TIME movies

From Batman to Birdman: What Happened to Your Favorite Superhero Actors?

Michael Keaton plays a man plagued by his former superhero character in Birdman

In the new film Birdman, out Oct. 17, Michael Keaton plays an actor trying to relaunch his career after playing a superhero. Keaton, of course, is best known for playing Batman in the late ’80s and early ’90s — it’s all very meta.

Redefining oneself after playing such an iconic character is no easy feat. Here’s what happened to some of your favorite superhero actors after they hung up their capes.

BATMAN, Michael Keaton, 1989 Lynda Carter, US actress, in costume in a publicity still issue for the US television series, 'Wonder Woman', circa 1977. The televsiion series, based on the DC Comics character, starred Carter as 'Wonder Woman'. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images) BLADE, Wesley Snipes, 1998 Reeve BATMAN AND ROBIN, Arnold Schwarzenegger, 1997 DAREDEVIL, Ben Affleck, 2003, TM & Copyright (c) Film Corp. All rights reserved. FLASH GORDON, Sam J. Jones, 1980, (c) Universal BATMAN & ROBIN, Alicia Silverstone, 1997. ©Warner Bros. LOS ANGELES - MARCH 1:THE INCREDIBLE HULK cast member Lou Ferrigno as the 'Hulk'. The television program originally aired on CBS from March 1978 to June 1982. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lou Ferrigno Adam West, US actor, in costume in a studio portrait, against a yellow background, issued as publicity for the television series, 'Batman', USA, circa 1966. The television series featuring DC Comics characters, starred West as 'Bruce Wayne' and his alter ego, 'Batman'. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images) SPIDER-MAN, Tobey Maguire, 2002, (c) Columbia Pictures BATMAN AND ROBIN, George Clooney, 1997. THE INCREDIBLE HULK, 2008. ©Universal BATMAN RETURNS, Michelle Pfeiffer, 1992. ©Warner Bros.

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