Tim Burton’s Original Batman Treatment Was An Origin Story
In 1985 Tim Burton developed a treatment for his Batman movie that featured an origin for the title hero and a lot more villains than the final film.
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Tim Burton and writer Julia Hickson’s original treatment for Batman wasn’t only an origin for the Caped Crusader, but for Robin too. Batman from 1989 is a true landmark for comic book movies, with the film totally reinventing its title character after the campy (but rightfully beloved) 1960s series. Despite early fan protests over his casting, Michael Keaton proved to be perfect for Bruce Wayne/Batman.
Batman 1989 was also a gigantic box-office success, in addition to selling lots of tie-in toys and other merch. Director Tim Burton – who had something of an unhappy time making the original – was given much more creative rein for 1992’s Christmas set Batman Returns. The sequel still stands as one of the most idiosyncratic blockbusters ever produced, which is one reason it holds up so well. The movie’s darkness and sexuality proved too much for many parents, however, so the studio decided not to re-hire Burton from the third movie, with Joel Schumacher taking over for the more family (and toy) friendly Batman Forever.
By his own admission, Tim Burton wasn’t a huge fan of Batman or comics in general when he signed on for the project. When he was first hired in 1985, he and creative partner Julie Hickson wrote a 43-page treatment that departs greatly from the final project. This treatment, which is broken down more thoroughly at Batman-Online, acts as an origin story for Batman, features a villain plotline that would later be recycled for Returns, a few cameos from other major villains and there’s even an origin for Robin too.
The 1985 Batman treatment is split into three parts, with Act One labeled “Loss.” In this story, Thomas Wayne is a political rival to crime boss Rupert Thorne, who hires a teenage Joker to kill his opponent. Thomas and Martha are later gunned down on the way to a costume party with Bruce, with Thomas dressed as a bat while Martha is a fairy. Act Two is called “Preparation-Transformation,” where Bruce starts training to become Batman – inspired by Thomas’ costume – before donning the outfit and going out to fight Joker. Joker’s attacks on Gotham include making the subway trains run backward or releasing zoo animals into the city.
The Joker – alongside cameos by the Penguin, Riddler and Catwoman – later attacks a circus that Bruce and his love interest Silver St. Cloud are attending. It’s actually Catwoman who pours the acid on the ropes, causing the Graysons to fall to their deaths. Bruce then takes in the orphaned Dick Grayson, and in Act Three “Retribution” they team up to stop The Joker. In this treatment, the villain is also running for Mayor during Christmas time and his victory parade, which involves gassing Gotham civilians, is much like the finale of the 1989 film.
The Batman treatment ends with the title superhero and Robin stopping Joker, but while Batman is tempted to shoot the villain dead, Commissioner Gordon talks him down. The latter character is fleshed out a little more in this treatment too, and in addition to being a friend of the Wayne family, is said to suspect Batman’s secret identity but does nothing about it. Seeds of this treatment would end up in the movie but Robin was wisely excised, as were the pointless cameos by other villains and the origin for Batman himself. It was essentially Tim Burton trying to come to grips with his take on the concept, and while it’s messy and unfocused, it’s telling that many of the best ideas made it into the final Batman movie.
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