Batman Forever writer Akiva Goldsman gets candid about Joel Schumacher’s original cut of the DC superhero film. One of the actors who had a short run playing the Dark Knight in live-action was the late Val Kilmer, who took over for Michael Keaton after Tim Burton’s Batman Returns, before George Clooney took over the gig in Batman & Robin.

While Batman Forever was a box office hit, raising $336.9 million at the worldwide box office, there was initially a different iteration of Schumacher’s movie, which was said to be a lot darker. Fans have attempted to get the Schumacher cut of Batman Forever released, with a screening almost happening for the film this year.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Goldsman explained how he tried to get Warner Bros. to allow fans to finally see Schumacher’s original Batman Forever cut. However, the screenwriter got candid about how tricky it has been to get the studio to cooperate, as he shared the following:

After Joel died [in 2020], I reached out to Warners and said, “There’s a darker version of this movie.” We found it. It exists and it’s incomplete, but more complete than you would think. Today there would be giant sections where the VFX wasn’t done. In those days, so much of it was miniatures and practical effects — they were done. We were trying to dust it off, and then everybody stopped caring. But I lobby for it.

THR also asked Goldsman about some of the key differences between Schumacher’s Batman Forever cut and the version that the general public has seen. Per Goldsman, there was a bigger focus on Bruce’s recurring visions of a red book, which was actually Thomas Wayne’s diary:

Bruce is having these recurring visions of a red book, which turns out to be his father’s diary. There’s an entry that says, “Martha and I want to stay home tonight. Bruce wants to see a movie, so we’re going to take him out.” So he holds himself responsible [for their deaths]. There’s a section in the movie where he actually is hit in the head. He doesn’t remember that he’s Batman, and he goes back into the cave. There’s this now rather famous Rick Baker bat that he faces.

What Akiva Goldsman’s Batman Forever Comments

It’s worth remembering that after the release of Batman Returns, the film was heavily received as too dark, leading to a lighter tone for Batman Forever. While Schumacher’s Batman Forever cut still exists, there may be apprehensions about unveiling it due to the potential costs that could come with re-releasing the film.

Screening Schumacher’s Batman Forever cut could also be considered a more complicated prospect due to the recent creation of the DC Universe timeline, as the DCU Superman movie was just released, paving the way for the new franchise. With Batman Forever releasing in 1995, the time that’s pᴀssed since may also have made a potential re-release less of an appealing prospect for Warner Bros.

Our Take On Akiva Goldsman’s Batman Forever Comments

The Schumacher cut being released right now currently seems less likely, as DC Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery have their focus on the DCU, as well as active Elseworlds properties, including Matt Reeves’ The Batman franchise. Releasing Schumacher’s Batman Forever cut today for any screenings would also possibly cause confusion for the general public.

However, once the DCU timeline is further established, it doesn’t seem impossible for the decision to be made to release the Schumacher’s Batman Forever cut. But as of right now, fans can always relive the Batman Forever theatrical cut through home media release and streaming.