Batman Producer Claims Kim Basinger Helped Write Final Act

Jon Peters, the eccentric hairdresser-turned-film producer, was instrumental in overseeing and getting Warner Bros.’ Superman and Batman film franchises off the ground. Many of you know him best for hiring Kevin Smith in 1997 — a then relative newcomer — to pen the unmade Superman Lives script and demanding the Clerks filmmaker include a scene in which the Man of Steel fights a giant spider-like creature (a.k.a. “Thanagarian Snare Beast“).

The Hollywood Reporter recently published an interview they conducted with the now-reclusive Peters, and he claims that he rewrote the third act of Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) with its co-star Kim Basinger — who portrayed the beautiful and resourceful photojournalist Vicki Vale. He also claims that back then he had an affair with Basinger, who was married at the time, and their affair upset its star Michael Keaton, who was also married at the time but supposedly had interest in Basinger too.

As for other high-profile affairs, he mentions Pamela Anderson but then chides me (“You’ll have to do your research. I can’t even remember anymore”). But he offers up one more doozy involving a then-married Michael Keaton. During the production of Batman, Peters says he began courting his star Kim Basinger, who was married to makeup artist Ron Snyder. Peters recently had divorced Forsyth but was adopting a child with her (they have two daughters, Caleigh and Skye). “Kim had a husband who was abusive. And one day I grabbed him, and she connected with me because I protected her, and we became friends and ended up having a big affair,” he recalls. “Michael Keaton had the eye for Kim Basinger. I remember he got mad at me when she and I hooked up. He felt rejected ’cause he was the star. He’s Batman. Yeah. I was a hairdresser who could talk to women. We lived together on the set. She helped me write the third act.” – THR

Well, that probably explains why Vicki Vale suddenly and inexplicably gets escorted into the Batcave by Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Gough) in the third act of Batman. The scene felt so awkward and out of place that it was addressed in its 1992 sequel, Batman Returns. “Security? Who let Vicki Vale into the Batcave?” Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) incredulously asked his loyal butler. “I’m sitting there working and I turn around, there she is. ‘Oh hi, Vick – come on in.’”

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(via Batman News)

Batman (1989) – As the Dark Knight, defender of law and order in Gotham City, Batman treads the shadow zone between right and wrong, fighting with only his skill in martial arts and his keenly honed mind to defend the innocent and to purge the memory of his parents’ brutal murder–always keeping his true identity as millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne a closely guarded secret.

It was directed by Tim Burton, produced by Jon Peters and Peter Guber, and the screenplay was written by Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren. The Batman cast featured Jack Nicholson as The Joker, Michael Keaton as The Dark Knight, and Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale. It also included Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, and Jack Palance.