Ray Liotta: I regret not meeting Burton for Batman role

[héad.casé]

Ray Liotta has had an accomplished career, but there is one aspect of it that he regrets to this day, despite all the success.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Liotta expressed regret over not going to meet Tim Burton about a film. The film in question was Burton's original Batman movie, that went on to star Micahel Keaton in the lead role.

"But I do regret, the first movie I did was a movie called Something Wild. Right around that time they were thinking of doing Batman, and Tim Burton was the director of it, and I got a call from my agent that Tim Burton wanted to meet me for the role of Batman, and at that time, it was 1986 or 87, it was really the first comic book movie that I know of that was coming out, and I always regret it because I think TIM Burton is such a great great director, and I've always regretted not going to meet him, just to meet him and just to talk, whether I agreed with playing it, because I couldn't wrap my head around and understand to play Batman, that seems silly, so I regret that, that I didn't go out to meet him."


While it doesn't seem that Batman would've been something in his wheelhouse, the conversation between the two would have likely been memorable. Liotta's latest project, the NBC cop drama Shades of Blue with Jennifer Lopez, just got picked up for Season 2.

comicbook.com/2016/04/22/ray-liotta-regrets-passing-on-trying-out-for-tim-burtons-batman-/

[Deleted]

He would of been a solid choice. Similar to Keatons portrayal I'd imagine

[mcmahonfan85]

As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to dress up as a bat to strike terror in the hearts of criminals.

[SAJ Forth]

His Batman would seem like the kind who would kill.

[2coldMack is even more baffled]

Ray Liotta as Batman would be....kinda terrifying, actually. Great "What If?" for movie history.

[Deleted]

This is one of the biggest missed oppertunities in cinematic history.

Batman with a wiseguy Italian gangster voice and personality would be f***ing hilarious.

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

I bet he does. The guys Burton considered were so diverse..from Alec Baldwin to Bill Murray. And of course we ended up with the unconventional (and great) casting of Keaton.

[Hawk Hart]

Michael Keaton was the good part of that movie though...

[héad.casé]

Keaton is still my favourite Batman so i'm kinda glad everything happened the way it did honestly. My friends would say Bale is their favourite Batman, and that's cool too since I did enjoy his work as the Bat. Just, Keaton's my guy man.

[sfvega]

It all worked out for the best, because in this timeline Liotta continued on his path to his best and most memorable role: Bee Movie.

[Glitch]

He could still be in a Bat movie if they decide to have him as Black Mask. He'd fit so well.

[Feyrhausen]

Jan 12, 2017 15:16:47 GMT -5 Fade is a CodyCryBaby said:

I bet he does. The guys Burton considered were so diverse..from Alec Baldwin to Bill Murray. And of course we ended up with the unconventional (and great) casting of Keaton.

Burton had just done Beetlejuice with Keaton and Baldwin. Can you imagine a Batman movie with Baldwin as Batman and Keaton as the Joker.

[chazraps]

Stingray Liotta

[The Ichi]

Only if the trade-off was Keaton as Henry Hill.

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

Jan 12, 2017 18:06:15 GMT -5 Feyrhausen said:

Jan 12, 2017 15:16:47 GMT -5 Fade is a CodyCryBaby said:

I bet he does. The guys Burton considered were so diverse..from Alec Baldwin to Bill Murray. And of course we ended up with the unconventional (and great) casting of Keaton.

Burton had just done Beetlejuice with Keaton and Baldwin. Can you imagine a Batman movie with Baldwin as Batman and Keaton as the Joker.

You just gave me a cinematic chubby.

[mizerable]

And Pesci as the Joker

Bruce: Really funny. Really funny.

Joker: Whattya mean I'm funny?

Bruce: You're just funny, y'know, the story. It's funny. You're a funny guy.

Joker: Whattya mean? They way I talk? What?

Bruce: It's just, y'know, it's just funny, you know the way you tell the story and everything ...

Joker: Funny how? I mean, what's funny about it?

Bob: Joker, no, you got it all wrong ...

Joker: Whoa, whoa Bob! He's a big boy, he knows what he said. What'd you say? Funny how? What?

Henry: Just you know you're funny.

Joker: You mean, let me understand this ... cuz I ... maybe its me, maybe I'm a little f***ed up maybe. I'm funny how, I mean funny, like I'm a clown? I amuse you. I make you laugh? I'm here to f***in' amuse you? Whattya you mean funny? Funny how? How am I funny?

Bruce: I don't know just ... you know how you tell the story. What?

Joker: No, no I don't know. You said it. How do I know? You said I'm funny. How the f*** am I funny? What the f*** is so funny about me? Tell me. Tell me what's funny?


Bruce: Get the f*** outta here!

Joker: Ya motherf***er, I almost had him! I almost had him! You stuttering prick here! Bob, was he shaking? I wonder about you sometimes, Bruce. You may fold under questioning!!

Bruce: You wanna get nuts! Let's get nuts!

*tackles*

[Capt Lunatic]

Ray Liotta's cocaine eyes staring out from under the cowl would have given the world a nightmare.

[Limity (BLM)]

Jan 12, 2017 17:58:12 GMT -5 Glitch said:

He could still be in a Bat movie if they decide to have him as Black Mask. He'd fit so well.

This is a really great idea. We should all focus on this, and discuss it further.

[DSR]

Liotta should voice Batman in an animated adaptation of All-Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder.

[SmashTV]

I've never once considered Ray Liotta as Batman; reading this, however, I can absolutely see him in the role. Keaton was wonderful for all of his intensity and neurosis, and I think that Liotta would have offered the same.