When you list the best live-action renditions of the superhero Batman, you probably would start with either Christian Bale or Michael Keaton. From there, names like Adam West, Ben Affleck, and even Val Kilmer can be named. But you are likely going to keep George Clooney down at the bottom. Clooney knows this. And he’s come to terms with it.
In a new interview with THR, the actor opened up about his time in the Batman franchise, dating back to 1997’s “Batman & Robin,” which is regarded as the very worst film in the entire run of Dark Knight films. And while he knows he wasn’t particularly good in the role, he just doesn’t understand why he got all the negative heat from the film and not his much bigger co-star.
“[Arnold] Schwarzenegger was paid, I think, $25 million for that, which was like 20 times more than I was paid for it, and, you know, we never even worked together! We worked together one day. But I took all the heat,” Clooney said.
He added, “Now, fair deal; I was playing Batman and I wasn’t good in it, and it wasn’t a good film, but what I learned from that failure was, I had to rethink how I was working. Because now I wasn’t just an actor getting a role, I was being held responsible for the film itself.”
Clearly, Clooney has learned from his mistake and has stayed away from superhero roles in the two decades since his 1997 film. He’s also turned into a bit of anti-Batman evangelist. No, not that he’s against the superhero. Instead, he just wants to warn other actors, like Ben Affleck, about the dangers of playing such an iconic character.
“I actually did talk to [Affleck] about it,” said Clooney. I said, ‘Don’t do it.’”
He added, “He did great, though.”
READ MORE: No More Batfleck: Ben Affleck Literally Says, “I’m Not Batman.”
You can’t help but wonder if Affleck looks back at that conversation and wishes he heeded Clooney’s advice. After debuting in “Batman v. Superman,” the most recent live-action film Batman showed up in the terrible “Justice League.” And now, just a few years after making his debut, Affleck has hung up the boots and cowl.
Perhaps, Clooney can get on the phone with the next actor that is signed to take the role in Matt Reeves’ upcoming film?