Michael Keaton Wasn't Sure He Wanted To Be In "Batman" With Jack Nicholson | Letterman

Michael talks about his iconic role as the Caped Crusader.
(From "Late Night," air date: 6/22/89)
#michaelkeaton #batman #letterman
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Welcome to the Letterman KZbin Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. The language may strike you as quaint & flowery, the clothing comically lacey & ornate - but that’s how things were back in this colorful and now bygone era.

[@tomquigley3315]

Met him once on accident in the 90's through an industry job I had. Actually the most normal, polite and friendly movie star there is. He talked about his son and lawn mowers like a next door neighbor. Guys alright.

[@Kanjo_Bazooie]

Cool to hear! He’s always been one of my favorite actors. Glad he didn’t go ‘Hollywood’ on you lol.

[@TheSteel101]

I was at a party in LA will a Baldwin and a few other writers/actors/directors There was a big pile of free cocaine. Was good

[@user-fn5hx9bs4y]

who HIM ??

[@tonyrodney9610]

I was a PA on White Noise. There was panic on the walkies because they lost Keaton and didn't know where he was. I was positioned on the street, close to a 711 and I see him come out chowing down on a hotdog. Dude is so down to earth.

[@jimthompson8947]

Great flick. Thanks for the share.

[@TheAmateurEditor]

😂 That's such a great visual!

[@DouglasRichardson-er4ky]

​@@TheAmateurEditorMichael prolly held the door for other customers he seems like that kinda genuine nice man

[@DanJackson1977]

Before Batman 89 came out, everyone was complaining about the Michael's casting. Wouldnt shut up about it. "Mr. Mom / Beetlejuice as Batman? Hes too short... hes not muscular.. boooo".. it came out, biggest movie of the year. Now? Everyone says "Best Batman Ever".

[@charlesmaclellan8124]

Similar to how everyone was upset about Ledger being the Joker for The Dark Knight. "What!? The guy from the gay cowboy movie!?" Now he's most people's favorite.

[@MoviesWithJosh]

I see this type of comment over 100 times but was Val and George casting was ok at the time?

[@avace917]

Yup. I remember it well. I heard about it the previous summer.

[@Halbared]

@@MoviesWithJosh I remember Keaton being unpopular at the time, and he turned out OK. Afterwards, people had come round more to unusual casting choices possibly working out.

[@murrieta49]

I wish I was old enough to really feel the Batmania for Batman and Returns

[@marvinshenk]

Michael Keaton is such a good guy. He is the Batman we all need.

[@SebastianTinajero]

Hahaha I can’t believe Michael Keaton just spills out a giant spoiler nonchalantly, love him

[@tom_reagan]

Right?? 😂 Although Dave should take all the blame for asking the question to begin with (if the Joker killed Bruce Wayne’s parents) and then not editing that part out before it aired on TV. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@brennanbarber7469]

@@tom_reagan No one cared back then. Go watch the trailer for Rocky 4, or even the poster for Rocky 4 lol people didn't take movies so seriously back then. People get too upset about little things nowadays.

[@jedijones]

@@brennanbarber7469 A lot of 1980s trailers just tell the story of the whole movie from beginning to end.

[@machineofadream]

This story about Batman's parents being killed comes from the first Batman comic appearance from 1939, though I don't know if Joker is ever named as the killer in the comics, but at least part of that plot point isn't a total spoiler for Batman fans.

[@user-fn5hx9bs4y]

Letterman did.

[@shahartley]

Michael Keaton is still the best Batman to date for me. And he's a great actor. 'Batman', 'Beetlejuice', 'Pacific Heights', 'My Life', etc. Very different roles & he pulled them all off.

[@milk-it]

I second that!

[@jamicl2580]

Johnny Dangerously....... "Once!" 😂

[@billkeithchannel]

His version had the coolest batmobile.

[@simonmandrakejones]

Just rewatched his Batman movie recently. He is so good in it. He is so weird as Bruce Wayne.

[@cjns5253]

Mr mom

[@Mgoblue90272]

Keaton is due in all the accolades he receives. Birdman, Beatle, juice, out of sight, well, those are my most memorable performances anyway.

[@ClockwiseCat]

DOPESICK is amazing

[@kstepko]

Agreed - also “Worth”. If he’s in it, I’m going to see it.

