Exclusive: Kevin Smith Shares Mind-Blowing Revelations About the Schumacher Cut of Batman Forever

During an unexpected encounter with a devoted fan named Joe Black, Kevin Smith was granted the rare opportunity to view the elusive Schumacher cut of Batman Forever. Now, Smith shares his thoughts and gives thrilling updates regarding the future of this iconic film.

In retrospect, it seems that Batman Forever possesses a depth that may have been overlooked by fans. The late Joel Schumacher delves into the intricate psychological realm of Bruce Wayne's dual identity, shedding light on the complexities within. Fortunately, the Schumacher cut of the film aims to honor the original vision, allowing us to witness what was intended before the studio's decision to create a more family-friendly adaptation materialized. This decision, in fact, led to the parting of ways between WB and Tim Burton following the release of Batman Returns.

Kevin Smith is set to showcase the Schumacher Cut of Batman Forever, with hopes of a potential worldwide release. The highly anticipated screening of the cut, which is free but already sold out for July 1st and August 25th, may persuade Warner Bros. Discovery to give it the green light. This exciting announcement came during Kevin Smith and Joe Black's conversation on the Fatman Beyond podcast. According to Smith, the longer cut, spanning approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes, surpasses the theatrical version in terms of quality.

One noteworthy change in the Schumacher Cut is the altered opening sequence, which features a less campy portrayal of Two-Face compared to the studio cut. Instead of being imprisoned in Arkham, Two-Face escapes before the events of the theatrical cut even begin. Additionally, Bruce Wayne suffers from amnesia after being shot by Two-Face, leading to a pivotal moment where he confronts a giant bat, symbolizing his true self as Batman. This scene pays homage to Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. Interestingly, the campy scene of Dick Grayson doing karate-style laundry has been removed, presumably to eliminate any unnecessary distractions from his role as Robin.

While Joel Schumacher fully embraced campy elements in Batman and Robin, the theatrical cut of Batman Forever attempted to strike a balance between Tim Burton's vision and the studio's desires. In retrospect, the Schumacher Cut might actually align more closely with the tone of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy, thus potentially continuing the franchise in a more cohesive way. Kevin Smith expresses his hope that Warner Bros. will release the Schumacher Cut, not only to enhance the fan experience of Batman Forever but also as a lucrative opportunity for the studio.

In terms of incentives for WBD, there appears to be no reason why they shouldn't release the Schumacher cut, along with Batgirl and the Ayer Cut of Suicide Squad. According to Smith, this presents a chance for the studio to generate revenue and satisfy the fan-base. It also aligns with the DC canon, considering that The Flash has introduced the concept of a multiverse, allowing for the coexistence of these different timelines. MAX currently features the studio cut of Batman Forever.

Source: Fatman Beyond