Pierce Brosnan, now best known for playing James Bond, once turned down the role of Batman in Tim Burton's iconic 1989 film. The actor, who has spent over four decades building a career known for resilience and a willingness to follow his own instincts rather than chase every high-profile opportunity, decided the character simply wasn't for him despite having grown up watching Batman and meeting Burton to discuss the part.

Brosnan explained to The Guardian that he "just couldn't" take the role seriously, joking that "any man who wears his underpants outside his pants just cannot be taken seriously." He admitted he saw it as "a joke" at the time. The role ultimately went to Michael Keaton, who is widely regarded as having been perfectly suited to Burton's vision of a Gotham hero who is calm on the surface but capable of sudden intensity.