Burton/Schumacher Bat-Multiverse Theory

If you read last week's retro review post, I mentioned that the four Batman films released in 1989-1997 were marketed as the same continuity and indeed continue to be released together in home media collections. I also plugged this article, which will explore the possibility of a multiverse, before that fatigue has set in irreversibly. The catalyst for this theory is Billy Dee Williams' Harvey Dent in Batman (1989) was reportedly set to transform into Two-Face in a third film to be directed by Tim Burton, but instead Tommy Lee Jones was cast in the role for Batman Forever when Burton was relegated to producer. It is worth noting, a comic that ignores Forever and Batman & Robin, Batman '89, did follow through with a take on that version, and Williams did voice little more than a cameo of Two-Face for The LEGO Batman Movie. But now we will never know how Williams would have adapted the character in live action. The switch is even more glaringly obvious since Williams is African-American and Jones is not. The only mindset I can watch these films in is as existing in different continuities, though similar in some ways. That is the birth of this theory. The theory is that the Burton films are in one universe (maybe the BurtonVerse?), and the films Joel Schumacher directed take place separate from it and each other, for a total of three. I will present evidence for both points of view. I will then offer possible explanations of some of the objections to each (not all have a possible explanation), though this may offer counterpoints, too. (Abbreviations used: B89 for Batman, BmR for Batman Returns, B4e for Batman Forever, and B&R for Batman & Robin)

Evidence for a Single Universe

• Alfred Pennyworth is the same throughout, portrayed by the late great Michael Gough.
• Commissioner Gordon is the same throughout, portrayed by the late great Pat Hingle.
• After being introduced in B4e, Robin / Dick Grayson is the same in B&R, portrayed by Chris O'Donnell.
• Gotham architecture consistently includes large statues:
• B89: Centurion ones can be seen outside Grissom's office window.
• BmR: There are large statues in Gotham Plaza and large faces are on the sides of buildings.
• B4e: The presence of statues is more prominently featured.
• B&R: Statues are larger than ever, as they are even driven on.
• Speaking of statues, the analogue to the Statue of Liberty in B4e, Lady Gotham, indicates a location on the east coast. Two radio or TV stations, WXRX and WCTY, in BmR do indicate a location east of the Mississippi River.
• References to previous films' events: 
• BmR: Bruce Wayne mentions Vicki Vale (B89) to both Alfred and Selina Kyle.
• B4e: 
• Bruce has a flashback to his parents' murder that is nearly identical to the one in B89.
  
• Dr. Chase Meridian asks Batman flirtatiously if she "needs skin-tight vinyl and a whip," clearly indicating Catwoman (BmR).
• B&R (most of these connect to B4e only, but if B4e connects to B89 and BmR...): 
• Robin's "chicks dig the car" line is like Batman's to Chase, "chicks love the car" in B4e.
• Batman's response, "This is why Superman works alone," lines up with the name drop of Metropolis in B4e.
  
• Alfred tells Batman, "Do try and bring this one back in one piece, sir," is a reference to two destroyed Batmobiles (BmR, B4e).
• Bruce says to Alfred, "Don't tell me you're on his [Robin's] side again." The "again" is that Alfred assisted in Dick's journey to becoming Robin (B4e). 
• Golum gangs are seen, as in B4e.
• Personal property of Two-Face and Riddler / Edward Nygma (B4e) is seen in the criminal property locker at Arkham Asylum.

 Evidence for a Multi-verse

• There are three different physical appearances of Batman / Bruce Wayne:
• Portrayed by Michael Keaton (B89 and BmR).
• Portrayed by Val Kilmer (B4e).
• Portrayed by George Clooney (B&R).
• As mentioned previously, there are two ("that's two!") physical appearances of Harvey Dent / Harvey Two-Face:
• Portrayed by Billy Dee Williams (B89).
• Portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones (B4e).
• Gotham City is darker in B89 and BmR and much more bright and neon in appearance in B4e and B&R.
• There are three different exteriors of Wayne Manor: one in B89, one in BmR, and one in both B4e and B&R.
  
• Bruce Wayne, at least a multi-millionaire, is reclusive in B89, to the point he is not recognized by local reporter Alexander Knox or freelance photojournalist Vicki Vale. Even the city's newspaper, the Gotham Globe, has only a thin file. Yet in B4e and B&R, he leads a very public life, e.g., magazine covers, photo ops, his relationships the interest of a gossip columnist, chummy with Commissioner Gordon, etc.
• The same might be said for his alter-ego, Batman. He is a mere rumor in B89. After giving the city a signal at the conclusion of those events, he is known to exist by the public during BmR, and even makes the papers. But, he seems to prefer to continue to operate from the shadows. Yet:
  
• His vigilante activities are presumably legitimized to the point he is in court in costume at Crime Boss Maroni's trial sometime prior to the events of B4e.
• Batman has been photographed, seemingly willingly at times, for many magazine and newspaper articles as seen in Chase's apartment (B4e).
  
