The summer of 1992 saw the release of one of the most anticipated sequels of all-time: "Batman Returns." The follow-up to Tim Burton's blockbuster 1989 hit "Batman," the superhero sequel upped the ante in a big way, but not in the way most people expected.

A bigger budget, more villains (Catwoman, the Penguin, and Max Shreck), and unprecedented creative control for Burton resulted in one of the most unusual studio tentpoles ever made. By the gritty and realistic standards of Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" films, "Batman Returns" is an especially weird movie, one full of oddball characters, incredibly imaginative settings, and a dark and twisted sense of humour that would never fly in a modern blockbuster. Here are a few of the weirdest things about "Batman Returns":

Robin was cut at the last minute

Warner Bros. desperately wanted Batman’s comic book sidekick Robin to appear in the sequel, but Tim Burton wasn't very keen on the idea. As per the studio's request, early versions of the “Batman Returns” script included a minor part for the Boy Wonder, and Burton even cast an actor – Marlon Wayans – to play the role. Not the obvious choice.

However, just before production got under way it was decided that “Batman Returns” just had too many characters, and the easiest one to cut would be Robin. “I was cast, I was paid and everything. I still get residual checks,” Wayans told io9 in 2009. “Tim Burton didn't wind up doing three, Joel Schumacher did it, and he had a different vision for who Robin was. So he hired Chris O'Donnell.”

Pee-wee Herman played the Penguin’s dad





In addition to bringing Tim Burton and star Michael Keaton together for the third time, “Batman Returns” also reunited the director with his “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” star Paul Reubens. Reubens played Tucker Cobblepot, the millionaire father of Oswald Cobblepot, also known as the Penguin.

It was one of the actor’s first big roles after his 1991 arrest for indecent exposure. Tucker Cobblepot was originally intended for “Rocky” star Burgess Meredith, who played the Penguin in the 1960s “Batman” TV series, but he had to drop out for health reasons.

Max Shreck isn’t even in the 'Batman' comics



There are plenty of comic book villains we’d love to have seen Christopher Walken play (he’d have made a heck of a Joker or Riddler in his younger years), but the Batman baddie he ended up playing on-screen wasn’t even from the comics. Max Shreck, the ruthless department store mogul who allies with the Penguin, was created for “Batman Returns” and has not appeared in any other Batman stories since.

Shreck started in the script as District Attorney Harvey Dent (with the explosion at the end of the film causing the injuries that turn him into Two-Face), but the role was changed due to the presence of two other big villains in the movie. The character’s name is a reference to silent movie actor Max Schreck, famous for playing the vampire Nosferatu.

It’s a Christmas movie!

When one thinks of Christmas movies, films like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “A Christmas Story,” and “Die Hard” usually come to mind – not “Batman Returns.” But despite its summertime release date, “Batman Returns” is totally a Christmas movie. Almost every scene in the film features snow, Christmas decorations, or references to the holidays.

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