When you think of the writers who had the biggest impact in defining the way we look at Batman, Frank Miller's name has to be top of the list. That said, the guy behind "The Dark Knight Returns" was also responsible for some pretty bad ones. He's never had a chance to make a live-action Batman movie on his own (he nearly did right before Batman Begins), perhaps because his one solo directing effort was The Spirit (uggghh), but Miller has some good ideas for what he'd do with the Dark Knight if given a chance.
Speaking with Variety, Miller says his idea for a Batman movie would be stripped down, removing all of the flashy gadgets and getting back down to basics...
"My dream would be to make it much smaller. To lose the toys and to focus more on the mission, and to use the city a great deal more. Because he’s got a loving relationship with the city he’s protecting. And unlike Superman his connection to crime is intimate; it has been ever since his parents were murdered. And he defeats criminals with his hands. So it would be a different take. But it will never be in my hands, because it would not be a good place to make toys from. There wouldn’t be a line of toys."
That's a really good idea...but nobody at Warner Bros. would sign off on it. Why? Because they need multiple toys and gadgets and costumes and Batmobiles for merchandising. Miller said this was a little bit like what his Batman: Year One film with Darren Aronofsky would have been if it weren't for that Christopher Nolan guy getting in the way.
As for his thoughts on 'Batman v Superman'? Well, he said this...
"I’ll just say: ‘Thanks.’ What can I say? — he laughs — no, actually I’ll withdraw that; I’ll say: ‘You’re welcome!’
Huh?
