Batman Trailer

Numerous actors have portrayed Batman through the years, and most of them couldn’t be more different from each other. From the camp of the ’60s television show to the darkness of the new Christopher Nolan films, Batman has proven a character capable of hitting a number of tones and styles. Here is the list of the most notable men to wear the cape and cowl.

• Lewis Wilson (Batman, 1943): This 15-part film serial pits Batman as a government agent against the Japanese scientist Dr. Daka, who has discovered a way to turn people into zombies. Despite its propaganda and campy feel, the series spawned a sequel, Batman and Robin. Robert Lowery played the title role.
• Adam West (Batman, 1966-1968; Legends of the Superheroes, 1979): This campy actor was the perfect star for a television series made by a producer who hated comic books and wanted to turn the show into a kind of pop art camp masterpiece. Considering West’s ongoing popularity, it seems like some kind of success.
• Michael Keaton (Batman, 1989; Batman Returns, 1992): Keaton helped turn the series around in the late ’80s, bringing an emotional gravitas to the role that was the perfect foil for Jack Nicholson’s psychotic Joker. The second film got criticism for being too dark.
• Val Kilmer (Batman Forever, 1995): Kilmer is less known for his characterization than for his willingness to wear the ridiculous suit of this version, featuring rubber nipples and a sculpted backside.
• George Clooney (Batman & Robin, 1997): Nothing more needs to be said about this film, other than that it effectively killed the franchise for almost ten years.
• Christian Bale (Batman Begins, 2005; The Dark Knight, 2008, upcoming Batman sequel, 2012): For most modern viewers, Christian Bale IS Batman. And we can all hear it in his deep, guttural voice as well. Bale’s ability to play both the playboy persona and the feral vigilante are a big part of what’s made him so popular.