While rumors have linked him to the role for years, actor Brad Dourif says he was never approached about playing the Scarecrow in Tim Burton’s Batman Forever. While Tim Burton was set to make a third movie following Batman Returns, the studio soon got cold feet. The sequel made less money than the original and was attacked by parents for being way too dark for children. They decided to go in a lighter direction for Batman Forever, so Burton departed the project.
Fans often lament the loss of Burton’s Batman Forever, though few solid details are known about it. It’s believed Marlon Wayans would have played Robin - having been cast and cut out of the second movie already - and that Robin Williams was in talks for The Riddler. Rumors also suggest Burton really wanted to use Scarecrow, and he had Brad Dourif in mind. While the actor may not be a huge star, he’s been stealing scenes in movies like One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers over the decades; he’s probably best known as the voice of Chucky in the Child’s Play franchise.
The actor recently gave an interview with Birth. Movies. Death about his career, where he was asked if he was ever considered for the Scarecrow; if he was, nobody ever told him:
Y’know, I’ve heard that! One time I saw Tim Burton on an airplane and he was looking at me very interestedly. But I never spoke to him about it, and I think I wouldn’t have been big enough a star for anyone to cast me in that role. He might’ve been interested, but I doubt the powers that be would’ve let him do it.
The original Batman franchise often hired A-listers who were more famous than the actor playing the title role, beginning with Jack Nicholson in the original. While Dourif is a great actor and would have no doubt given a suitably creepy performance as Scarecrow/Jonathan Crane, the studio probably would have insisted on a bigger name. Joel Schumacher was going to use the character for the cancelled sequel Batman Unchained and spoke with Nicolas Cage about playing the character; apparently, Coolio was also considered.
Apart from Dourif being rumored for Batman Forever, a number of major actors have been linked to villain roles in the series. For years, it was suggested Sean Penn was the first choice for the Joker in The Dark Knight but he turned it down, yet the actor himself recently stated that if he was ever considered for it, nobody approached him.
More: Sean Penn Says Chris Nolan Never Offered Him The Joker Role
Source: Birth. Movies. Death