[@usuck1883]

I remember being one of those people who was skeptical of him playing Batman after he played the iconic Beetlejuice just the year before. I just thought it was weird at the time. Same happened when they announced that H. Ledger was gonna play the Joker in “The Dark Knight”. Glad they both nailed their respective roles!

[@supernerd5781]

And history repeated itself with Robert Pattinson, there's something charming about that

[@jedijones]

That's the way I felt about Ben Affleck, and then he absolutely nailed it, becoming the #1 Batman by far in my view.

[@usuck1883]

@@jedijones He was ok. Not even close to #1 tho. That still belongs to Michael Keaton (btw, he’s the highlight of ‘The Flash’ movie by far!)

[@brian-ld4vd]

Johnny Dangerously is one of the funniest movies of all time. Classic.

[@accepthisname]

34 years later and he played Batman once more, and dammit I'm ready for more. Batman Beyond next!

[@GregKhar-NU-Metalhead2000]

Im glad its cancelled! Am I the only one who hate Terry's goofy ass here? I think the only person who can replace Bruce is Azrael

[@ultra_cosmic]

I hope to see him again too. The Flash was so good

[@dgm2485]

I've watched a lot of clips of Michael Keaton on Letterman and I'm always struck by how genuinely delighted they are to see each other.

[@Andrew-Antioch-Kim]

Michael Keaton is looking great for his age and is one of the more underracted actors!

[@pauld205]

These two could do a killer podcast

[@imtheman4805]

Man they were equals in the Improv Dept. The humor was incredible. Amazing that they both came up together on the Mary Tyler Moore show and both always hung close to Early friendships

[@staunchx]

I'd certainly listen to it!

[@micahclawrence]

Never thought about it but man Keaton would do a great podcast. Dave too though I sincerely doubt he would have the desire to adhere to a schedule ever again.

[@kstepko]

“If there’s trouble, I’m ready.” That’s adorable.

[@siriuzbiz]

He was great in Night Shift

[@cieskokid]

"Love brokers!"

[@billkeithchannel]

That was the first theatrically released movie Henry Winker did after becoming big doing Fonzie.

[@siriuzbiz]

@@cieskokid lol

[@truthsayer9534]

“Chuck, I’m wearing white!”

[@BenLindsay3001]

Best Batman

[@thepipsterdufus]

All day!

[@muscleoffigus]

"The best Jerry, the best"

[@paulhammons7077]

Yep

[@dianewinters8628]

Absolutely

[@carlosgrey37]

But not bruce wayne

[@privatepenguin3137]

In one of my two times being in the Letterman audience...Michael Keaton was one of his guests. But this wasn't it. It was on the Late Show...I think '96 and he was promoting a movie called Multiplicity if I remember correctly. I love Dave and Michael's chemistry....they have such a long history together going back to the Mary Tyler Moore variety show (...if you want cringeworthy...check THAT out 🤣).

[@scottthompson9720]

The most batman actor that's ever lived on film and in real life. ICONIC AND THE FIRST TWO MOVIES ARE **LEGEND**

[@gordon3576]

Birdman was one of his best. He was robbed of an Oscar.

[@lazarusblackwell6988]

I loved Birdman :) Its a masterpiece :)

[@TimmehJay]

The vast majority of us did not see Keaton as Batman at the time. Most of us saw him as a goofy comedic actor and it was almost an insult to think he would be cast as Batman. Boy were we wrong.

[@rdf274]

And all the way into the future, people gave slack about casting Pattinson, who nailed it as well

[@gforce9596]

​@@rdf274just fyi, people gave "flak" to Pattinson - giving someone some slack means taking it easy on them 💡

[@rdf274]

@@gforce9596 I tought I got that wrong, thanks :D

[@soccrattes2295]

That seems kinda weird, since the only reference at the time regarding live action Batman versions, would be Adam West!!

[@DouglasRichardson-er4ky]

I wasn't aware of the debate at the time I am now after that loser Ben Afflack ruined both Daredevil and the Batman movie he was in 😉

[@Joseph1NJ]

Michael Keaton was _THE BEST_ batman, which says a lot since Christian Bale, also a great actor, also played Batman.

