Marlon Wayans Apparently Got Paid To Not Play Robin In Batman Returns

The second installment in the original film series, "Batman Returns" exemplified the potential of combining Tim Burton's unique style of directing with the Dark Knight. Centered once again on Michael Keaton as Batman, the sequel brought several classic DC characters to the big screen. From Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) to the Penguin (Danny DeVito), "Returns" was chock-full of inspired performances that took the essence of the source material and made it their own. However, there was originally a plan to debut another familiar face. At one point, the film actually included Batman's trusty sidekick, Robin, and Burton had cast the role before cutting the character altogether.

Once upon a time, Marlon Wayans was set to make his superhero debut as the Boy Wonder in Burton's "Batman" sequel. After the smash success of the 1989 film, Warner Bros. was apparently insistent on including the character and added Wayans as Robin. Despite going through the casting process, his stint as Robin was short-lived. He was removed from "Batman Returns" during pre-production due to the amount of characters already in the script. However, Wayans' time was not completely wasted: Not only did he actually get paid for the role, but he also is entitled to residuals.

During an interview with Gizmodo in 2009, Wayans revealed the details behind the ill-fated Robin situation:

"I was actually supposed to play Robin, in 'Batman Returns' ... But there was too many characters. I was cast, I was paid and everything. I still get residual checks. Tim Burton didn't wind up doing three, Joel Schumacher did it and he had a different vision for who Robin was. So he hired Chris O'Donnell."

Depending on how you look at it, this may be the best or worst gig ever. Sure, Wayans didn't have to play the role to cash his check, but being in a "Batman" film as Robin presented a very special opportunity. For instance, Wayans would have been one of the first Black superheroes on the big screen. Although a side character, Robin was already a household name alongside Batman thanks to the popularity of the Adam West "Batman" television series from the '60s. The on-screen representation alone would have made it worthwhile, but alas. 

Getting to see Robin alongside Keaton's Batman would have been a treat, especially compared to the tragically flawed "Batman Forever." (We know it's not your fault, Chris O'Donnell, but it is what it is.) And while Wayans' version of Robin was later revisited in a sequel comic aptly titled "Batman 89," written by "Batman" story co-writer Sam Hamm and illustrated by Joe Quinones, the impact "Batman Returns" could have had in introducing Robin remains unrealized despite the retroactive effort.