Batman Forever writer wants to see the Schumacher Cut

By Eric Bartsch | Sep 22, 2020

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: A Batman costume from the 1995 Batman Forever film worn by Val Kilmer and designed by Rob Ringwood and Ingrid Ferrin is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) /

Batman Forever co-writer and Academy Award winner Akiva Goldsman is the latest who wants to see the Schumacher Cut come to fruition.

The list of people, especially those with a public profile, wanting to see the release of the Schumacher Cut of Batman Forever keeps growing. Doom Patrol actor Joivan Wade and the timeless voice of the Dark Knight, Kevin Conroy, have thrown their support behind it. Now award-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman is voicing his.

Goldsman knows a thing or two about Batman Forever; he co-wrote the script with Lee and Janet Scott Batchler. In a Twitter DM conversation with the RTSchumacherCut account championing the release, Goldsman offered some details about what the Schumacher Cut actually is and contains.

RTSchumacherCut posted screenshots of Goldsman’s message with the following caption:

"“The co-writer of Batman Forever @AkivaGoldsman would like to see the Schumacher Cut.” The post adds “Glad to have you supporting Akiva.”"

Goldsman wrote in his message “The cut you’re looking for is likely preview cut one” – which probably had the least amount of requested edits from Warner Bros. He added he has “No idea if it still exists.”

Among what was trimmed out of it includes “Many flashbacks,” revealed Goldsman, plus “repressed guilt about a seminal final entry…in Thomas’ journal.” Whatever was in that entry became indelible, “deeply hidden in adult Bruce’s unconscious.”

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You may recall Bruce (played by Val Kilmer) struggled in the film with his identity and the balance between Bruce Wayne and Batman. One moment encapsulating that struggle was his memory of a giant bat – his “destiny” – flying at him in the Bat Cave.

Goldsman wrote there was “A renewal encounter with the bat in the cave.” This scene is on the DVD and Blu-ray releases of Batman Forever along with other deleted material and extras. “Some cool stuff for sure,” concluded Goldsman’s message. “Would love to see it again,” he admits.

The fan outcry that facilitated the completion of The Snyder Cut of Justice League led to a similar campaign calling for the release of Suicide Squad’s Ayer Cut and renewed demand for the release of the Schumacher Cut, which goes back to forums in 2005, Batman Forever’s 10th anniversary.

Akiva Goldsman wrote the film and its sequel Batman & Robin. He penned other cinematic adaptations such as Lost in Space, I, Robot, I Am Legend, The Da Vinci Code, and Angels & Demons. He also wrote A Beautiful Mind, for which he won his Oscar and a Golden Globe.

More of his credits include Insurgent, The 5th Wave, Transformers: The Last Knight, Rings, and The Dark Tower. He is also a director. His latest film, Stephanie, a thriller starring Michael Grillo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) and Anna Torv (Fringe), is currently available on Netflix.

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Now that the call to release the Schumacher Cut has reached folks responsible for Batman Forever’s creation, do you believe we will see it in due time? Tell us below and stay locked to our coverage for updates.