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Robin Williams, for years, embodied the spirit of comedic genius in Hollywood. Known for his exuberant antics and sharp wit, he effortlessly shifted from zany slapstick to nuanced wordplay. When he transitioned into dramatic roles, Williams gained acclaim, demonstrating his versatility beyond comedy. Yet, throughout his illustrious career, Williams harbored a fascination with Batman’s universe, aspiring to portray one of the iconic villains from the Dark Knight’s collection. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, this dream never materialized.
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Back in the 1980s, Williams had his eyes set on the role of the Joker for Tim Burton’s famed “Batman” film. Years later, he was a contender for the Riddler in “Batman Forever,” even after Michael Keaton declined to reprise his role as Batman. As late as 2005, Williams was still vying for a part in the “Batman Begins” reboot, directed by Christopher Nolan, with whom he had previously collaborated on “Insomnia.”
Even as far back as the 1980s, Williams wanted in on a role in what eventually became Tim Burton’s iconic “Batman” film, hoping to play the Joker. Years later, he was in line for the Riddler in “Batman Forever” (even after Michael Keaton refused to return to play Batman). And as late as 2005, Williams once again was campaigning for a role in the then-upcoming reboot film, “Batman Begins,” from director Christopher Nolan, whom he’d worked with on “Insomnia” a few years earlier.
Despite his persistent efforts from 1989 to 2005, Williams never managed to enter Gotham’s cinematic world. His closest brush came in 1994 when he was reportedly set to play the Riddler in Joel Schumacher’s “Batman Forever.” Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman recalled Williams’s significant involvement in the creative process.
Goldsman reminisced, “I had an extraordinary day when Joel [Schumacher] sent me to San Francisco to meet Robin in his kitchen, discussing the Riddler,” he shared with The Playlist in 2023. “Calling him a genius doesn’t quite capture it. It felt like he had opened his mind and let the universe flow through him. It was such a beautiful and kind experience.”
Joel Schumacher cost Robins Williams the role of the Riddler
Sony Pictures Releasing
Sadly, creative disagreements led to Williams’s departure from the project, though Goldsman clarified it wasn’t due to his involvement. “Ultimately, [Robin] and Joel didn’t align on their vision,” Goldsman noted. The studio opted for Jim Carrey, a rising star of the ’90s, fresh from the success of “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” “The Mask,” and “Dumb and Dumber.” While Williams and his admirers might rue the lost opportunity, it perhaps worked out for the best. “Batman Forever” faced harsh criticism, and Williams went on to star in “Jumanji,” an action-comedy classic that became an unexpected franchise sensation.
“I remember sort of this extraordinary day where Joel [Schumacher] sent me to San Francisco, and I spent the day in Robin’s kitchen … just talking about the Riddler,” Goldsman told The Playlist in 2023. “And he was like, genius is not the right word. It was as if … he had opened up his head and the universe would just talk into it. It was so beautiful and so kind.”
Unfortunately, it seems that creative differences left Williams on the outs, but it wasn’t Goldsman who got in the way. “Ultimately, [Robin] and Joel didn’t see eye to eye,” Goldsman acknowledged. In the end, the studio got an even hotter star, Jim Carrey, one of the most popular actors in the ’90s who was just coming off three blockbuster comedies: “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” “The Mask,” and “Dumb and Dumber.” But while Williams and his fans may lament him losing out, it’s probably all for the best — “Batman Forever” was roasted by critics and fans and would have prevented him from starring in the action-comedy family classic “Jumanji,” which eventually became an unexpected blockbuster franchise.
