After years of fan demand, 2017's controversial Justice League is finally set to have its infamous Snyder Cut released through HBO Max. The film's numerous changes behind the scenes illustrated how much a finished film can differ from the intended production. This has seen similar demand for director's cuts for other films, such as a version of Suicide Squad that more accurately portrays what director David Ayer intended to make.
Now, a much older superhero film apparently has such a cut in existence: Batman Forever. Known as the film which began the downhill turn for the '90s Batman film franchise, the movie's zany tone was actually enforced upon late director Joel Schumacher. Apparently, this rumored original cut of the film was instead something far more befitting of the Dark Knight, and was inspired by a notable Batman origin comic book.
The Schumacher Cut
The existence of this supposed "Schumacher Cut" was reported by writer Marc Bernardin, co-host of the Fatman Beyond podcast. He has it on good authority that a longer and darker version of the film released in theaters. This version is supposedly around 170 minutes long, nearly an hour longer than the theatrical version's 129-minute runtime. It also apparently had much more focus on Bruce Wayne's childhood trauma from seeing his parents killed, as well as the subsequent mental blocks that resulted from it in his adult life. Such a focus on the mental health of Bruce Wayne makes sense, given Nicole Kidman's character in the film. Notable scenes include one in which Bruce is ridden further by guilt after reading his father's journal, with the entry insinuating that it was Bruce's desire to see a movie that night which doomed his parents to their fate.
It was this element in particular which Warner Bros. apparently had such a problem with. Upon showing Warner Bros. executives this first workprint cut of the film, Schumacher was told to back away from the darker psychological aspects of the film, as well as cut other parts which worked to create the dark tone. Their thought process for this move was the need to sell toys and Happy Meals, as well as the presence of the guaranteed to be cartoony Jim Carrey. Carrey's portrayal of The Riddler notably eschewed the more smooth and suave version of the character, skewing closer to the Frank Gorshin version from the 1960s Batman TV series. This interpretation could have possibly clashed with a more morose tone, though a version of the film with a darker version of the film's other villain can still be seen.
The Light Knight
A well-known alternate opening for the film saw Two-Face escaping Arkham Asylum, with his intentions being written out in a bloody message reading "THE BAT MUST DIE." Parts of this scene can be seen in the U2 music video for "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me." This paints a far darker picture for the movie's take on the character, which again would have exacerbated Batman's personal feelings of guilt.
Batman Forever was in general a much lighter film compared to its two Tim Burton-directed predecessors. Burton had gone against the grain of expectation with 1989's Batman, with its grim and dour setting, while true to the character, was the opposite of the campy 1960s show that Batman was still most known for. Its sequel Batman Returns doubled down on this, resulting in criticism from parents for its violence and sexual themes. Thus, Warner Bros. was deadset on course-correcting with the next film, with the bright colors and action being a bit closer to the Adam West show of old than Burton's Gothic vision. This was the exact opposite of Joel Schumacher's original plans, as he had come onto the project wanting to adapt Frank Miller's ground, noir Batman origin story, Batman: Year One. Though some scenes were included in the film that mirrored this source material, this bit of knowledge goes to show how at odds the director was with how the project turned out.
Another reason for the extensive cuts to the original version of the film was the length, which as mentioned was egregiously long for a blockbuster superhero film of its era. Ironically, the Snyder Cut of Justice League will reportedly be around 4 hours long, making its release on a streaming service optimal, and explaining why Warner Bros. was ambivalent in releasing the film in theaters in such a form. Perhaps this justification could also be applied to the extended Schumacher Cut of Batman Forever. The added content would certainly due the film favors in the eyes of some fans, who see the bright colors and campy villains and instantly lump it in with its deservedly hated sequel.
#ReleasetheSchumacherCut had briefly become prominent on Twitter following the announcement of the Snyder Cut's impending release. As news circulates of such a cut's reality, the hashtag will likely spread further. With the unfortunate passing of Joel Schumacher, as well as the knowledge that a version of Batman Forever exists that better represents his vision for the film, Warner Bros. would be wise to placate fan interest by honoring the director and releasing the Schumacher Cut through HBO Max or some other venue.