Batman Unchained

Batman Unchained es una secuela cancelada de la película de 1997 Batman & Robin que se estrenó a mediados de 1999. El guión de la película fue escrito por Mark Protosevich (quien escribió el guión de la película de 2000 The Cell), y nunca se supo que tenían otro título. Joel Schumacher regresó como director. Sin embargo, la película se canceló después de que Warner Brothers se dio cuenta de la final de la película sería demasiado costosa para filmar, y muchos de los villanos anteriores regresaron con los mismos actores / actrices. El estudio también interrumpió la producción de la película ya que Batman & Robin fue un fracaso colosal en la taquilla y con los críticos, al no superar las suspensiones interiores de Batman (Batman, Batman Returns y Batman Forever), y como respuesta a la reacción violenta y las críticas que recibieron la película cuando se estrenó en cines. La cancelación condujo a una segunda secuela titulada Batman: DarKnight.

Plot
Sometime after the events of Batman & Robin, Batman and Robin would end up parting ways due to disagreements. Batman would soon discover a crazy scientist named Jonathan Crane, also known as "The Scarecrow". Flashbacks from the first three Batman films were to be shown in a dream sequence. Batman would also have hallucinations after being exposed to Scarecrow's fear toxins, in which he would see the Joker, The Penguin, Catwoman, Two-Face and The Riddler re-unite to judge him on trial. Harley Quinn was intended to appear in the movie as a character, rewritten as a toymaker and daughter of the Joker determined to get revenge on Batman for the death of her father.

Cast

 * George Clooney as Bruce Wayne/Batman (refused to return)
 * Kurt Russell as Bruce Wayne/Batman (possible replacement for Clooney)
 * Chris O’Donnell as Dick Grayson/Robin
 * Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl/Barbara Wilson (was going to return, but went back to college)
 * Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth (expected to return)
 * Various actors were chosen for the role of Dr. Jonathan Crane/The Scarecrow including:
 * Nicolas Cage (main choice)
 * Jeff Goldblum
 * Christopher Lloyd
 * Steve Buscemi


 * Courtney Love of Madonna as Harley Quinn (not hired for the role)
 * Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon (expected to return)
 * Various villains appearing in Batman's mind due to Scarecrow‘s fear toxins:
 * Jack Nicholson as the Joker
 * Danny DeVito as The Penguin
 * Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman
 * Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face
 * Jim Carrey as The Riddler

Why It Was Cancelled

 * 1) Batman & Robin was a box office failure and was poorly received by critics, audiences and fans of the previous Batman films.
 * 2) George Clooney admitted that he hated playing Batman and refused to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman.
 * 3) Warner Brothers didn't like the final script, especially when the executives decided that the finale was too costly due to all the stars involved.
 * 4) Warner Brothers decided to put all future live-action Batman films on hold until further notice and focus on making more animated direct-to-video and DVD Batman films as well as the 2001 series Justice League, which featured Batman as one of the major characters in the series.

Results

 * Batman Unchained was permanently cancelled.
 * In 2005, Batman came back to the big screen with Batman Begins and featured some elements that were to be shown in the cancelled sequel.
 * Similar elements from the cancelled film were also featured in the 2015 game Batman: Arkham Knight.
 * Batman & Robin would be the conclusion of the Burton-Schumacher Batman Cinematic Universe.

Trivia

 * Some websites incorrectly refer to this film as Batman Triumphant
 * After Clooney disowned playing Batman, rumor has it that Joel Schumacher handed the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman to Kurt Russell
 * In response to how comedic and child-friendly Batman & Robin was, Joel Schumacher wanted to make the film darker and similar to the Tim Burton films and decided to make the film's storyline ignore the events of Batman & Robin after he disappointed many fans of the earlier Batman films.
 * The film was supposed to be released to celebrate Batman's 60th anniversary.
 * In the script, Robin was supposed to ditch Batman for disagreements, but then return to save his friend from the Scarecrow near the end.
 * This was supposed to be the final Batman film of the 1990s.
 * Akiva Goldsman, who wrote Batman Forever and Batman & Robin was hired to write the script for Batman Unchained, but turned down the offer to write the script.
 * Batgirl was supposedly written out of the first draft of the original story.