[@erfansvideos]

That deep voice Christian Bale did as Batman is what cost people not putting him first as best Batman “Where is he?” “Nice coat!” 😂

[@Joseph1NJ]

@@erfansvideos I think being first, sans Adam West of course, made MK the original, and he made the character his own.

[@thespaceram2879]

@@erfansvideos Bale's Batman sounded like Marlon Brando.

[@ubeezy_538]

Tim Burton, Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson need to make a video together where they comment on Batman!!

[@lazarusblackwell6988]

Michael Keaton saved my life with Batman (1989) :) :) :) No joke.

[@lawrencerinehart5747]

Literally grew up on him. From Mister Roger's to stand-up, Mr. Mom, Johnny Dangerously & On...He Always Gave 100%.

[@mosslyon]

Johnny Dangerously is a under appreciated movie of his.

[@relentlessflashbackin]

@@mosslyon I totally agree and I pair it with "Sunset", an underrated and forgotten Bruce Willis movie.

[@them-aasaaron6440]

Mr Rogers ?

[@donniedemarco]

@@them-aasaaron6440 right! I watched Mr. Rogers RELIGIOUSLY and I don’t remember him on there 😳.

[@billkeithchannel]

Duplicity. Remember a copy of a copy is not as bright.

[@89BatmanFan]

Best. Batman. EVER

[@BlueLeopard200]

Can't believe he gave away such a huge part of plot like that lol. Finding out about Joker killing Bruce Wayne's parents was one of those "wow moments" when seeing the film for the first time.

[@jedijones]

Think it would've been better to just reveal it at the beginning. I think it would make the audience more involved to know that all along before Bruce Wayne knows it.

[@Valaraukar8187]

Michael Keaton is awesome. The movie “Clean & Sober”, is an acting master class.

[@mr.eastcoast8369]

Damn skippy

[@rss9944]

@@mr.eastcoast8369 shut it boy

[@alphadrewaz88]

God bless Michael Keaton, terrific actor. Batman '89 is a true classic.

[@CaptSNES]

Michael is the Batman.

[@awesomejoemoviereviews3802]

The quality is fantastic. Why does this video look like it was just recorded last night.

[@HeroicRecaps]

youtube automatically upscaled its low definition videos

[@idontcare4gob742]

I always loved it when Dave would sing, "Midnight.. And the kitties are sleeping..."

[@JohnnyBravo-ww8wz]

5:47 blowing the plot 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@frankieboy8414]

Letterman's fault.

[@TheTuubster]

Watch his movie "The Paper". An underrated gem where he goes full Keaton.

[@henryjohnstone2951]

When the bass player casually plucks Deliverance! Killed me.

[@calistnway]

Mr. Mom was one of my first favorite movies, and Michael Keaton my first favorite actors, so I can’t even begin to describe how excited I was when he was announced for Batman.

[@ah-damn-art]

Freaking Michael spoiled the twist lmao, dude's a legend!😂🦇

[@greyhoundfivemedia812]

I was in a midnight preview of Batman while this interview aired. One of the few Letterman's I missed in the late 80s.

[@jalenjohnson1662]

What was that like? Was it sold out?

[@RAGING_MIRAGE]

Can't believe the spoiler Michael gave away there Ha Ha.

[@RobWright1981]

Must've gotten in trouble!

[@kstepko]

I think they were far less strict about it back then, but these days …

[@kstepko]

The idea that The Joker killed Batman’s parents wasn’t taken from the comics; it originated with this film meaning that no one would have gone into the movie already knowing that twist: huge spoiler!

[@robertforster8984]

My mom was in labor when this was being taped.

[@Theskatenerdchannel]

My favorite Batman 🦇

[@batman-sk9hg]

Keaton cuando ingresa hace su clasico movimiento .siempre lo hace .

[@Heathcliff1848]

Keaton got the insane element of Bruce Wayne to a tee. A man who goes out at night dressed as a bat is not normal! Lol

[@jedijones]

He clearly has issues.

[@keefriff99]

Ha, what a GREAT interview…Keaton is always hilarious. Batman ‘89 is a bit dated but I still love it. Jack was a PERFECT Joker, and far from being kid-friendly, the film is actually very twisted in parts.

