20 Things You Didn't Know About Batman Returns

20. Rowan Atkinson Was Considered To Play Penguin

Dustin Hoffman was actually the first choice to play the Penguin, but he passed and he wasn't the only big name to be considered. Marlon Brando, John Candy, Bob Hoskins, Ralph Waite, Dean Martin, Dudley Moore, Alan Rickman, John Goodman, Phil Collins, Charles Grodin, Christopher Lee, Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Rocco and Christopher Lloyd were all up for the role before DeVito was cast.

The press could have been made to look very silly if Burton had gone with another of his apparent preferences for the part of the Penguin though.

It is understood that Rowan Atkinson was also considered for the role - believe it or not.

Given how definitive DeVito was as Cobblepot, however, it would seem that the director made the right choice, and it’s somehow difficult to envisage Mr. Bean capturing the same repulsive sense of horror that the American managed to pull off.