Comic books and their early television and film adaptations really did something right. They remain so effective and beloved that, decades later, modern producers are striving to capture that lightning in a bottle. Memorably, in 2016, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice united two caped titans in a gritty action film led by the stars of the time, Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill.
Batman v Superman was a box office success but received unfavorable reviews from critics and casual fans alike. But no matter someone’s opinion on this film, there’s no denying the trailer doesn’t have quite the same campy vibrancy as the Batman series led by the likes of Michael Keaton or Adam West, or the Superman entries starring Christopher Reeve. But, one video editor dared to ask, what if that could change?
Imagine ‘Batman v Superman’ with familiar stars like Christopher Reeve and Michae Keaton
There have been many heroes who donned the capes of Superman and Batman since they flew from the page to the screen. Some of the earliest faces remain the most iconic, paving the way with a solid foundation that is treasured to this day. Christopher Reeve donned Superman’s red cape starting in ’78 and then in three sequels. Meanwhile, the Caped Crusader has been memorably portrayed by Christian Bale, Adam West, Michael Keaton, and – most recently – Robert Pattison.
RELATED: The Cast Of ‘Batman’ The TV Series Then And Now 2023
So, there are a lot of options to choose from when mixing and matching Batman and Superman original creations – including trailers. Over on YouTube, there are a few mashups of nostalgic Superman and Batman stars. But one of the most viewed comes from the user Babylon Has Fallen, who back in 2016 created a video called Batman V Superman (REEVE VS KEATON).
It’s exactly the crossover any nostalgic comic book fan could dream of – just ask the over 1.1 million viewers.
A meeting of the original minds behind multiple iconic franchises
“Batman (Michael Keaton) goes toe to toe with Superman (Christopher Reeve),” the video’s description reads. “but Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) and the Joker (Jack Nicholson) decide to kill two birds with one stone. And just when it seems that all is lost for our heroes, Wonder Woman (Lynda Carter) may lend a hand.” There have been a few imaginings like these, including one by an 18-year-old video editor that went viral when the original Batman v Superman trailer dropped. But so far, Babylon Has Fallen’s has some of the highest views on YouTube.
There’s something for everyone in this two-minute-long trailer, from Batman in his sleek Batmobile, to Superman showing off some of his coolest powers. To top it all off, the Amazing Amazon, as originally played by Lynda Carter, shows off her strengths and saves the day; Diana Prince is present in the 2016 film, so the parallels are still strong, despite this fake trailer being presented with a totally different cast who never really met.
Another honorable mention worth checking out is also Batman v Superman: Christopher Reeve meets Michael Keaton [HD] by Adeel of Steel, and Batman V Superman Retro 80s trailer by MAXVideo Entertainment – this one features West’s Batman instead of Keaton’s!
Who is your favorite actor to play each hero?
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