"DARKMAN"

[THE BAT-MAN]

I thought it would be interesting to start a thread regarding Sam Raimi's "Darkman."

Darkman Featurette

Darkman Trailer

Danny Elfman Discussing Darkman

[gordonblu]

This is the best "Action Adventure-Horror-Comedy-Drama" ever made. After seeing this film, I really wish Warners had let Raimi take over the Batman franchise after Burton left (as Sam was rumored to want the job). I felt Neeson's Darkman was the closest we've gotten to decent portrayal of Two-Face, despite being a little over the top. I also rank Elfman's score as one of his best; some claim it's derivative of Batman, but I find that while it is in the same vein, the Phantom-esque flourishes make it a different animal.

[thecolorsblend]

Never saw the movie but isn't this thing pretty much a cypher of The Shadow?

[BatmAngelus]

Other than a few superficial similarities to the pulp version of The Shadow (the fedora and black cloak, disfigured face, and master of disguise), I'd say Darkman is his own character.

[Paul (ral)]

Didn't Raimi say that he created Darkman because WB wouldn't give him Batman?

[BatmAngelus]

I've read that he tried to pursue both The Shadow and Batman.  When that didn't work, he went for an original character.

[johnnygobbs]

Would Raimi have been a better replacement for Burton than Schumacher?  Would he have taken the "Batman" franchise in a similar direction to Burton and followed through on the first two films?  Do you think he would have retained Keaton or would he have ended up casting Bruce Campbell?  If not Batman who could the latter have played (he surely would have been in there somewhere)?

[Silver Nemesis]

Here's the unaired pilot for the Darkman TV series from 1992. Larry Drake reprises his role as Durant. English actor Christopher Bowen replaces Neeson as Darkman, though some recycled footage of Neeson is incorporated from the first film (as well as some footage from Blade Runner!). Bowen should be familiar to Doctor Who fans as Mordred from the 7th Doctor serial Battlefield. He was also one of the actors that tested for the role of the 8th Doctor before Paul McGann was cast.

There are some interesting revisions to the mythology here, such as Peyton and Julie already being married, and her perishing in the lab explosion that disfigured him. But based on the pilot, I don't think this would have worked as an ongoing series. The lack of supporting characters for Peyton to interact with would have been a problem. And I don't expect a serialised remake of the film's plot would sustain more than two or three episodes at most. Still, it's an interesting curiosity. It reminds me a little of the live action RoboCop series from 1994.

[The Joker]

Oh boy, I haven't seen Darkman in years, but remember liking it alright. I'm pretty sure I watched it as a young kid back when the movie was released on VHS, and this was back when literally anything Superhero-related in movies was something of a novelty.

I do remember the two Direct-to-Video sequels, with one being "The RETURN of Durant". Course I knew nothing about a pilot, and evidently Durant had already, well, returned!   

[Silver Nemesis]

I actually saw The Return of Durant and Die Darkman Die on television years before I saw the first film. So it came as a surprise for me when I learned that Neeson was the original Darkman, not Vosloo. Although the sequels weren't particularly good (I can barely remember them TBH), I thought Vosloo was decent in the role.