[@JohmathanBSwift]

Absolutely going to see The Flash to see The Batman. I hear Michael Keaton is amazing, again. Watching Birdman tonight.

[@kstepko]

He has appeared in a few of the trailers saying his classic lines from the 1989 Batman like “You wanna get nuts? Let’s get nuts” and “I’m Batman”.

[@JohmathanBSwift]

@@kstepko I know. I'm excited. I did watch Birdman last night. Had no clue what it was about. I enjoyed it.

[@JohmathanBSwift]

@@patreekotime4578 I think they have to a degree.

[@jeremydrew1227]

@@patreekotime4578 you must be living under a rock.

[@dynaguy3]

Wow I can’t believe he spoiled that Joker killed Bruce’s parents in the movie

[@DouglasRichardson-er4ky]

That was the comic book story 1st I believe 🤔

[@MedalionDS9]

KZbin comments: You wanna get nuts? Let's get nuts!

[@stebstebanesier6205]

_"Hello, this is Chuck to remind Bill to SHUT UP!"_

[@Mark_Brooks]

220, 221... whatever it takes.

[@MichelleUS66]

Any clip where Dave sings his trademark tune from Cats is epic!

[@Mark_Brooks]

"Just put the sheep costume on for a few minutes."

[@lynnturman8157]

Dave and Michael Keaton always had a great repour. At least until the falling out over which one would get to be Birdman.

[@evenflowsteven]

That’s quite a lineup for tomorrow. 😂

[@tattoodude8946]

You can tell him and Letterman were just goofing around both before the show and during this interview. A lot of very easy banter there.

[@buzzerbeater6257]

That joke about the Rain Man lunch boxes never talking off was hilarious. Very Norm-esque, could hear it in Norms cadence 6:12

[@likearollingstone007]

Great complicity

[@forbiddencolor]

Imagine Kevin Feige seeing this video of Keaton spoiling the biggest plot twist of the movie right after casting him in the MCU.

[@chemicalbrother7613]

Such a great rapport between these two gentlemen. Keaton could have been a great Joker too. Burton's Batmans are my favorite because they are dark, but there's still a feeling of a fairy tale. There's a distance between that world and a real one. Nowadays, they blur that line, and it dangerously messes with the audience's mind.

[@Barbro247]

He really has that Joker face. Or atleast had it when he was younger. The hair is already there.

[@ariaellis50]

Miss Dave tons. Both shows. Miss him on every night. Thank goodness he's still doing some, though less. Always my favorite.

[@DocRunaway]

1:56 - "No, they've gone nuts! Do you wanna get huts. David?"

[@wilkiecoco]

These two were on the Mary Tyler Moore Variety Show together in the 1970's

[@Thespeedrap]

What a cool interview you always wondered if they could did the whole show of them just talking that would've been great😅

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

One of the greats.

[@NoelComiX]

I was 6 when this movie came out. It was the first movie I remember watching in the theater!

[@RichManZ]

Cant wait to see him again in the Flash Film 2023

[@reyvagabond3344]

People often forget how funny he is and at the time he was an ok stand up.

[@bossfan49]

You nailed it. He was just ok as a stand up. His humor works better in interviews like this or as performance in a film.

[@rlibby404]

Must've been pretty awesome to know that your movie will be the "runaway hit of the decade" and it actually is

[@AnkurWow]

Keaton has the best chemistry with Letterman I've seen.

[@jedijones]

Probably because they knew each other in the '70s before Dave ever had a show.

[@clintrenicker5017]

Wish him and burton wouldve completed the trilogy

[@FireSword1234]

He understands Batman character like no other.

[@andremarc1275]

Michael Keaton talking about vanilla milk shake 30 years before playing in The Founder!!!

[@thechanneloffun3760]

He is the best Batman of all time, he has a lot of presence on the screen

[@jamiefrisby1914]

Michael Keaton for me will always be the one and only batman and Beetlejuice for me. You know, a lot of people never thought Michael Keaton could pull Batman off, after coming off Beetlejuice, but he was better than most thought. The 89 Batman is one of my favourite all time Batmans

[@Sourpusscandy]

My fav Keaton movie is Mr. Mom with Terri Garr.

[@joabthejavelin5119]

His boxing story is exactly like me and my older cousin growing up.

