The house lights dim. A hush falls over the crowd. Then, a single spotlight illuminates the director, Sam Raimi, pacing nervously before a giant screen—on it, not Spider-Man, but the Bat-Signal. It turns out the ‘Evil Dead’ legend has a hankering for superhero stories.
Years after cementing his place as a directing icon, Sam Raimi delivered two of the genre’s best: Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2. Later, he revisited that world with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, an enjoyable sequel. Clearly, the man understands heroes. Yet, even with three comic book adaptations under his belt, one major hero remains on his wish list.
“I love Batman,” Raimi revealed to Movieweb. “I tried to make a Batman film. I couldn’t get the rights.”
Imagine a Sam Raimi Batman movie: the breakneck action, the vibrant visuals, the sheer madness. It’s enough to get any comic fan excited.
In that same conversation, Raimi mentioned other characters he admires. “I love the Shadow,” Raimi continued. “I also couldn’t get the rights to that one. But, um, Superman’s always been one of my favorites. Yeah, there’s a tremendous amount of DC characters that I love, and it would just take the writers to come up with an original story based on their character, that’s true to the character and part of their real universe, not something that disappoints the fans, but something that’s based on the fans’ love of the character and brings out the best moment of those characters and their proper conflicts, or the right challenges for the right hero. If it was a story that had a real journey for that particular individual. Then I’d love to make the movie.”
Raimi also expressed his interest in directing more superhero films during a recent Reddit AMA. When asked, “What would be your biggest criticism of superhero movies made today?” Raimi replied, “That they don’t offer me more of them!”
Raimi on the Outs? The Timing Never Seemed Right
Think back to the first time you saw a Batman movie. The theater, the anticipation, the hero emerging from the shadows. Now, combine that with Raimi’s kinetic style.
Returning to Batman, it’s a bit odd when Raimi says he couldn’t get the rights. DC, and therefore Warner Bros., owns them. “Couldn’t” seems inaccurate. He likely means Warner Bros. and DC weren’t interested in his vision at the time.
Looking at the timeline of Batman films alongside Raimi’s career, the stars never aligned. He might have approached Warner Bros. before 1989, but back then, Raimi was still an emerging talent, making the odds slim. Tim Burton landed the gig. A window could’ve opened between 1997 and 2005, prior to Christopher Nolan’s films, but Raimi was absorbed in the Spider-Man trilogy. A final opportunity might have been between 2012 and 2016, when Zack Snyder stepped in. However, that period coincided with Raimi’s “director jail” stint after Oz: The Great and Powerful. At all other times, the Batman franchise was claimed.
What Happened with Sam Raimi and Oz: The Great and Powerful?
Oz: The Great and Powerful (budgeted at an estimated $215 million / €199 million) hit theaters in 2013, and while not a complete flop, it was seen by many as a creative misstep for Raimi. Some critics felt the film lacked the heart and originality of his earlier work. This lukewarm reception might have temporarily cooled studios’ interest in entrusting him with major franchises.
To us, Sam Raimi not directing a Batman movie feels less about the rights being unavailable and more about unfortunate timing.
The Future of Batman
The cowl is a heavy burden. Think of all the actors who’ve donned the cape – Keaton, Bale, Affleck. Each brought something unique.
It feels less like he couldn’t get the rights and more like the rights weren’t in play at those times. But never say never. If Andy Muschietti’s The Brave and the Bold falters, current DC Studios head James Gunn might have the ideal candidate on speed dial.
Who Is Directing The Brave and the Bold?
As of late 2024, Andy Muschietti (director of The Flash and the It horror films) is slated to direct The Brave and the Bold, an upcoming film set within the new DC Universe. The film will introduce Bruce Wayne’s son, Damian Wayne, as the new Robin.
Raimi’s next movie, Send Help, is in theaters January 30.
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Perhaps Raimi’s unmade Batman exists in an alternate universe – a shadow narrative just out of reach – but will James Gunn ever give Raimi a call?