Michael Keaton refused to allow Michelle Pfeiffer to be cast in the first BATMAN movie

Michael Keaton he will forever be known as one of Batman’s greatest actors, having played the role in the 1989 film Batmanas well as its sequel, The return of Batman in 1992. The movies were the beginning of an era of great superhero movies, and many of the movie-related A-list stars carried their roles with them throughout their careers, with fans remembering how much fun it was see them bring comic book characters to life.

One such character was Selina Kyle aka Catwoman, played by a three-time Oscar-nominated actress Michelle Pfeiffer In The return of Batman. But it wasn’t the first time she’d attempted to join the franchise. The actress was actually set for the role of photojournalist and Bruce Wayne’s love interest Vicki Vale after Sean Young (Blade Runner), who was originally cast in the role, was injured in a riding accident and had to drop out.

Robert Wuhlthe actor who played journalist Alexander Knox in Batmanrevealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter:

“To put a fly in the ointment, Michael Keaton and Michelle Pfeiffer had previously dated and broken up. At the time, Michael told me he was trying to get back with his ex-wife. Keaton was adamantly, and I stress adamantly, against casting Pfeiffer, and he and Peters went into it.

Actress Kim Basinger (THE confidential) eventually ended up playing Vicki Vale in the film, but Pfeiffer wasn’t done with the Batman franchise. In the 1992 sequel, actor Annette Bening (The Grifters) had intended to play Catwoman but dropped out of the project when she learned of her pregnancy.

As we know, the role of Catwoman went to Pfeiffer and fans loved her performance. According to Best Life, “This time around, casting her was seemingly a non-issue for Keaton, who had finalized her divorce from McWilliams in 1990.”

Cheatsheet reports that Michael Keaton was married to actress Caroline McWilliams (Soaplisten) from 1982 to 1990. Pfeiffer was married to actor Peter Horton (Thirty-something) from 1981 to 1988. Keaton and Pfeiffer dated for about five months in 1988 while Keaton was still married.

While Keaton had a period of time where he felt uncomfortable working with Pfeiffer, it seems he’s gotten over it, and Pfeiffer has had nothing but praise for the Batman actor, telling ET Online, “He’s It was really great to work with him that he had a history because I was really out of my element. Also the fact that he’s done this type of pictures before and I didn’t know what to expect. I felt really comfortable with him. I felt really safe with him. I could go up to him and say, ‘Why do I feel so bad?’ I don’t know what’s going on.’ And he would explain it to me. ‘I know. I read it during the first one.'”

Keaton never remarried. Pfeiffer married television producer David E. Kelley in 1993 and they will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in November of this year.