While superhero movies are a dime a dozen nowadays, there were times when seeing a comic book character on screen was a rare treat. That was certainly the case at the time of Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher's Batman franchise, which seemed to decline in quality with each new installment. The final Batman to take on the cowl in the franchise was none other than George Clooney, who has been open about how bad the Bat-nipple filled blockbuster really was. But it turns out that Batman & Robin actually helped to revitalize the actor's trajectory. Because while the blockbuster was a critical failure, it inspired Clooney to take more ownership over his projects. When asked which movie had the biggest lasting affect on his career, Clooney recently said:
It's really easy to pick: Batman & Robin. That's not a joke. Up until that moment, I was an actor only concerned with finding work. After the failure of that film creatively, I understood that I needed to take control of the films I made, not just the role. My next three films were Out of Sight, Three Kings and O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Up until Batman & Robin, it seems that George Clooney was just happy to be a working actor. The idea of saying no to a job or putting your foot down on set were foreign to him, and it's only through the cringeworthy experience with Joel Schumacher's final Batman flick that Clooney got the hutzpah to step up and forge his own professional path.
George Clooney's comments to THR make a great deal of sense, especially when you consider the actor's next three roles. His next projects put him with acclaimed directors like The Coen Brothers, Steven Soderbergh, and David O. Russell. Clooney has been working regularly in both TV and film at the time he booked Batman & Robin, but his career really took off thanks to the fire the superhero flick lit under his ass.
Batman & Robin hit theaters back in 1997, as the fourth and final movie in the first live-action Batman franchise. While Tim Burton originally created a creepy and dark world, the final two films were decidedly more kid friendly. This no doubt helped sell plenty of merchandise, but actors like George Clooney, Uma Thurman, and Arnold Schwarzengger were left performing a cartoonish script with little substance.
While George Clooney may have been an awkward Batman complete with anatomically correct nipples, he's certainly gotten the last laugh in life. Clooney has two Oscars, three Golden Globes, a happy marriage, and two new baby twins. Batman's got it all together, even if he couldn't move his neck in that cowl.
George Clooney doesn't currently have any movies on the docket, so we'll just have to wait and see what's next for the actor. Meanwhile, you can go and check out Batman and Robin, and compare it to the current DCEU version of the hero. Be sure to check our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
