Warning: Spoilers ahead for Shrinking season 2, episode 4, “Made You Look”!Harrison Ford is still featured in the Apple TV+ comedy drama Shrinkingbut the second season features a joke that also reminds us that the actor almost became Batman. The 82-year-old actor plays veteran therapist Dr. Paul Rhoades, whose old-school methods often conflict with his co-worker and therapist, Jimmy (Jason Segel). Although Ford is one of the most notable members of ShrinkingFrom the cast list, her involvement in the show is noteworthy for another reason.
In addition to Shrinking season 2, Ford currently stars as Jacob Dutton in the yellow stone spin off 1923. Before these two roles, however, Ford had never played a main character on a TV show. Of course, the actor has appeared in several shows like The FBI, Gunsmokeand even The Chronicles of Young Indiana Jonesbut roles were limited to cameos. The actor made a name for himself in major film roles, so it’s not surprising that he was almost cast as one of the most popular superhero characters ever created, a fact even Shrinking he sneered.
Jimmy’s Batman reference in Shrinking season two harks back to Harrison Ford being considered for Tim Burton’s 1989 film
Ford was one of many names considered for the role of Bruce Wayne
In the middle of the way Shrinking “Made You Look” from Season 2, Jimmy discusses Sean’s situation with Paul and suggests they work together. Although they have very different approaches as therapists, helping Sean is their main goal. Jimmy mentions the idea saying they should work together as a “team like Batman and Robin.” He then hilariously adds that Paul could be Batman, saying, “You already look like him,” pointing out Ford’s graying voice that has a distinct Batman tone. Curiously, Ford was considered to play Batman in Tim Burton’s 1989 film.
After Jimmy highlights Paul’s Batman traits, Ford’s character tells his colleague that he “will make him pay“for the comment. Jimmy counters by saying that the answer is something the real Batman would have said, further reiterating that Paul is already ShrinkingThe Dark Knight version. Ford, on the other hand, was one of the many names considered for Burton’s film. Since Warner Bros. wanted a notable name, others considered included Kevin Costner, Tom Selleck, Pierce Brosnan and Mel Gibson.
Why Harrison Ford Wasn’t Cast as Tim Burton’s Batman
Burton reunited with a Beetlejuice star
It’s fun to consider what that era of the Caped Crusader would have been like if someone like Ford had been given the role. By the late ’80s, Ford was already a bonafide A-list action star. In addition to playing Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy, Ford notably led the Indiana Jones franchise with roles in other films such as American Graffiti, Apocalypse Nowand Blade runner. Yet, Michael Keaton ended up being cast as Batmanreuniting the actor with Tim Burton after his work on Beetle juice. The success of the 1988 film gave WB enough hope that the duo could strike gold again with Batman.
Even though Ford was about a decade older than Keaton, there was no reason to think the actor couldn’t pull off the role of a hardened superhero. As remembered in ShrinkingFord already manages to nail the hoarse voice necessary to embody the character. Some of Harrison Ford’s best cinematic performances, such as Han Solo and Indiana Jones, can be considered heroes who do not run away from dangerous situations. He may never have gotten the chance to play Batman, but it’s not hard to imagine what Ford’s version would have been like if he had been cast.