Nicolas Cage Could Have Been Batman Villain

Joel Schumacher has revealed that Nicolas Cage was lined up to play a villain in the abandoned Batman Triumphant film.

Schumacher took over directorial duties from Tim Burton for Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, two film of such poor quality that they effectively killed off the original DC franchise.

Schumacher told The Playlist: "I was supposed to do a fifth one. I was talking to Nic Cage about playing the Scarecrow. I had begged the studio for [Frank Miller’s comic] The Dark Knight [Returns], but they wanted a family friendly, toyetic thing."

However, so bad was Batman and Robin, that Warner Bros. decided to cancel any future Batman films.

Schumacher, however, remains unrepentant, adding: "I did my job. It was more family friendly, and it sold a lot of toys, and it supported the Warner Bros stores. But I did disappoint a lot of fans."

Christopher Nolan would ressurect the franchise with 2005 film Batman Begins.

The Dark Knight Rises, which brings Nolan's trilogy to a close, is scheduled for release on July 20, 2012.