Matt Smith’s Cut ‘Batman’ Homage in ‘Morbius’ Is the Movie Trivia We Never Knew We Needed

Few superhero films have earned a reputation quite as strange as ‘Morbius,’ the Sony vampire effort that somehow became more famous for its internet meme life than its actual box office run. The film starred Jared Leto in the lead role alongside Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, and Jared Harris, and was directed by Daniel Espinosa. Years after its release, the conversation around what the movie could have been is very much still alive, and Smith is apparently right there with the fans in lamenting what was left on the cutting room floor.

Smith has long been associated with morally complex characters, having played not only the fan-favorite Daemon Targaryen in ‘House of the Dragon’ but also Patrick Bateman in a stage musical adaptation of ‘American Psycho.’ It was a discussion about that very theme, the pull actors feel toward characters who test an audience’s sympathy, that led to the ‘Morbius’ revelation that has everyone talking.

During a recent conversation on the ‘Happy Sad Confused’ podcast with host Josh Horowitz, Smith disclosed that he actually improvised and delivered Jack Nicholson’s iconic Joker line from Tim Burton’s 1989 ‘Batman’ film while on the ‘Morbius’ set, fully intending it to stay in the picture. The line in question was the haunting “Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight?” and Smith explained he thought it would land as a fun, cheeky tribute to classic comic book cinema.

The actor’s reaction to finding out it was removed is equal parts funny and genuinely aggrieved. “I got that line in ‘Morbius,’ by the way, and they f—king cut it out! I improvised that line. I was like, ‘Come on, let’s nick that from Big Jack.’ And they cut the f—ker out. Can you believe it?” Smith told Horowitz. Horowitz then quipped that the missing line was the film’s real problem, to which Smith responded with a laugh, saying, “That was! That would have just changed the whole damn thing, wouldn’t it? Jesus Christ.”

The film was a critical and commercial disappointment, earning $167.5 million worldwide against a budget of $75 to 83 million, and was panned for its writing, visual effects, and post-credits scenes. It also became a rare case where a movie’s meme popularity actually sent it back to theaters, which only reinforced how strange its cultural footprint truly is.

The interview also touched on one of the few scenes in ‘Morbius’ that audiences and critics genuinely responded to, the moment where Smith’s villainous Milo dances shirtless in front of a mirror. Smith clarified that the unusual scene was not part of the original production plan but rather came together during additional filming months after the main shoot wrapped. It now stands as perhaps the most beloved piece of an otherwise reviled film, which says a lot about what Smith brought to the role even when the material around him was not cooperating.

The ‘Morbius’ experiment may be long behind everyone involved, but stories like this one have a way of keeping cult-level curiosity burning. If you were a fan of Smith’s Milo, or if you are convinced a perfectly placed Nicholson quote could have genuinely turned the tide for this movie, share your thoughts in the comments below.