Batman in film & Robin". The commercials also featured the Danny Elfman Batman theme from Tim Burton's two films. Actor Bruce Thomas portrayed Batman in these ads, while Michael Gough reprised his role of Alfred Pennyworth in one of the ads. "Baywatch" actress Brooke Burns played Vicki Vale in an ad as well. Actor Brian Stepanek played the Riddler in one ad and Curtis Armstrong played the Joker in another. Following a rejected "Batman" origin story reboot Joss Whedon pitched in December 2002, Warner Bros. hired Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer to script "Batman Begins". The duo aimed for a darker and
Batman: The Animated Series of the greatest animated television shows of all time (again after "The Simpsons"). TV Guide ranked "Batman: The Animated Series" the seventh Greatest Cartoon of All Time (out of 60). Due to the success of "Batman: The Animated Series", many crew members went on to design and produce "" for The WB Network. During this time they created "The New Batman Adventures", which featured the same streamlined animation style as "Superman: The Animated Series", as well as numerous character re-designs from the original series despite taking place in the same continuity. In 1999, a futuristic spin-off series titled "Batman Beyond"