It Pays to Read Your Comics

Thursday, October 2, 2008

From CNN.com:

Billy Dee Williams had the role of Dent in Tim Burton's 1989 film Batman.

Although the role was a fairly minor one in that film, Williams allegedly took the part with the understanding that he would reprise the character in a sequel in which Two-Face would be one of Batman's antagonists.

To this end he had a pay-or-play clause inserted in his contract that basically assured that if the Harvey Dent/Two-Face character appeared in a future Warner Bros. Batman film, Williams would play the role.

If the director chose to cast another actor in the part, the studio would have to cough up a buyout to Williams.