Following the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, DC fans have been on a warpath demanding that Warner Bros. release the original cuts of past DC movies. Alongside David Ayer’s version of Suicide Squad, Joel Schumacher’s original cut of Batman Forever was another centerpiece of the campaign. Fans nearly got their way, as the original cut was set to screen at the end of May. But, like Bane breaking Batman’s body, Warner Bros. had broken fans’ spirits by canceling the screening. A screening of Batman Forever: The Schumacher Cut was set to take place at Cinefile Video in L.A. on May 29, organized by the YouTube channel 1995 Batman. However, the channel recently published an update saying that the screening had been canceled by Warner Bros. “Some unfortunate news came today as the Schumacher cut screening in L.A. was canceled,” the update began. “The local theatre, cinefile video, received a cease and desist from Warner Bros after circulation of the screening made national headlines.”

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According to the post, Cinefile Video wouldn’t have made any money from the screening, but the public attention on the event caused Warner Bros. to step in regardless. “The management did the best they could but they had no way to fight it and had to cancel the screening,” it continued. “The theatre weren’t making money off showing the workprint but it’s clear that Warner saw things a bit different. I’m gutted. Thankfully the event was still 5 days out. (An 11th hour cancellation would be a lot worse).”
‘Batman Forever: The Schumacher Cut,’ Explained

Warner Bros.

Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever was released in 1995. The film starred Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne/Batman, with Chris O’Donnell as Robin, Tommy Lee Jones as Harvey Dent/Two Face, and Jim Carrey as Riddler. Despite now being considered a cult classic, the film opened to poor reviews from critics. Although it was still a box office success, earning $336.57 million worldwide and becoming the sixth highest-grossing film of 1995. The Schumacher Cut has been a rumor since the film’s release. However, the passing of Joel Schumacher in 2020 reignited the rumor, which was then confirmed by Batman Forever’s screenwriter, Akiva Goldsman, a year later. The Schumacher Cut would have featured a darker tone than the theatrical version that every fan knows, and some fans love. The version was known as “Preview Cut: One” within Warner Bros. According to Goldsman, the original cut featured an additional 50 minutes of footage. However, none of the new footage has been completed and is still in need of color grading and VFX work. Some lucky fans have seen Batman Forever: The Schumacher Cut. In 2023, Kevin Smith hosted a private screening of the film. Fans were hoping that the new screening this May would lead to a wider release for The Schumacher Cut. It still might, as Warner Bros. clamping down on unofficial releases might be teasing an official release from the studio. However, this has not been confirmed. Source: @1995Batman on YouTube