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Here's How The "Batman" Characters Have Changed Over The Past 50 Years

BuzzFeed
5 min read
  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

First, here's Adam West as Batman in the Batman series (1966–1968):

  20th Century Fox / Everett Collection
20th Century Fox / Everett Collection

Here's Michael Keaton as Batman in Batman (1989):

He continued to play the role in Batman Returns (1992) and will reprise the role in The Flash (2022). 

He continued to play the role in Batman Returns (1992) and will reprise the role in The Flash (2022).

Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

Here's Val Kilmer as Batman in Batman Forever (1995):

  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

Here's George Clooney as Batman in Batman & Robin (1999):

  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

Here's Christian Bale as Batman in Batman Begins (2005):

Christian's Bruce Wayne sporting facial hair in a departure from previous iterations

Christian continued the role in The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

Here's Ben Affleck as Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016):

Ben continued to play the role in Suicide Squad (2016), Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), and will reprise the role in The Flash (2022).

Ben continued to play the role in Suicide Squad (2016), Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), and will reprise the role in The Flash (2022).

Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

Here's David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne in the TV series Gotham (2014–2019):

  Fox
Fox

Here's Robert Pattinson as Batman in The Batman (2022):

  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

And here are all of them side by side:

  Warner Bros. / 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection
  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

First, here's Julie Newmar as Catwoman in the Batman series (1966–1967):

  ABC / Everett Collection
ABC / Everett Collection

Here's Lee Meriwether as Catwoman in Batman (1966):

Lee replaced Julie Newmar — who played the role on the series for two seasons — as Catwoman in the movie. 

Lee replaced Julie Newmar — who played the role on the series for two seasons — as Catwoman in the movie.

20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

Here's Eartha Kitt as Catwoman in the Batman series (1968):

She eventually replaced Julia Newmar for the third season of the series.

She eventually replaced Julia Newmar for the third season of the series.

20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

Here's Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman in Batman Returns (1992):

  Warner Bros. Everett Collection
Warner Bros. Everett Collection

Here's Halle Berry as Catwoman in Catwoman (2004):

  Warner Bros / Everett Collection
Warner Bros / Everett Collection

Here's Anne Hathaway as Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises (2012):

  Warner Bros / Everett Collection
Warner Bros / Everett Collection

Here's Camren Bicondova as Selina "Cat" Kyle in the TV series Gotham (2014–2019):

  Fox / Everett Collection
Fox / Everett Collection

Here's Zo? Kravitz as Catwoman in The Batman (2022):

  Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.

And here are all of them side by side:

  Warner Bros. / 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection
  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

First, here's Alan Napier as Alfred in the Batman series (1966–1968):

  20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox

Here's Michael Gough as Alfred in Batman (1989):

He continued the role in Batman Returns (1992), Batman Forever (1995), and Batman & Robin (1997). 

He continued the role in Batman Returns (1992), Batman Forever (1995), and Batman & Robin (1997).

Warner Bros.

Here's Michael Caine as Alfred in Batman Begins (2005):

He continued the role for The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

He continued the role for The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

Warner Bros.

Here's Jeremy Irons as Alfred in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016):

He continued the role in Justice League (2017). 

He continued the role in Justice League (2017).

Warner Bros.

Here's Sean Pertwee as Alfred in the TV series Gotham (2014–2019):

  Fox
Fox

Here's Douglas Hodge as Alfred in Joker (2019):

  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

Here's Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth in The Batman (2022):

  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

And here's all of them side by side:

  Warner Bros. / 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection
  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

First, here's Frank Gorshin as The Riddler in the Batman series (1966–1968):

  20th Century Fox / Everett Collection
20th Century Fox / Everett Collection

Here's John Astin as The Riddler in the Batman series (1967):

John only played the role for Season 2 until Frank Gorshin returned for Season 3. 

John only played the role for Season 2 until Frank Gorshin returned for Season 3.

20th Century Fox / Everett Collection

Here's Jim Carrey as The Riddler in Batman Forever (1995):

  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

Here's Cory Michael Smith as The Riddler in the TV series Gotham (2014–2019):

  Fox / Everett Collection
Fox / Everett Collection

Here's Paul Dano as The Riddler in The Batman (2022):

  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

And here's all of them side by side:

  20th Century Fox/ Fox / Warner Bros. Everett Collection
20th Century Fox/ Fox / Warner Bros. Everett Collection
  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

Here's Burgess Meredith as Penguin in the TV series Batman (1966–1968):

  20th Century Fox / Everett Collection
20th Century Fox / Everett Collection

Here's Danny DeVito as Penguin in Batman Returns (1992):

  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

Here's Robin Lord Taylor as Penguin in the TV series Gotham (2014–2019):

  Fox / Everett Collection
Fox / Everett Collection

Here's Colin Farrell as Penguin in The Batman (2022):

  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

And here's all of them side by side:

  20th Century Fox / Fox / Warner Bros. Everett Collection
20th Century Fox / Fox / Warner Bros. Everett Collection
  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

First, here's Neil Hamilton as Commissioner Gordon in the TV series Batman (1966–1968):

  20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox

Here's Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon in Batman (1989):

He continued in the role for Batman Returns (1992), Batman Forever (1995), and Batman & Robin (1997). 

He continued in the role for Batman Returns (1992), Batman Forever (1995), and Batman & Robin (1997).

Warner Bros.

Here's Gary Oldman as James Gordon in Batman Begins (2005):

He continued with the role for The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

He continued with the role for The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

Warner Bros / Everett Collection

Here's Ben Mackenzie as James Gordon in the TV series Gotham (2014–2019):

  Fox / Everett Collection
Fox / Everett Collection

Here's J.K. Simmons as Commissioner James Gordon in Justice League (2017):

  Warner Bros /  Everett Collection
Warner Bros / Everett Collection

Here's Jeffrey Wright as Lt. James Gordon in The Batman (2022):

  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

And here's all of them side by side:

  Warner Bros. / 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection
  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

First, here's Tom Wilkinson as Carmine Falcone in Batman Begins (2005):

  Warner Bros / Everett Collection
Warner Bros / Everett Collection

Here's John Doman as Carmine Falcone in the TV series Gotham (2014–2019):

  Fox / Everett Collection
Fox / Everett Collection

Here's John Turturro as Carmine Falcone in The Batman (2022):

  Warner Bros. / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / Everett Collection

And here's all of them side by side:

  Warner Bros. / 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection
Warner Bros. / 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection

So, after 50 years, who's YOUR favorite Batman? Tell us in the comments below! And check out more content about The Batman here.

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