1997's Batman and Robin remains one of the most widely ridiculed comic book movies ever made. Unlike Morbius and 2015's Fantastic Four reboot, for example, it's not even hated; instead, it's a subject of ridicule and a widely used example of how superheroes shouldn't be portrayed on screen.
George Clooney has never shied away from poking fun at the project or his time as the Dark Knight, making it all the more surprising when he returned as Bruce Wayne in The Flash this past summer.
Before DC Studios was formed, the plan had been for that movie to end with Michael Keaton's Batman and Sasha Calle's Supergirl left stranded in the DCEU (Henry Cavill was later added in reshoots). Ben Affleck's Caped Crusader, meanwhile, was going to be lost in the Multiverse to set up Crisis on Infinite Earths.
James Gunn is thought to have convinced Clooney to return for a cameo which inadvertently confused a lot of fans due to his earlier comments about The Flash being a "reset" for the franchise. As a result, the filmmaker has since had to confirm the Batman and Robin star won't be The Brave and the Bold's Batman.
The Hollywood Reporter recently caught up with Clooney on the red carpet of his new movie The Boys in the Boat and asked if his cameo was a one-off or if the door is open to him playing Batman again. "Oh yeah. Somehow there were not a lot of requests for me to reprise my role as Batman," he said, "I don’t know why."
It likely hasn't escaped Clooney's attention that his appearance in The Flash wasn't particularly well-received, so we have to believe that was it for his time as Batman on screen.
Later appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to discuss his latest directorial venture, Clooney recounted a humorous exchange with his six-year-old son about the time he spent playing the World's Greatest Detective.
"My son’s in love with Batman. Right? He’s in love with Batman. That’s all he talks about is Batman. And I’m like, ‘You know I was Batman?’ And he’s like [smiles], ‘Yeah, not anymore.’ He has no idea how right he is."
Clooney went on to joke, "How do you tell your six-year-old son Batman had nipples?"
Batman and Robin was directed by Joel Schumacher and also starred Chris O'Donnell as Robin, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze, Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy, and Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl. Criticised for its over-the-top style, pun-filled dialogue, and lacklustre plot, the movie is often considered a low point in the franchise and put it on the shelf until 2005's Batman Begins.