In 1988, Kurt Russell was snubbed for an iconic role he “was hoping” he’d get. Six years later, it happened again

Kurt Russell missed out on playing Batman twice, despite saying it was one of the few roles he regretted not getting. He hoped to be cast when Tim Burton’s film was being developed in 1988, but Michael Keaton got the part; six years later, Russell was again passed over when the role was recast.

In 1994, Russell was among the final three candidates to replace Keaton, alongside William Baldwin, but director Joel Schumacher chose Val Kilmer, whom he called his “first and only choice”. Russell had previously withdrawn from Richard Donner’s Ladyhawke because he did not want to wear tights. The article suggests he could have suited Bruce Wayne and might have spared Schumacher later difficulties with Kilmer, though that is speculation.