Interview about Batman
source:Israelian News Mariv, date: Jul 1997

What passed through your mind when you were asked to play Batman?  

"There was that brief moment when you wonder whether or not you should be the third guy that does that role, because Michael Keaton had done it for the first time in this series of films. And as time passes, you begin to realize that Michael Keaton will always be "the Batman", because he was the first one, like Sean Connery who will always be James Bond. My job was to get into it, and not to screw up, so I was a little bit nervous because of it. But on the other hand, I had got the opportunity to play Batman, so I had to do it." 

How does it work in terms of a role that will make you famous at this stage, but that other actors had created? 
"For me it's a significant turn. My acting career was very slow, strange and weird, so that such an opportunity for me, to participate in a movie of that size, is the biggest opportunity in the world, and you use these opportunities when you get them, you don't worry if you are accepted or not. If you take this job and think that there won't be some who will make comparisons, then it's probably right to assume that you won't get out of it well. On the contrary, I think that you will turn out a fool. You are in a rather hopeless position, but on the other hand, I get to play Batman. I get to become a part of a wonderful, huge machine, without any restrictions, with a huge budget, without apologies. You see every nickel on the screen. It's a studio movie, a big hit, and its success depends on it, so I had fun." 

Did Michael Keaton or Val Kilmer contact you? 
"I haven't spoken with either of them. I also don't know them at all." 

Didn't you want to call your predecessor in this role, and to get some tips as to what not to do? In general how is the feeling to wear this rubber suit every time for a few hours? 
"I have already heard that this suit is awful, and indeed it was. It was miserable, the only downfall in a project in which it was such a fun to participate. Joel Schumacher is good in keeping an enjoyable and light atmosphere on the set, and it was a blast to work with Arnold. To call Michael or Val? It isn't so interesting to speak with people I don't know, especially since I know that Val and Joel hadn't got along, so I'm certain that he didn't want to talk about it or to be involved in any way. I don't think that they hold something against me, since they both left the project. My work was to come, to read the script, and to do the best I can. I know these movies and I knew that there are some traps I wanted to avoid, but those were my commentaries. I'm not so much an actor of the system, I don't have time, because I'm doing the TV show as well. I work seven days a week, and then I need to come, to read and to do it, and that's how I work. Eventually, it will restrict me as an actor, but to the same extent, this way I can work seven days a week, so that is the deal." 

You have said before that there were some traps you wanted to avoid. Can you specify them and the changes you have asked to do? 
"We have watched 3 Batmans in which he talks about his parents who died, and we already know about his past, so the only thing I have tried not to do was that Batman would feel sorry for himself, if that was the purpose. To let him be mature. This is the time to clarify things, what he tries to do, to create a family that he didn't have, to bring the ophans with whom he surrounds himself." 

Speaking about heros, can you imagine yourself as a new action hero?  
"I don't think I can do that. I'm not built like Arnold, and what this people are doing most of the time is a completely different thing. I would have done the kind of things that Harrison Ford does, because, in my opinon, they are more interesting. More thrilling than action movies. I am lucky that they still didn't put such a label on me. They let me do a romantic comedy which didn't really succeed, and I did it, even though I could have done other things. So until they will put a label on me, I am going to try and make everything, and then we will wait for the public to decide what I need to do." 

How do you balance bewteen your obligation to your films and your work on TV? 
"When I took the job in ER-where everything has changed for me-I signed at first a 5 years contract. No one of the other opportunities would have fallen into my hands without this show. They came because of the show. I have two more years in this contract, and I will respect it for two reasons: 
First because it's right and secondly because it's one of the best TV shows, and I'm lucky that I participate in it. ER and Batman are two hits, whether or not I'm involved in them. It's a good place to be in if you are an actor. It's a good thing to be a part of a machine that would never be entirely dependent on you, because you can never know how people will react. Later, after two more years, when my obligation to ER will end, I hope I will have more time for myself and maybe I will be able to do more than two movies a year." 

(c)Israelian newspaper Mariv (Contributor: Avital Lerner/ Interviewer)