The Batman Universe Podcast

Interview with Carl Newman, Batman ’89 Movement Double

2023-02-22

In this episode of The Batman Universe Podcast, Carl Newman, Michael Keaton’s movement double from Batman (1989), joins co-host Scott Waldyn for an epic interview! The two talk about Carl’s role in the film and the iconic, character-defining actions and movements that helped make Batman the landmark film it has since become. For those not in the know, Carl was brought onto the project to add elegance and grace to Batman’s movements on screen. The athleticism and professional ballet background Carl Newman brought as a movement double gave Batman fluidity in many pivotal scenes, including Batman’s quick turn with the cape, leaping to action in the Batmobi...

For those not in the know, Carl was brought onto the project to add elegance and grace to Batman’s movements on screen. The athleticism and professional ballet background Carl Newman brought as a movement double gave Batman fluidity in many pivotal scenes, including Batman’s quick turn with the cape, leaping to action in the Batmobile, descending on criminals in the film’s opener, a final showdown with The Joker, and more!

Tune in as Carl divulges memories from production, sharing behind-the-scenes details about fan-favorite moments and explaining how some of Batman’s iconic moments were made. Scott and Carl have a fun, lengthy discussion about Batman’s enduring legacy, as well as what it was like at Pinewood Studios during filming and how Carl earned the moniker “Ballet Bat.” If you’re a fan of Batman and are curious about what it’s like during production, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

After listening to the episode, check out Carl’s other interviews on BatForce Radio and Superhero Stuff You Should Know. Each one provides different insights into what it was like being Batman’s movement double. Then, connect with Carl Newman on Instagram at balletbat1989 and balletbat_collective1989.

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