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Writer/Producer Akiva Goldsman is better equipped than most to comment on the recent Batman rumours revealed on this site - he was the writer on both of the Joel Schumacher versions of the caped crusader's cinematic adventures. Speaking exclusively to Empire Online, Goldsman's initial reaction to the rumours that Keanu is to replace Clooney in the fifth Batman movie was laughter. 'The first time I’ve heard that is right here from you,' he said.’ Asked whether he thought there was any substance in the rumours - Goldsman had plenty to say Click here for his comments. Although it's true to say that many Batman fans feel that Schumacher's movies let the franchise down, Goldsman was keen to defend his scripts. 'There are scenes in Batman Forever which are as true to the version of Batman that I believe in as I think I know how to write, or arguably could be written. They’re psychologically acute, dark character scenes. They actually do exist in Batman and Robin – you just can’t find them.' 'The most interesting Batman ever, in my opinion, on page or script (and I think the inspiration for the movies ultimately) was Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns, which is an aging semi-retired Batman at the end of his career who has been responsible for the death of many Robins and who comes out of retirement because a young girl decides to put on that Robin costume and go and fight crime.' 'Now think how politically incorrect that was and how insane a notion it was to contort the franchise in that way and yet it breathed new life into it for new generations of kids. That’s what you do with Batman. You bend him and twist him and see what happens.’