They actually did it and the Schumacher cut is finally coming to home release so I am honestly just staring at the wall in total shock. I keep thinking back to those early days of hunting for red book scraps and now it is all going to be there for …
July 1, 2024
Final supporters
What you see before you is a petition to release director Joel Schumacher's 160-minute cut of "Batman Forever" on DVD and Blu-ray.
To whom it may concern, Schumacher shot roughly 2 hours and 40 minutes of footage during production of the film. Following preview screenings of his 160-minute semi-rough cut, WB executives demanded heavy cuts before its initial release, so as to ensure the film had a lighter tone than "Batman Returns".
Consequently, this resulted in the loss of a brilliant subplot involving Bruce Wayne (Val Kilmer) having repressed memories over an aspect of his parents' death he hadn't faced: his father's journal (commonly referred to as "the Red Book").
If the executives hadn't intervened and let Schumacher make the movie he wanted to make, the result would've been an all-around better film.
In 2005, to coincide with the DVD release of Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins", all 4 Batman movies, released from 1989 to 1997, were re-released as 2-disc Special Edition boxsets, and "Batman Forever" was no exception, with around 14 of the 40 minutes of known deleted scenes released on the second disc as a bonus feature.
These 14 minutes included:
-The original opening, detailing how Two-Face escaped from Arkham Asylum (An alternate title sequence would've followed, showing an exploration of the human brain).
-An extended helicopter fight sequence between Batman and Two-Face.
-A deleted scene, showing Batman arriving at a beauty salon.
-A deleted scene where Bruce and Dick Grayson (Chris O'Donnell) talk in the gym of Wayne Manor.
-An extended scene showing Bruce talking to Alfred about his dilemma of continuing to be Batman.
-The iconic "Secret of the Batcave" deleted scene, where Bruce faces a giant bat.
-The first half of the original ending, where Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman), Bruce's love interest, asks "Does it ever end?".
Other known deleted scenes include:
-A scene where Bruce watches a local Gotham talk show with Chase as a guest, talking about Batman.
-A scene where the Riddler (Jim Carrey) brutally beats a security guard using his cane.
-Scenes of Edward Nygma with a hard hat helping with the construction of his headquarters on Claw Island.
-A scene where Sugar (Drew Barrymore) and Spice (Debi Mazar) take hits from the Riddler's device.
-A scene where Bruce and Alfred (Michael Gough) examine the NygmaTech "Box".
-Extended Wayne Manor raid sequence, featuring Bruce and Chase fighting Two-Face's henchmen.
-An extended scene where the Riddler injects Chase with a green sleeping agent.
-Extended fight scene between Two-Face and Robin on Claw Island.
-The second half of the original ending, showing Batman and Robin leaping off a pillar.
All of this, coupled with many alternate takes/angles/shots taken from the trailers and promo material, was included in the film at some point before it was recut to a leaner 121 minutes.
This interests me for many reasons. What if the film had been released with all of this footage intact? Would we have gotten a darker film than what ended up in cinemas throughout the world?
Yes, we certainly would have. That's why I'm writing this petition to you, the fans of DC Comics and the Batman films, and the executives of Warner Bros..
With your help, we can finally get what Schumacher originally intended: a longer, darker cut of the film rather than the total campshow we ended up with. These deleted scenes help flesh out Bruce's subplot and the character as a whole, and Kilmer gives a good performance as the eccentric billionaire with repressed memories of his parents' death.
Plus, my friend Christopher a.k.a. ThatGuyWhoEdits, as well as some other Batman fans, consider the film to be the true end to Tim Burton's planned Batman trilogy, and rightfully so.
There are actually a few more deleted scenes I haven't listed off yet, but in summary, the extended cut of the film is long overdue, and I think it's time we got what we want.
So WB, please consider. If not the full director's cut, then a new "Deluxe Edition" boxset of the film, with new deleted/extended scenes as a supplementary feature.
Thank you for your understanding,
Cameron Murphy
Updates
June 8, 2024
I was watching the original theatrical version again last night and just kept thinking about that darker tone Joel actually wanted because the pacing feels so strange when you realize what is missing from the archives. People keep messaging me about the giant bat scene being the key to the whole psychological arc and I really hope someone at the studio finds the original negatives under a pile of dust somewhere soon.
