Kevin Smith ran into Joe Black, a fan who was able to acquire the Schumacher cut ofBatman Foreverafter his own special screening, and as a result, Kevin Smith was able to watch the highly exclusive cut, and now shares his thoughts and exciting updates on the future ofBatman Forever.Batman Forevermay be better than fans remember, as there were parts of the late Joel Schumacher movie that dives into the psychological complexities of Bruce Wayne’s dual identity. Fortunately, the Schumacher cut ofBatman Foreveris supposed to adhere closer to what this original vision was before the studio version, which was intended to make theBatmanmovie more family friendly, came to fruition. After all, this was the reason that WB and Tim Burton went separate ways followingBatman Returns.RELATED:Joel Schumacher Wanted To Make His Version Of The Dark KnightKevin Smith is ready to show the Schumacher CutofBatman Forever, but whether this will amount to a worldwide release is still to be determined. Even so, the free and sold out screening of the Schumacher cut on July 1st and August 25th, hosted by Smith, may push Warner Bros. Discovery to release it. This was announced on theFatman Beyondpodcast where Kevin Smith and Joe Black spoke about the roughly 2 hours and 35 minute long cut, where they say it is definitely better than the theatrical version. The movie actually starts with Two Face, who is less campy this time, as the studio dubbed over his lines in the studio cut, escaping Arkham before the theatrical cut even begins. Bruce gets amnesia in this version after being shot by Two-Face, and results in Bruce coming face to face with the giant bat to symbolize his true self as Batman, inspired by a scene from Frank Miller’sThe Dark Knight Returns. And interestingly enough, Dick Grayson doing laundry in karate style is gone, a campy scene that was added later to presumably show why Grayson would be a good Robin.
WhileSchumacher went full camp forBatman and Robin, the theatrical cut ofBatman Foreverwalks the line between a continuation of what Tim Burton was doing and what the studio wanted it to be. As a result, the Schumacher cut might, in retrospect, continue the franchise in a way that actually aligns closer to the tone ofThe Dark Knighttrilogy. Kevin Smith says he hopes that Warner Bros will release the Schumacher cut, and expresses that not only would it enhance the experience ofBatman Foreverfor fans, but that it is an opportunity for the studio to make more money.
As far as incentives for WBD is concerned, there doesn’t seem to be a reason then not to release the Schumacher cut, as well as evenBatgirland the Ayer Cut ofSuicide Squad. As Smith says, it is an opportunity for the studio to earn money and appease the fan-base. It even makes sense within DC canon, seeing as howThe Flashnow opens the multiversefor these different timelines to co-exist.
