George Clooney avoids talking aboutBatman & Robinwith his son out of embarrassment about hisDCrole. Out of themany live-action Batman actors, George Clooney has been one of the most unpopular, not because of his performance, but mostly because of the movie’s eccentric take on Batman. After all,Batman & Robinstrayed too far from Tim Burton’sBatmanandBatman ReturnsafterBatman Foreverhad already distanced itself from Burton’s unique style. After an eight-year break from live-action Batman movies, DC reinvented the Dark Knight for the big screen with Christopher Nolan’sBatman Begins, splitting Batman’s movie history in two.
In an interview withThe New York Times,George Clooney recalls mentioning his Batman role to his son. When his son refused to believe him, Clooney chose not to press the point, arguing that hisBatman & Robinstarring role isn’t something he’s proud of. According to Clooney, his son would"never have respect"for him if he knew his father once played Batman. Clooney says:
“My son’s favorite hero is Batman. I’m like, ‘You know I was Batman.’ He’s like, ‘Not really.’ I go, ‘You have no idea how right you are.’ If he knew that I was that Batman, he’d never have respect for me.”
What George Clooney’s Batman Comment Means
Joel Schumacher’sBatman ForeverandBatman & Robinhave gained a cult following since their negative reception in the 1990s. However, George Clooney’s performance is among the least complex ofall live-action Batman iterations.Batman and Robinspent too little time building Bruce Wayne and Batman as a character, and instead focused on its lighthearted action and dialog.Batman and Robinis also a sequel to a soft-reboot of Tim Burton’sBatmanmovies, meaning audiences weren’t attached to Clooney’s portrayal by the timeBatman and Robincame out.
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George Clooney has been vocal about his disappointment withBatman and Robin. However, Clooney reprised his DC role twenty-six years after his single solo movie inThe Flash’s ending scene, which suggests Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen accidentally replaced the whole DCEU with a timeline where Clooney is Bruce Wayne. It’s unknown whether Clooney’s Bruce Wayne fromThe Flashis the exact same version as the one who stars inBatman & Robin, though.
Our Take On George Clooney’s Batman Comment
Although George Clooney’s Batman didn’t have enough chances to stand out inBatman & Robin, his portrayal was serviceable at worst.Clooney is an inspired casting choice for the suave heartthrob Bruce Wayne, and his acting chops prove he could play a three-dimensional Batman effortlessly, with the right script. Unfortunately, theBatmanmovie franchise was in dire need of a dramatic overhaul at the time, as demonstrated by Christopher Nolan’s revolutionaryBatman BeginsandThe Dark Knighta decade later. Had Clooney played Batman in another DC movie, he probably would hold the character in higher regard.
