Lee Batchler (born November 22, 1950) is an American screenwriter and producer.
Career[]
Batchler wrote the script for Batman Forever with his wife Janet Scott Batchler. He met producer Tim Burton and together they agreed that the screenplay should have focus on the duality of Batman. The Batchlers were hired by Burton and new director Joel Schumacher and their original script introduced a psychotic Edward Nygma accompanied by a pet rat. Batchler wrote the character with Robin Williams in mind, who read the script and loved it, but couldn't get the role, due to a salary dispute.
The final script was revised by Akiva Goldsman, but much of the story elements and dialogue of the Batchlers remained in the finished film.
Trivia[]
- He and his wife Janet Scott Batchler met during a Dungeons & Dragons game.
- He and his wife wrote Batman with Michael Keaton, Two-Face with Tommy Lee Jones, and The Riddler with Robin Williams in mind in the earlier drafts for Batman Forever before Val Kilmer and Jim Carrey were cast.
- He and his wife came up with an idea of Robin with a bigger circus family after they spoke to their assistant Darlene, who grew up in the circus, and she was part of a big circus family.
- He and his wife created Chase Meridian as the love interest for the film as they were against the idea of the returns of Vicki Vale and Catwoman.
- They also created Sugar and Spice, Dr. Burton, and Fred Stickley.