Michael Keaton just shut down every other Batman to follow him in what is undoubtedly the best response to any question... ever. After Christian Bale recently admitted to his own jealousy of Ben Affleck taking over the role of Batman in the new Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Keaton was asked if he had any similar envy. And his response:
No. Do you know why? Because I’m Batman.
Leave it to Michael Keaton to know just what to say when it comes to the caped crusader. The interview with ShortList Magazine touched upon Keaton’s new film, Birdman as well as the 25th anniversary of Tim Burton’s Batman. And after assuring that he is Batman, Keaton adds, "I’m very secure in that." I imagine it went down something like this:
Though he wasn't the first, and definitely not the last, Keaton’s portrayal goes down in the books, especially for his memorable voice. Each Batman is a bit different from the previous adaptation, and each actor brings their own unique qualities to the role, but Keaton’s was always my personal favorite.
Keaton’s new role in the critically acclaimed film, Birdman, scored him a Golden Globe nomination this year. It’s an absolutely incredible performance that follows a washed-up movie star who had gained his fame from playing a deep-voiced superhero named Birdman. Sound familiar?
The actor attempts to make a Broadway comeback, and throughout his time in the theater is haunted by his own past in the form of the deep-voiced Birdman version of himself. This voice is happy throwback to those of us who loved Michael Keaton’s Batman. And not only is the voice similar and a storyline that includes an older actor who had once played a superhero, but also the way that the character associates himself with his previous role is eerily similar to a certain someone who responds, "I am Batman."
I can’t recall if the words "I am Birdman" were said in that exact chorus in the film, but a few times throughout Keaton’s character would squawk like Birdman, which had a similar effect. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, you should, it’s terrific, and also a great use of that Keaton Batman voice. We’ll have to wait and see what Ben Affleck’s Batman will bring to the table in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, hitting theaters March 25, 2016. But deep down, we’ll always know who the real Batman is.
