Bidding for this lot will end on Wednesday, March 26th. The auction will begin at 10:30AM PDT and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Thursday, March 27th or Friday, March 28th.

Batman's (Michael Keaton) Batsuit from Tim Burton's Batman Returns. Batman wore his signature Batsuit throughout the film as he battled with the Penguin (Danny DeVito) and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer).

Since the character's introduction in 1939, the Dark Knight's iconic costume has undergone a number of revisions, ranging from a basic bat-patterned bodysuit to more technologically advanced supersuits in recent decades. For his second film in the franchise, director Burton - hesitant to simply "bring a Batsuit out of the Bat-closet," in his words - requested a sharper and sleeker iteration of the more muscular body armor used in his first Batman film.

This iteration of Batman's Batsuit was sculpted with a more industrial armored form than its predecessor by Steve Wang and Jose Fernandez from design illustrations by Academy Award®-nominee Bob Ringwood and Mary E. Vogt. Ringwood and Vogt used such modern technologies as high-tech vacuum cleaners, record players, and toasters, as well as aerodynamic vehicles like trains, for design inspiration, while Burton was said to have modeled his production drawings of the suit on Academy Awards® (for which the film would later receive two nominations). Batman Returns' costume design team was also nominated for a Saturn Award for their work on the film.

This costume consists of an original black foam latex cowl; an original black latex cape with fabric lining; an original foam rubber bodysuit with an original yellow and black cast resin Batman chest emblem affixed to the chest via magnets; and pair of original black leather gloves with bat-like fins. The resin and latex belt, as well as the boots, are replicas added to complete the display. The yellow and black resin chest emblem is attached by magnets to the chest. The cape's latex remains unusually soft and supple, making it one of the finest examples ever to come to market.

Following production, the cowl underwent sympathetic restoration by Tom Spina Designs, and the belt was attached at the back by self-adhesive strips with the front lock permanently stabilized. The Batsuit comes mounted on a custom body form featuring a Michael Keaton lifecast. Due to the foam drying and growing fragile with age, the batsuit exhibits deterioration to the foam at the waist, elbows, and knees, as well as some cracking along the back of the cowl's neck. It additionally exhibits glue on the bottom of the cowl from being affixed to a cape during production, a bent ear tip, frayed fabric fibers, and small tears in the cape. Dimensions: 84" x 27" x 20" (213.5 cm x 68.5 cm x 51 cm)

Special shipping required; see notice in the Buyer's Guide.

Estimate: $125,000 - 250,000