[@lifewithsebastian4534]

The true joker(letterman) in this amazing interview the vibe at the end is thin hahahaha daaaannnggg Keaton por siempre Batman

[@evenflowsteven]

There ain’t nothin like Rocky Mountain tuna.

[@matipelmatip]

5:50 that was actually a spoiler 😅

[@kerryrobinson9947]

George Santos - "I am batman." 😁😁😁😁

[@gregorypatricksmith8611]

Hilarious

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

Great to see him back as Batman ❤

[@maryklopfer9885]

My favorite Batman !!!

[@kilroy987]

The first trailer I saw had him talking like Keaton when he said "I'm Batman" - and I thought, oh boy this is really not going to work. Fortunately he was directed to even out his performance. I liked the second movie more, though.

[@greywolf7583]

I wish Michael Keaton and Tim Burton would do Batman Beyond but Warner Bros won't listen to the fans and give us the fan one more Batman movie with Michael Keaton with Tim Burton

[@joycejohnson7164]

Delightful guy...

[@razorbladethorax]

Man, it would great if Dave and Michael could do a show about fishing.

[@dispassionateobserver]

At first some people were critical of Michael Keaton being cast as Batman, now a lot of people call him The GOAT

[@FireSword1234]

Best actor and best Batman ever...

[@kstepko]

He sleeps in a trailer. 😂

[@Mark_Brooks]

Michael's son is now 40 years old.

[@robertforster8984]

So?

[@Mark_Brooks]

@@robertforster8984 Having problems being human, Robert?

[@losrajvosa0078]

Very useful info 😄

[@EvetsZerimar23]

12:12 “my brothers now are all older than me…” Lol were they younger and sped up their growth😂😂

[@pete276]

"You Wanna Get Nuts? Lets Get Nuts"

[@TheDJMysterE]

Dream Team is great underrated comedy

[@jarrodf_]

still my favourite Batman

[@stephenh5865]

I want some Rocky Mountain Tuna!

[@relentlessflashbackin]

I never saw Michael Keaton as a comedian, I saw him as an actor. By the way the rule is that a comedian can be in a dramatic role meanwhile a dramatic actor will not work as a comedian (there are exceptions of course). And it's surprising that after the Keaton dramatic role in "Clean And Sober" people still were thinkin' about him as "Mr. Mom". And it's surprising that all the Batman that we had after Keaton and Conroy were just other characters pretendin' to be Batman. We got teenage idol Kilmer, spinsters idol Clooney, hopelessly depressed Bale and two pretty boys from a boy band tryin' so hard to be "grim and bad" that were laughable as hell. And I didn't hear so much noise as the one that was made for Keaton, time are different now, people accepts even more the predigested food that Big Companies are serving in movie theaters.

[@Raiderhead3481]

There was actually complaints about Pattinson. I feel Keaton will always be the quintessential live action Batman. I liked Affleck for the version of Batman he played and the same for Pattinson. I don't think Kilmer gets enough credit for his Batman though. He was a great Batman/Bruce Wayne in a terrible movie.

[@relentlessflashbackin]

@@Raiderhead3481 Pattison Batman was inspired by Kurt Cobain by the director admission... this is already a big facepalm... I agree that Batman isn't the colorful caricature of the '60s and the '90s, he's a dark character but come on! After the Schumacher failures they thought that just turnin' up the notch on bleakness could make Batman more serious... as far as I am concerned now it's just another type of caricature....

[@jedijones]

At 11:39 Keaton predicts the 2022 "The Batman" movie.

[@andyt9181]

You can tell Letterman really likes him :)

[@whatsfortea2431]

Midnight ...and the kitties are sleeping

[@mediascribble]

celebrities mostly are just ordinary people. They certainly usually are talented, and even more importantly, they have to have that intangible something to be big hits. They also have to be okay with showing up in very public situations, like being on this show for instance. If they make it big their life is given to the craft.

[@bossfan49]

There's too many that forget how to be ordinary people. That level of wealth and fame affords you a different reality than 90% of the world.

[@Mph-ut4bs]

Where do you go on your fishing trip? Your house Dave!

[@Green1122Shorts]

5:44 Wait, he was allowed to say that?