• We see the Batmobile parked outside Mr. Freeze's lair alongside police vehicles (B&R), indicating Batman and Robin are duly deputized agents of the law (as in the 1960s series) or may as well be.
• In B&R, we also see Batman has been issued a credit card with no expiration date, further indicating acceptance as operating legitimately.
• Batman kills criminals (B89 and BmR). Yet, he has the more well-known "no-kill" policy in B4e and B&R.
  
• Alfred shows concern for repairing the Batmobile after it is destroyed in conflict with Penguin and the Red Triangle Gang (BmR). Yet, Bruce tells Dick in conversation about his motorcycle collection, "...Alfred is actually a very good mechanic..." (B4e).
• Bruce says in reference to Chase, "I've never been in love before, Alfred," (B4e). Yet he was ready to disclose his double life to Vicki (B89), and did reveal Batman's identity to Selina (BmR). If that's not love, tell me what is.
• Margaret and a Wayne Enterprises executive are portrayed by Kimberly Scott and Michael Paul Chen, respectively, in B4e. They portrayed an assistant and scientist at the observatory, again respectively, in B&R. I doubt they had sufficient time to educate, change careers, and be essential personnel at the observatory.

To note before getting into possible explanations of the objections to each point of view, I consider the appearance of the Batcave to be an unknown for this purpose. It is difficult to observe its consistency across the films. Technological advances are expected and BmR establishes there are at least two means of entry, so nothing I find conclusive to support either point of view.

Objections to a Single Universe

• Gotham City must be different because of the darker tones in B89 and BmR and bright neon Gotham of B4e and B&R.
• It might be that different sections of the city are featured in each film or that less overall crime has fostered an environment for new construction as time goes by.
• However, the wide shot as the circus scene begins (B4e) does show large portions of the city to be the brighter neon. That's a lot of change in three years, when there was no noticeable change in the three prior.
• The Batmobile is radically different between B89 and BmR to B4e to B&R.
• Design choices aside, the Batmobile was rendered useless during BmR, necessitating a new one in time for the events of B4e, which in turn was destroyed by Riddler necessitating a new one in time for the events of B&R.
• Alfred in BmR is less mechanically skilled than Alfred in B4e.
• The extensive repairs required to restore the Batmobile (BmR) is quite a bit more of an undertaking than tinkering with an old motorcycle or automobile. Having mechanical skills allows one to recognize this fact, not to mention he speaks of bodywork, saying, "...It's not as though we can take it to any old Joe's body shop..."
• Or he may have acquired mechanical skills as a result of the Batmobile's condition after its run-in with Penguin and his gang.
  
• Batman's (B89) activities begin very much in secret. B4e and B&R Batman's are the polar opposite with much public notoriety and the legitimacy that he is issued a credit card (B&R only).
• This may very well be the natural progression of things. Yes, it is a reach, especially considering this journey occurs over around eight short years, but possible.
• The audience do see some "stops" along the way, though. For example, gifting of the Bat-signal (B89), either his testimony or protection was allowed in the courtroom during Maroni's trial (B4e), and working with the police in a more or less official capacity (B4e and B&R).
  
• Similarly, Bruce's public persona is non-existent, reclusive to the point that the local newspaper has no file (B89), and yet B4e and B&R Bruce's life is very public.
• This public persona may very well be intended as a distraction to his vigilante activities along with the public image of Batman in a "hide in a plain sight" situation.
• Batman kills (B89 and BmR), and suddenly has a "no kill" policy (B4e and B&R).
• It might be said this policy was adopted as a result of his interaction with Catwoman / Selina.
• Kimberly Scott portrays two different characters as does Michael Paul Chen (B4e and B&R).
• Since Scott's character is unnamed in B&R and Chen's is unnamed in B4e, it is possible that they are each one and the same. Wayne Enterprises funded the development of a new telescope (B&R) and these may have been appointed to oversee the project, since we do not know their respective backgrounds in B4e. Chen's character in B4e appears to be in a leadership role in the research division (and is credited as "Executive").
  
• Or they are two sets of twins and what a coincidence how each works with the sibling of the other!

Objections to a Multi-verse

• Nearly everything that is an argument for a single universe can be explained that a similar version exists in the parallel universe. A few additional notable points are:
  
• Gotham's eastern U.S. location is very common, possibly across the board, so not particularly supportive of a single universe.
• The killer is obscured in Bruce’s recollection of his parents’ murder (B4e), though the memory itself is visually similar to the one in B89. However, roses were not present in B89, and all the actors are different.
• The roses may also be a repressed memory as Bruce's parents' wake was.
  
• If Two-Face is deceased, why does Arkham still have his personal property in storage two years later? It's even in plain view.
• The Arkham employees responsible for clearing it out may just be lazy, on the other hand.

Like most film theories for me, it was primarily the exercise of running everything down to see how it all pans out. From casual observation alone, I knew there was not enough to disprove the existence of a multi-verse, and additional evidences have perhaps only strengthened my stand. Justifications of how it could be a single universe do not outweigh the discrepancies, and some of those cannot be explained away at all.

Next week...Famous Movie & TV Cars!