Michael Keaton - Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992)
In 1979, producers Michael Uslan and Benjamin Melniker purchased the film rights to the Batman property, but studios were disinterested in a darker, grittier Batman on the big screen. In 1980, despite having no distributors on board, the film was publicly announced, and Warner Bros. accepted it.
A long process ensued, and eventually Tim Burton was brought on to direct. Another long process began, in which they needed to find a lead. Eventually, Michael Keaton was offered the role, despite Warner Bros. insisting on a popular action star for the film. 50,000 protest letters were sent to Warner Bros. by fans who were in uproar after the announcement of Keaton's casting.
As often is the case, Keaton's performance silenced many who were negative toward the casting. The film itself received mixed to positive critical response, but its positives outweighed its negatives, and it was a financial success. The sequel continued that success, and Keaton reprised the role after a significant salary increase. Unfortunately, Burton nor Keaton had the opportunity to round out their trilogy.
