In order to secure Tim Burton to direct “Batman Returns,” the sequel to his hugely successful film “Batman,” Warner Bros. had to meet his demand of changing the entire screenplay.

Screenwriter Sam Hamm, who co-wrote “Batman,” had developed a screenplay simply titled “Batman 2” that carried on from the events of the first film.

Hamm's script ended with Bruce Wayne’s marriage proposal to Vicki, and Dick Grayson joining Wayne at Wayne Manor in preparation for becoming Batman's youthful sidekick Robin.

However, Burton got Warner Bros. to bring in screenwriter Daniel Waters, whose work on “Heathers” he admired, and Waters completely rewrote the script with a Burtonesque vision.

Waters scrapped Vicki Vale but kept Penguin and Catwoman as the chief baddies; unfortunately, Robin was cut later due to the escalating budget.

Waters also turned Penguin into an animalistic, pitiable creature and developed a psychosexual side for Catwoman, transforming her into a fierce character who owns her sexuality.

Although Waters produced a screenplay more in line with Burton's thinking, he left the project after falling out with the director over the script, which led to a third writer.

Writer Wesley Strick came in to tidy up dialogue and devise a masterplan for Penguin, a scheme to murder the firstborn sons of Gotham in revenge for his own abandonment as a baby.

Today, “Batman Returns” looks remarkable, standing out as something unique in the genre: a truly auteur-led superhero movie with Burton’s peculiar fingerprints all over it.