Top 10 Batman Trivia

Kicking off our list is a fun fact from our hero’s early days. Did you know that Bob Kane’s comic creation originally wielded the same weapon that killed his parents? It’s strange to think of Batman pumping lead, since it contradicts his one rule and doesn’t jive with his use of non-lethal gadgetry.

Before Batman built his lair in Gotham, he lived in the Big Apple. That’s right, Batman called New York home, until writers developed this fictional city. To choose the name Gotham, all the writers did was look in the phonebook, where they found “Gotham Jewelers.” That was easy.

Batman and Robin have always been dodging rumors that they’re a little too friendly. Come on, they used to sleep in the same bed, and the Boy Wonder sported short-shorts. They had to do something, so Bruce Wayne transformed into a talented womanizer! The rumors persisted.

Before Hollywood got hold of Batman, there was a campy ‘60s TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward. This show was actually inspired by a Batman-themed Playboy party held by comic aficionado Hugh Hefner. An ABC exec in attendance at the shindig saw the potential for family-friendly content. Good thing he did, or we wouldn’t have the Batusi.

Batmen come and go, but Michael Keaton remains a fan favorite, though that wasn’t always the case. After his casting, horrified fans sent fifty thousand protest letters to the studio. Tim Burton ignored them, and Keaton showed he could inhabit the character’s dark and obsessive side, while pulling off the stiff and soundproof rubber suit. Fans changed their tune, but it was too late: the studio dropped Burton, and Keaton rejected the more kid-friendly “Batman Forever.” Enter Val!

We all recognize Tommy Lee Jones and Aaron Eckhart as this two-minded villain. But do you remember another one from Tim Burton’s 1989 feature? That’s right, Lando Calrissian is Harvey Dent. Billy Dee Williams’ contract was actually broken so filmmakers could cast Tommy Lee Jones in “Batman Forever,” but don’t worry he got paid for his troubles. Just imagine how classy and progressive Two-Face could have been…

Ever notice that Jack Nicholson’s Joker had a special connection with his top henchman? Well that’s a case of off-screen life carrying over on-screen: Nicholson convinced his bosses to cast his good friend Tracey Walter as Bob. Not that their friendship could save the artistic goon from one of the Jokers’ bad moods…

Only one man has continued playing the Caped Crusader through thick and thin. As the official voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy has been bringing the character and his alter-ego to life in animated series, features, and video games, including the critically acclaimed Arkham series, for years. He changes tone to differentiate between the millionaire playboy and the Dark Knight, but never takes it quite as far as Christian Bale…

Christopher Nolan’s franchise introduced a completely revamped Batmobile. However, while “Batman Begins” was being filmed in Chicago, an allegedly drunk driver crashed into the Dark Knight’s new beast of a ride, which cost about $750 thousand to build. The panicked driver actually thought he had hit an alien spacecraft, and who could blame him?

The Bat suit was also revamped for this franchise: designers ditched the rubber look and gave the actor more mobility. They also ensured the cowl was separate from the body, meaning the Dark Knight regained full movement of his head, which hadn’t been the case since the 1960s.

Rounding out our list is a bit more casting trivia….
Picture this: Christian Bale originally screen tested to play Robin in Joel Schumacher’s “Batman Forever,” but obviously lost to Chris O’Donnell. We can picture Bale as Robin, but we’re not sure O’Donnell could pull off the gruff thing if the roles were reversed…

Years later, Christopher Nolan handpicked Heath Ledger over Oscar winner Adrian Brody for the role of the Joker, thanks to his fearlessness and willingness to spend six weeks alone in a hotel room developing the character. Ultimately, Ledger combined the unkempt look of punk rocker Sid Vicious with the mannerisms of Malcolm McDowell’s Alex from “A Clockwork Orange,” and a terrifying villain was born.

What’s your favorite piece of Batman Trivia? For more entertaining trivia lists, be sure to visit us at WatchMojo.com.