How Michael Keaton Spoiled Batman the Night Before it Came Out

When Batman was gearing up for release in the summer of 1989, the hype from fans reached a level that hadn't been seen up to that point. It had been over 20 years since the Caped Crusader made his way to the silver screen, and audiences were looking for a fresh take on the character. While Adam West's Batman series and film brought the over-the-top goofy aspects of the character to life in an endearing way, people were desperate to see the character taken seriously again. Tim Burton's reboot of the character promised to do just that as it embraced the gothic elements of the character and put him in a more serious setting. Anticipation was sweeping the nation as the film became a cultural phenomenon even before its release.