Adam West thinks the modern ‘Batman’ movies are too "dark".
The 88-year-old actor portrayed The Caped Crusader in the iconic 1960s ABC ‘Batman’ TV series and 1966’s ‘Batman: The Movie’ and has voiced the DC Comics character in various animated projects and video games.
West’s adventures as the superhero on screen are famous for their humour and camp capers, and the acting legend is always disappointed with the brooding big screen interpretations of the character which have seen Christian Bale brood in ‘The Dark Knight’ trilogy and Ben Affleck’s battle-weary Batman in ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’.
He said: "In the new movies Batman is very full of vengeance and has deep-seated angst and so on … They’re very dark."
West was speaking at New York Comic-Con to promote his new animated film ‘Batman: Return Of The Caped Crusaders’, for which he is reunited with Burt Ward with both actors reprising their roles as Batman and Robin.
West is hopeful that the upcoming ‘Justice League’ film – set in the DC Extended Universe and featuring The Caped Crusader – and Affleck’s standalone ‘Batman’ movie will have some more humour in them.
He said: "Enough violence. Let the costume work for you. And put a little humour into it. I think it’s about time to relieve that all of that kind of attitude of vengeance and ‘I can’t take it anymore, I’m going home and I’m going to suck my thumb.’ "
West isn’t the only star connected to the DC Universe to express disappointment with the tone of the new DC Comics films – made in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures.
Margot Kidder – who played Lois Lane in the four ‘Superman’ films which starred Christopher Reeve – criticised ‘Batman v Superman’ for wasting Amy Adams’ talents by giving her nothing to do as journalist Lois in the blockbuster.
Margot previously said: "They took one of the best American actresses around, Amy Adams, and didn’t give her anything to do."
Adam West: The Batman movies are too dark