June 8, 2024
Seeing this much energy behind the Schumacher cut honestly makes me want to go back and watch my old VHS tape again because the momentum is just incredible and I forgot how many people actually care about those lost psychological scenes. It is wild to think about sitting in the dark theater back then versus the way we are organizing now to finally see the Red Book subplot restored properly.
Reached 100 supporters
June 8, 2024
69 Comments
Please release this movie! If you own the copyrights and made this film, please understand that we as movie goers, would love to see your original ideas! Many people paid to bring their kids to the kid friendly version, can we now pay to see a more mature version of the film? What a shame it would be if it only existed to rott in the Neverland of the cutting room floor and the small library of cool kids club who own a copy. Even they want to see it released! Please!
I was so very disappointed in 2005 when an extended cut was not released even though director Joel Schumacher wanted to work on it. With his passing, his film should receive a special extended cut release to honor his memory. I have always enjoyed Batman Forever and would genuinely love to get the extended cut. Please, WB, give us fans of the film something we have always dreamed of having. Please release the extended cut of Batman Forever! I will buy it immediately!
It's just more content for HBO Max like the Snyder Cut, people clearly want to watch it turning it into huge profits, it will be good for WB's image, best decision to honor the late director's memory. It's a win-win, WB. Please do it
This was the first Batman movie I ever saw in theaters, I had the toys, the comic adaption, and the trading cards, which is where I learned about the deleted scenes. I would love more then ever to see the director's cut.
it’s the “what could have been” of all the Batman films. a movie that has stellar cast with Val Kilmer (the best Batman IMO) at the helm. we need a directors cut because it would complete the film! nearly 40 mins of footage was deleted and it takes away from Kilmers performance and the movie has a whole. i think that the Directors cut would help solidify the movies legacy in that we can really see what the movie was supposed to be.
We need this so much. It would be a nice gesture in memory of Joel and Val.
Free the homie
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Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
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They actually did it and the Schumacher cut is finally coming to home release so I am honestly just staring at the wall in total shock. I keep thinking back to those early days of hunting for red book scraps and now it is all going to be there for …
July 1, 2024
Final supporters
What you see before you is a petition to release director Joel Schumacher's 160-minute cut of "Batman Forever" on DVD and Blu-ray.
To whom it may concern, Schumacher shot roughly 2 hours and 40 minutes of footage during production of the film. Following preview screenings of his 160-minute semi-rough cut, WB executives demanded heavy cuts before its initial release, so as to ensure the film had a lighter tone than "Batman Returns".
Consequently, this resulted in the loss of a brilliant subplot involving Bruce Wayne (Val Kilmer) having repressed memories over an aspect of his parents' death he hadn't faced: his father's journal (commonly referred to as "the Red Book").
If the executives hadn't intervened and let Schumacher make the movie he wanted to make, the result would've been an all-around better film.
In 2005, to coincide with the DVD release of Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins", all 4 Batman movies, released from 1989 to 1997, were re-released as 2-disc Special Edition boxsets, and "Batman Forever" was no exception, with around 14 of the 40 minutes of known deleted scenes released on the second disc as a bonus feature.
These 14 minutes included:
-The original opening, detailing how Two-Face escaped from Arkham Asylum (An alternate title sequence would've followed, showing an exploration of the human brain).
-An extended helicopter fight sequence between Batman and Two-Face.
-A deleted scene, showing Batman arriving at a beauty salon.
-A deleted scene where Bruce and Dick Grayson (Chris O'Donnell) talk in the gym of Wayne Manor.
-An extended scene showing Bruce talking to Alfred about his dilemma of continuing to be Batman.
-The iconic "Secret of the Batcave" deleted scene, where Bruce faces a giant bat.
-The first half of the original ending, where Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman), Bruce's love interest, asks "Does it ever end?".
Other known deleted scenes include:
-A scene where Bruce watches a local Gotham talk show with Chase as a guest, talking about Batman.
-A scene where the Riddler (Jim Carrey) brutally beats a security guard using his cane.
-Scenes of Edward Nygma with a hard hat helping with the construction of his headquarters on Claw Island.
-A scene where Sugar (Drew Barrymore) and Spice (Debi Mazar) take hits from the Riddler's device.
