What If Michael Lehmann Directed Batman Returns Instead Of Burton?

[NewEnglandGothic]

Warner Brothers legend originally had Tim Burton skeptical about returning for the sequel.

 

To get him back, he regulated Peters & Gruber to Executive Producers and brought in Denise DiNovi (Heathers) as head Producer.

 

Also, he replaced original scripter Sam Hamm with Daniel Waters (of Heathers fame).

 

What I ask tonight, what if they couldn't get Burton to direct and replaced him with Heather's director Michael Lehmann?

 

Sure, Lehmann was about to be responsible for one of the biggest Hollywood turkeys of all time, a year before Batman Returns would be released, but what if the studio was so impressed with Lehmann "dark drama/comedy" in Heathers, that they had no choice but to bring him in to helm The Dark Knight's follow-up and he coincidentally brought in Daniel Waters too? Would Batman Returns been have been made in the exact same manner (being still too dark and doomed for the inevitable Schumacher films)?

 

Burton was always heading for Ed Wood and nothing would have affected his career that way, but would Lehmann still be directing "quality" movies today if he got out "Hollywood Flop Prison" with the Batman Returns gig?

 

 

A lot of questions.