- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: "BATMAN FOREVER" PREMIERES IN LEICESTER
- Date: 12th July 1995
- Summary: (JULY 12, 1995) LONDON ENGLAND UNITED KINGDOM (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) VAL KILMER (WHO PLAYS BATMAN) SPEAKING ABOUT THE ACTION SEQUENCES IN BATMAN FOREVER
- Embargoed: 27th July 1995 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON AND LEICESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVABR67B6R00PQM5TRKRWFWXD0HH
- Story Text: Batmania has hit England with the European premiere of "Batman Forever" and the appearance of the Batmobile outside that haven of the rich and famous - Harrods.
Unusually, the premiere was held outside London in the Midlands industrial town of Leicester, Warner Brothers using the occasion to promote the opening of a new cinema.
A large crowd turned out to see a special stage show prior to the screening.
"Batman Forever" has already grossed more than 120 million U.S.
dollars since opening in the U.S. three weeks ago.
The third in the "Batman" series, it pits the caped crusader - played for the first time by Val Kilmer - against two new enemies - The Riddler, played by Jim Carrey, and Two Face, played by Tommy Lee Jones.
Two Face holds Batman responsible for a courtroom mishap that triggered his metamorphosis from a District Attorney into a criminal mastermind. He unleashes a crime wave across Gotham City, but his ultimate aim is to exact revenge on Batman.
The Riddler is also bent on revenge. A computer fanatic and former employee of Batman's alter-ego Bruce Wayne, he feels his genius was overlooked by the millionaire.
Together Two Face and Riddler plot to unmask Batman, who is busy falling in love with criminal psychologist Dr Meridian Chase, played by Australian actress Nicole Kidman.
The film, the first Batman movie directed by Joel Schumacher, also stars Drew Barrymore as Sugar, Two Faces' gun-slinging moll.
Schumacher and his team have given Batman a new look, and brought Robin, Wayne's sidekick in the comic book and TV series, into the big screen for the first time. He4's played by English actor Chris O'Donnell.
There were many celebrities at the premiere, including musician Dave Stewart - formerly of The Eurythmics - and actress Patsy Kensit.
After the premiere, both said they were big fans of Batman, and hoped there would be more Batman films.
The European premiere of Batman Forever has been accompanied by a rash of merchandising and publicity stunts. The Batmobile - driven by British Formula One racing driver Damon Hill, brought "Robin" to open the annual Harrods sale in London.
The black machine roared down Knightsbridge to deposit Robin, played by English actor Chris O'Donnell, outside the department store.
Once inside, O'Donnell declared the store's annual sale open.The sale, a London institution, has been opened in the past by a variety Predictably, the film is accompanied by a rash of merchandising. More than 150 products are available, priced as high as 650 U.S dollars. The last "Batman" film, "Batman Returns" starring Michael Keaton, grossed more than 700 million U.S. dollars worldwide. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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