George Clooney Warned Ben Affleck Against Playing Batman
There have been many famous Batmen over the years. Some more famous than others and some considered better for the job than others. Of course there are contemporaries, like Christian Bale and Ben Affleck, but there were also OG Batmen like Lewis Wilson and Adam West. In the 90s, a rising George Clooney played Batman in Batman & Robin during a high-point in his career and it led to him becoming known as the worst one ever. That is, until Ben Affleck took the heat off of him as he became loathed for his role in the most recent Justice League and Batman V. Superman movies. But the ultimate gag is: George told Ben not to do it. Should have listened, but I mean–a paycheck is a paycheck.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that Ben Affleck really just should have listened. George spoke with The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast and talked all about his career. In discussing his lengthy time acting in dramas and actions and everything else you can think of, he brought up good ol’ Batman & Robin the critically-assaulted film dreaded by most heterosexuals. George reveals that this movie was a learning experience for him (the Batsuit had nipples–of course it was educational), being in the movie helped shape George’s whole approach to the industry:
“[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… 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.”
So almost two decades later when Ben was being asked to play Batman, he talked to his friend George about it who he’d met on the set of Argo. And George told him straight up: “Sis, don’t do it.”
“I actually did talk to him about it. I said, ‘Don’t do it.’… It was only from my experience, which is, you know…”
But George seems to disagree with the rest of the world on Ben’s performance saying: “He did great, though.” Which makes me think he didn’t see it, or maybe he just loves when his friend Ben talks all low and broody. Ben will of course no longer be playing Batman, so I guess he should have listened to his friend George.
Okay so lets stop with all this Batman & Robin slander, it’s the Batman movie for 90s-gays which everyone needs in their life. It’s a contribution to the culture. It’s the Showgirls of superhero films. AKA: High Arte. So jot that down. Cher Horowitz as Batgirl? Uma Thurman playing Poison Ivy like she’s a plant-themed burlesque dancer instead of a scientist? Chris O’Donnell as Robin with matching nipples on his suit? Those nipples are art! Literally, it’s based on Greek art! Listen, if you aren’t comfortable with Batman and Robin having nipples on their suits? You’re a coward.
Pic: Wenn.com