Burt Reynolds’ Near Miss With the Batman Cape
Burt Reynolds once considered donning the Batman cowl for the 1960s TV series, but ultimately passed, doubting the role’s potential and his own fit. He later praised Adam West’s performance, yet questioned the impact on West’s career.
Imagine a world where the familiar Batman theme tune was followed not by Adam West, but by Burt Reynolds. The thought alone is enough to raise an eyebrow. Reynolds, known for his rugged charm and signature moustache, was once in the running to portray the caped crusader in the 1960s television adaptation. Yet, as history would have it, he declined, adding another name to his long list of roles he famously turned down.
Roles That Got Away
Reynolds’ career is peppered with stories of near-misses. Few actors can claim to have passed on as many iconic parts. From Han Solo to James Bond, Superman to John McClane, and even Jack Nicholson’s Oscar-winning characters, Reynolds seemed to have a knack for sidestepping future classics. His agents must have wondered if he’d ever say yes to a role destined for greatness. Whether through misjudgement or simply a lack of interest, he often watched others reap the rewards.
At the time the Batman series was being cast, Reynolds’ own career was in a lull. He had just finished filming ‘Navajo Joe’, a project he later described as
“so awful it was only shown in prisons and airplanes because nobody could leave.”
His stint on ‘Gunsmoke’ had also recently ended, leaving him with time on his hands. Yet, the prospect of squeezing into a tight suit and delivering lines laced with camp did not appeal.
Turning Down the Bat-Signal
Reynolds explained his decision in his memoir, writing,
“I backed away from the original Batman TV series because I doubted I could bring it off and didn’t think it was a star-making part.”
While many would argue that the role of Batman was a golden ticket, Reynolds saw things differently. He believed the part would not have propelled him to stardom, and he was not convinced he could do it justice.
He went on to say,
“I wouldn’t have been nearly as good as Adam West, who was brilliant as Batman. But as it happened, I was right: Batman didn’t do much for his career.”
It’s a debatable point. West may not have soared to new heights, but the role became a defining feature of his public persona, one he would revisit for years to come.
Paths That Crossed Again
Ironically, the two actors’ paths would cross in a roundabout way. The first time Adam West played himself on screen, he starred as the lead in a film-within-a-film. The stunt coordinator for that fictional production? None other than Reynolds, in the 1978 film ‘Hooper’. It’s a small twist of fate in a career full of what-ifs and near-misses.