What We Know About Joel Schumacher’s Canceled Sequel

After Joel Schumacher’s “Batman Perpetually” was launched in theaters in 1995, it rapidly turned one of many highest-grossing movies of the yr (it grossed over $336 million worldwide). However is Schumacher’s tackle Batman any good? Effectively … the reply is a tad sophisticated, as “Batman Perpetually” was usually favored throughout its time of launch, although it garnered combined evaluations from critics. Some facets of the 1995 flick are actually value highlighting, equivalent to its groundbreaking use of CGI within the type of the primary digital double ever used. The remaining, nonetheless, is a frivolous train in kaleidoscopic extra.

In hindsight, the movie’s resounding success is moderately baffling, as its imperfections appear extra obvious with every passing day; the time period “camp” can solely accomplish that a lot heavy lifting earlier than being stretched to its limits. Positive, that is the form of leisure that appealed to a large demographic (together with youngsters, who had been the goal for the movie’s tie-in toys again then), and the movie’s gentle, humorous tone helped enhance its mainstream recognition. Nevertheless, this does not change the truth that “Batman Perpetually” is a reasonably tough watch, the place its spectacular technical achievements are at loggerheads with its startling absence of depth.

That stated, it’s not shocking that Warner Bros. instantly greelit a Schumacher sequel, anticipating it to carry out in addition to its predecessor. Sadly, 1997’s “Batman & Robin” swiftly turned a franchise entity that everybody would moderately neglect, as this critically panned title did not encourage confidence regardless of churning out a good field workplace efficiency. Whereas there’s rather a lot to be stated about how a lot of a horrible misstep “Batman & Robin” was (though some consider it to be an necessary comedian e book film), its reception led to the cancellation of a 3rd Schumacher sequel that was deliberate for fairly a while. Let’s shed some gentle on “Batman Unchained,” the canceled Caped Crusader story that might’ve been.

After Warner Bros. determined to go ahead with the sequel to “Batman & Robin,” Schumacher employed author Mark Protosevich (“The Cell,” “I Am Legend”) to pen the script in late 1996. A 1999 launch date was tentatively introduced, with the movie’s tone being anticipated to be consistent with the primary two Schumacher entries, replete with a rogue’s gallery who’re as much as no good. Nevertheless, particulars about Protosevich’s script reveal a darker, mature tone, believed to be nearer to the delightfully eccentric Tim Burton “Batman” entries that explored a grittier Gotham. “Batman Unchained” was supposed to maneuver away from silliness and embrace pure psychological horror — the sort the place Batman is emotionally worn down by his enemies and compelled to reckon along with his painful previous.

This clearly sounds promising, and we see the same premise get actualized to sensible impact in a critically-acclaimed online game years down the road. Sure, 2009’s “Batman: Arkham Asylum” is usually impressed by the “Batman” comics (together with Grant Morrison’s graphic novel, “Arkham Asylum: A Critical Home on Critical Earth”), however its narrative overlap with the canceled “Batman Unchained” might be greater than coincidental. In any case, each tales embrace Batman hallucinating resulting from Scarecrow’s worry toxins, with villains just like the Joker and The Riddler (together with a misguided Harley Quinn) uniting to push him to his absolute limits, in order that they will have him thrown in Arkham Asylum.

“Batman Unchained,” nonetheless, was additionally imagined to characteristic Robin, who would present up final minute to avoid wasting his companion from Scarecrow’s clutches (regardless of parting methods with Batman earlier over disagreements). Though Schumacher’s dealing with of his “Batman” movies feels muddled at greatest, “Unchained” may have tapped into his most interesting directorial instincts, together with an affinity for unrestrained fashion and unconventional underdogs. I imply, may it have actually been as flippant and incoherent as “Batman & Robin?” I’m inclined to consider that “Unchained” may’ve been greater than respectable, however I assume we’ll by no means know.

In case you wish to expertise bits of this discarded storyline, then enjoying “Batman: Arkham Asylum” (and even “Batman: Arkham Knight”) would possibly assist fill this inexplicable “Unchained”-shaped void.