me,” Clooney said.

Continue reading George Clooney Refuses To Show ‘Batman & Robin’ To His Wife & Totally Understands Why He Didn’t Get “The Flash’ Call at The Playlist.

Move over Snyder Cut, it’s time to discuss the Schumacher Cut! Namely, Joel Schumacher’s “darker” cut of “Batman Forever” that apparently exists even though no one knew about it until very recently.

According to Variety, the Schumacher Cut of “Batman Forever” does in fact exist, but it’s unclear if it will ever see the light of day. The discussion over this new version of the ‘90s superhero film directed by Schumacher first blew up thanks to writer Marc Bernardin tweeting something about a darker, longer version of “Batman Forever” that Schumacher cut together before the film was released.

Continue reading Joel Schumacher’s “Darker,” 170-Minute Cut Of ‘Batman Forever’ Exists But Might Not Be Released at The Playlist.

Joel Schumacher’s filmography could never be described as “boring.” Uneven, sure. Indulgent, maybe. But boring? Never. 

Schumacher was a relentless showman, a flashy, flagrant storyteller who believed that more is always more.  The New York-born director and one-time costume designer made movies that certain audiences and critics loved to hate, and he certainly had all manners of unkind critical pejoratives hurled at him over the course of his long, unpredictable career. 

LISTEN: Remembering Lynn Shelton, Master Of The Comedic Heart-To-Heart [Be Reel Podcast]

Schumacher helmed some great movies, some compelling curios, and a few outright turkeys during his thirty-plus years in the business.

Continue reading Remembering Joel Schumacher: The Essential Films at The Playlist.

With the record-breaking box office numbers of Marvel Studios and the Oscar-winning success of Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dark Knight’ trilogy, it’s interesting to think about how, not too long ago, people were calling for the death of superhero films. And for many of those people, you can trace the fall of comic book filmmaking to one man: director Joel Schumacher. Thanks to “Batman Forever” and “Batman & Robin,” people throw the late-‘90s demise of superhero films directly at his feet.

Continue reading Joel Schumacher on ‘Batman Forever’ Star Val Kilmer: “He Was Psychotic” at The Playlist.

“Brokeback Mountain” is viewed as a masterpiece for filmmaker Ang Lee. Nominated for countless awards, and winning three Oscars, the film about two men falling in love in the American West is looked at today as a truly special piece of filmmaking. So, when we hear from a creator involved in the film, and she talks about how the film struggled to get produced and almost looked very different, it’s almost mind-boggling.

Continue reading ‘Brokeback Mountain:’ Matt Damon And Joaquin Phoenix Were Originally Courted For Leading Roles at The Playlist.

“I think [Bat nipples] that will be on my gravestone. It’s how I’ll be remembered,” Joel Schumacher reflected a few years ago. Indeed, despite directing a string of hits before it arrived, “Batman & Robin,” remains one of the more infamous entries in the comic book movie canon, and a stain on the director’s resume. Still, even though he’s taken a beating from fans and while the film continues to be a punchline, Schumacher remains philosophical about it all.

Continue reading “It Was Like I Had Murdered A Baby”: Joel Schumacher Apologizes For ‘Batman & Robin’ at The Playlist.

Joel Schumacher Reportedly Writing Batman Comic Series That Will Unveil His "Original Vision" For The Series

Continue reading Joel Schumacher Reportedly Writing Batman Comic Series That Will Unveil His “Original Vision” For The Series at The Playlist.

'Batman & Robin' Director Joel Schumacher Says “Bat Nipples Will Be On My Gravestone”

Continue reading ‘Batman & Robin’ Director Joel Schumacher Says “Bat Nipples Will Be On My Gravestone” at The Playlist.

5 Michael Fassbender Films You May Not Have Seen

Continue reading 5 Early Michael Fassbender Films You Should Know at The Playlist.

David Fincher Says He's Still Figuring Out 'Dragon Tattoo' Sequel; Reveals Other Directors On 'House Of Cards'

Continue reading David Fincher Says He’s Still Figuring Out ‘Dragon Tattoo’ Sequel; Reveals Other Directors On ‘House Of Cards’ at The Playlist.

5 Things You Might Not Know About 'The Lost Boys' On Its 25th Anniversary

Continue reading 5 Things You Might Not Know About ‘The Lost Boys’ On Its 25th Anniversary at The Playlist.

Guess They Saw 'Trespass': Joel Schumacher Replaced By 'Machinist' Director Brad Anderson On 'The Hive'

Continue reading Guess They Saw ‘Trespass’: Joel Schumacher Replaced By ‘Machinist’ Director Brad Anderson On ‘The Hive’ at The Playlist.

Continue reading You’ve Been Warned: Joel Schumacher Directing ‘The Hive’ Penned By Guy Who Wrote ‘Thir13en Ghosts’ at The Playlist.

Continue reading John Carpenter To Direct Comic Adaptation ‘Darkchylde’ at The Playlist.

Continue reading First Look: Nic Cage & Nicole Kidman In ‘Trespass’; Alex Pettyfer In ‘I Am Number Four’ at The Playlist.

Continue reading WTF: Joel Schumacher Making A Rom Com With The Ghost Of Barry White? at The Playlist.

Cage was a question mark, apparently going A.W.O.L in the Bahamas after promoting “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” leaving producers scrambling to find a new lead as the start date loomed — and that was after he wanted to switch to playing the lead villain.

Continue reading ‘Animal Kingdom’ Star Ben Mendelsohn Joins Joel Schumacher’s ‘Trespass’ at The Playlist.

Continue reading Weekend Box Office: Leo And The Dreamers Finally Defeated By ‘The Other Guys’ at The Playlist.

Continue reading Review: There Are More Than ‘Twelve’ Reasons To Not See This Movie (Actually, There Are A Billion) at The Playlist.

Eric Parkinson, CEO of indie distributor Hannover House, hit Facebook today to plead with people to raise the IMDB ranking of Joel Schumacher’s forthcoming youth-and-drugs drama “Twelve.” The film has had non-existent if not outright negative buzz. Starring a fairly random cast, including Chace Crawford, Kiefer Sutherland, 50 Cent, Emma Roberts, Rory Culkin and Ellen Barkin, the film is based on the book by Nick McDonnell and chronicles a bunch of rich white kids who experience the bad side of drugs.

Continue reading Desperate: Hannover House CEO Eric Parkinson Begs People To Raise IMDB Ranking Of Joel Schumacher’s ‘Twelve’ at The Playlist.

It appears the actor’s brain was simply fried following a lengthy press jaunt for “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” The film follows a married couple who are taken hostage by a group thieves. Cage had originally signed on to play the husband to Nicole Kidman’s wife, then switched to the lead villain role, and now appears to have settled on playing the husband again.

Continue reading Crisis Averted: Nicolas Cage Will Star In Joel Schumacher’s ‘Trespass’ After All; Cam Gigandet Joins Cast at The Playlist.