MOVIE NEWS – Making a joke of a James Bond who sold Nesquik on TV made him the Batman of an entire generation. The story of how Adam West signed on to the legendary series.
The speculation around who will be the new Batman in James Gunn’s DCU continues to stir excitement among fans, especially following the cinematic reboot of Superman. Over the decades, no actor who has donned the cape and cowl has been spared from debates, but it’s unclear if Adam West faced similar scrutiny when he joined the 1966 Batman TV series. What is certain, though, is that West got his iconic role after starring in a commercial for Nestlé.
Listen to Agent Q
Like many actors of his era, Adam West struggled to make a steady living. Although he landed various roles in films and television, he often relied on commercials to pay the bills. One such gig saw him advertising Nestlé Quick (later rebranded as Nesquik) while portraying a James Bond parody named Agent Q. The ad was quirky, yet it left a lasting impression.
As Dennis McLellan recounted in his obituary for Adam West in 2017, William Dozier, a producer for 20th Century Fox, saw the ad and knew West was born to fight crime in Gotham. His life changed overnight, and the series’ immediate success cemented his newfound fame: “That night, I stopped at a store on my way home. I thought, ‘Tonight, I just want to be alone. I’ll grab a few things, go home, and watch the show’s debut.’ But as I walked through the store, I heard people saying, ‘Hurry up, Batman’s starting soon!’ That’s when I thought to myself, ‘So long, anonymity.’”
Years later, West would reflect on his time as Batman with mixed emotions, as the role typecast him despite his work in numerous other projects. Among his most notable later roles was that of the Mayor in Family Guy, a character he voiced for 118 episodes, based on his own personality.
The Batman television series ran for three seasons between 1966 and 1968, leaving an indelible mark on pop culture. Its origins are as intriguing as the show itself, but that’s a story for another day.
Source: 3djuegos
