10 Things You Didn’t Know About Tim Burton’s Batman
4. Billy Dee Williams Was Allegedly Paid Not To Reprise His Role
Harvey Dent despite not becoming Two-Face in this film plays a fairly important part in Tim Burtons Batman, as the district attorney of Gotham City. Although Billy Dee Williams eventually nabbed the role, he wasnt the first choice. Warner Bros had previously offered the part to Ray Liotta, who opted to turn it down in favour of making Goodfellas. Upon landing the part, Williams took it very seriously. He put in the legwork, research-wise, and decided to model his version of Harvey Dent on Adam Clayton Powell, a famous pastor and politician who had represented Harlem, New York in the US House Of Representatives from 1963 to 1971. Despite all the effort that Williams had put in, Warner Bros decided to recast the character when it came time for Harvey to become Two-Face in Batman Forever, with Tommy Lee Jones eventually playing the part instead. Internet legend posits that Warners had to pay Williams not to be in the movie (due to a clause in his contract that reserved the Two-Face role for him), although Williams has tried to deny those claims publicly. Some think hes just being polite by refuting it, though.
