Frank Miller: Batman Could Be an Italian Stallion

Posted by Adam Sweeney (adam@filmschoolrejects.com) on September 8, 2008

Sly Stallone as Batman? Don’t worry, Christian Bale isn’t getting replaced, but the writer and artist of “The Dark Knight Returns” thinks Sylvester Stallone would kill it as an aged Caped Crusader.

Frank Miller spoke with Geoff Boucher of the LA Times about who the prospects of a film adaptation of the most popular Batman comic ever, and apparently Sylvester would be at the top of the list to play the lead. “Just that mouth of his, the scowl and the way it would look in a mask,” Miller said. “I loved Rocky Balboa. This wounded warrior, that’s what Batman is in “The Dark Knight Returns.”

Boucher also spoke to Steve Martin (the owner of Nasty Little Man and publicist for Radiohead, not “SNL” Steve Martin) and he blasted the idea. “Put Stallone in a mask and you get Judge Dredd again, and nobody wants that.”

Stallone has taken his fair share of criticism, being voted by the Razzies as the 20th Century’s worst actor. But he’s not as bad as people would have you believe. Moments in the Rocky saga and films like Copland have shown that Sly can handle emotionally wounded characters. Maybe he would commit to the part of a beaten down Batman. It couldn’t be any worse than Cher playing Catwoman, right?

In a perfect world I would take Clint Eastwood before he started to look like the Crypt Keeper and have him play Bruce Wayne. In all likelihood, we won’t get a big-screen version of “The Dark Knight Returns,” but damn if it isn’t fun to imagine it.

Who would you want to play Batman in “The Dark Knight Returns?” What’s your favorite Sylvester Stallone film?

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Neil Miller

Hmm... Combine this with what what we've seen from The Spirit and you might go as far as to assume that Frank Miller has lost his marbles... completely.

Doomy

Obviously the only choice for TDKR's Batman would be Ted Danson. The old, grey haired one from Saving Private Ryan and all that.

Jeremy M

That has to be THE BEST Stallone picture ever! :D

HempKnight757

First off to Doomy I see where your going with Ted Danson, but I personally don't think that would work & if your goin with him u might as well just bring Micheal Keaton back.
Second off Clint Eastwood acting wise would kill the part, but looks wise I don't think he would work (to thin) besides being old. He is for sure gritty enough to play the part, but then again so is DeNiro & he would not fit the part at all.
Third off Stallone could work, but don't quote me on that. If he toned up & also took some speech classes he will "murder" the part in a good way.

Think about it third Batman movie then in a few years The Dark Knight Returns followed by Batman Beyond. KICK ASS

Robert Fure

Stallone would be a great, grizzled Batman in The Dark Knight. By the time of TDK Returns, Bruce Wayne is almost all but gone, there is only Batman. Stallone is big, grizzled, and can pull off mean and all that.

Watch Copland, Rocky Balboa, and Rambo and then tell me he wouldn't make a good Batman in TDKR and I will tell you that you never even read the graphic novel.

Mathieu Lalonde

Ten years ago, I would have loved to see Clint Eastwood in the part but now I'm not so sure. Ted Danson seems like a good idea... (now i'm trying to think of all of the aging 80's actors i can... how about Tom Seleck? Okay maybe not.)

But now for the real tough question... Who will play ROBIN?

I'd like to nominate Ellen Page!! - She even looks the part doesn't she?

Bob Funn

HAhahaha with that voice? you'd only be able to see Rocky up there...

I hope he gets to do it.

Sam

I could see Ted Danson, except after watching Damages, he would make much more sense as a villain type.

As for stallone, if he has nothing to do with the writing, I could probably watch it. He wrote Rocky Balboa, right? I can't be the only one who thought the dialogue was god-awful. His voice grates on my nerves a bit too much at times. Especially in that movie.

I don't know. I could see what Miller is going for on a look-basis, but that's as far as it goes for me.

Cole Abaius

"If I can change!...and he can change!...then maybe everyone, all of Gotham can change!!"

ilryn

Sly as Batman??? thats boxoffice sucide bro!

Frank Miller: Batman Could Be an Italian Stallion

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