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Adam West believed that an athlete with ''buns of steel'' would be better off playing Batman before he accepted the role
A superhero needs some super buns.
Today, playing Batman is the opportunity of a lifetime for many actors. But a few decades ago, playing a superhero on television was looked down upon. To play a superhero was considered a two-bit role, a petty character that any actor worth their salt was warned to stay away from.
Of course, this all began to change in the 1960s, when Adam West took on the role of Batman. Though the series only lasted a few years, it was a hit with its young fan base. But despite his own attachment to the Caped Crusader, West had his own reservations about taking on the Dark Knight.
"As a child, I'd loved the comic books," said West, according to an article with The Herald. "But I felt that Batman would be a dumb move for someone who aspired to a career as a serious actor."
But who would be better for the role than West? Well, in the actor's humble opinion, he felt that someone more athletic with a certain physique would be perfect for the role.
"An athlete would be better suited for the part, someone with buns of steel," said West.
Of course, West accepted the role despite his own misgivings and even embraced the outlandishness of Batman. It was an outrageous tone that the series would soon become known for.
"We were farce," said West. "We were a lampoon. We were the movie serials of the 1930s and 40s done against a fun-house backdrop."
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