-A scene where Bruce and Alfred (Michael Gough) examine the NygmaTech "Box".
-Extended Wayne Manor raid sequence, featuring Bruce and Chase fighting Two-Face's henchmen.
-An extended scene where the Riddler injects Chase with a green sleeping agent.
-Extended fight scene between Two-Face and Robin on Claw Island.
-The second half of the original ending, showing Batman and Robin leaping off a pillar.
All of this, coupled with many alternate takes/angles/shots taken from the trailers and promo material, was included in the film at some point before it was recut to a leaner 121 minutes.
This interests me for many reasons. What if the film had been released with all of this footage intact? Would we have gotten a darker film than what ended up in cinemas throughout the world?
Yes, we certainly would have. That's why I'm writing this petition to you, the fans of DC Comics and the Batman films, and the executives of Warner Bros..
With your help, we can finally get what Schumacher originally intended: a longer, darker cut of the film rather than the total campshow we ended up with. These deleted scenes help flesh out Bruce's subplot and the character as a whole, and Kilmer gives a good performance as the eccentric billionaire with repressed memories of his parents' death.
Plus, my friend Christopher a.k.a. ThatGuyWhoEdits, as well as some other Batman fans, consider the film to be the true end to Tim Burton's planned Batman trilogy, and rightfully so.
There are actually a few more deleted scenes I haven't listed off yet, but in summary, the extended cut of the film is long overdue, and I think it's time we got what we want.
So WB, please consider. If not the full director's cut, then a new "Deluxe Edition" boxset of the film, with new deleted/extended scenes as a supplementary feature.
Thank you for your understanding,
Cameron Murphy
Updates
June 8, 2024
I was watching the original theatrical version again last night and just kept thinking about that darker tone Joel actually wanted because the pacing feels so strange when you realize what is missing from the archives. People keep messaging me about the giant bat scene being the key to the whole psychological arc and I really hope someone at the studio finds the original negatives under a pile of dust somewhere soon.
June 8, 2024
Seeing this much energy behind the Schumacher cut honestly makes me want to go back and watch my old VHS tape again because the momentum is just incredible and I forgot how many people actually care about those lost psychological scenes. It is wild to think about sitting in the dark theater back then versus the way we are organizing now to finally see the Red Book subplot restored properly.
Reached 100 supporters
June 8, 2024
69 Comments
Batman Forever holds a special place in my memory as it was the first movie I ever saw in theaters. I would love to see a more complete version of Bruce's inner struggle restored to the film if that was the director's original vision. This film definitely deserves a second chance at true greatness.
Please release this movie! If you own the copyrights and made this film, please understand that we as movie goers, would love to see your original ideas! Many people paid to bring their kids to the kid friendly version, can we now pay to see a more mature version of the film? What a shame it would be if it only existed to rott in the Neverland of the cutting room floor and the small library of cool kids club who own a copy. Even they want to see it released! Please!
I was so very disappointed in 2005 when an extended cut was not released even though director Joel Schumacher wanted to work on it. With his passing, his film should receive a special extended cut release to honor his memory. I have always enjoyed Batman Forever and would genuinely love to get the extended cut. Please, WB, give us fans of the film something we have always dreamed of having. Please release the extended cut of Batman Forever! I will buy it immediately!
It's just more content for HBO Max like the Snyder Cut, people clearly want to watch it turning it into huge profits, it will be good for WB's image, best decision to honor the late director's memory. It's a win-win, WB. Please do it
This was the first Batman movie I ever saw in theaters, I had the toys, the comic adaption, and the trading cards, which is where I learned about the deleted scenes. I would love more then ever to see the director's cut.
it’s the “what could have been” of all the Batman films. a movie that has stellar cast with Val Kilmer (the best Batman IMO) at the helm. we need a directors cut because it would complete the film! nearly 40 mins of footage was deleted and it takes away from Kilmers performance and the movie has a whole. i think that the Directors cut would help solidify the movies legacy in that we can really see what the movie was supposed to be.
We need this so much. It would be a nice gesture in memory of Joel and Val.
Free the homie
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Batman Forever holds a special place in my memory as it was the first movie I ever saw in theaters. I would love to see a more complete version of Bruce's inner struggle restored to the film if that was the director's original vision. This film definitely deserves a second chance at true greatness.