Just to shed a little light on the subject -- Tom Mankewicz was the one who wasn't happy with the script, not the execs.

The execs hired him to do Batman because of the success of Superman. They were expecting (and pushing for) a similarly "light" version of Batman.

Tom stated to the execs that a Batman script would need to be dark. He pointed out that this guy is running around in a bat costume at night. They were never going to be able to do a "light" Batman as a feature. It would be too campy and run into many problems of believability that the 60s TV show had.

When Tim Burton became associated with the project, he had a much darker view. Tom thought he was a perfect match for the franchise and had no regrets stepping aside when Burton brought on his own writers.

As for my source for this information -- I'm simply relaying what Tom told me. Maybe it's just a great story, but those are the words from the horse's mouth (so to speak). And that version of execs trying to repeat a previous success seems the most believable.

He also confirmed the Rosebud myth :p.

P.S. I'd also argue that Alan Moore's Watchmen and Frank Miller's DARK KNIGHT helped pave the way for Burton's darker Batman.

James, Mank told me the same. I miss Tom. A great guy.

@James: Thanks for that insight. One of my colleagues here at UNC Dana Coen (he wrote on the TV series "JAG" for 8 years) got to know Tom M and told me what you and DSC have said: That he was a terrific guy. And per the story you've relayed, it's totally believable. Of course studio execs would want to replicate the tone of Superman because in their mind that is replicating the success of Superman. But a writer, like Tom, would understand the nature of the story better than the execs would, he would know that Batman is existentially a darker character than Superman.

Thanks again for that backstory, James.