David Bridges
Quick Summary
- George Clooney: The actor discusses his role in Batman & Robin and his reflections on it.
- Memories: Clooney humorously claims to be the best Batman, despite past criticisms.
- Shooting Experience: He describes the discomfort of the Batman suit during filming.
- Legacy: Clooney acknowledges the film’s impact on the franchise, jokingly expressing regret.
George Clooney is making the rounds for his latest film, Netflix’s Jay Kelly, which casts the rich, successful, good-looking, award-winning movie star as… a rich, successful, good-looking, award-winning movie star. But while the fictional character Clooney plays has quite a bit of melancholy and regret lurking beneath his glittery facade, the real guy is seemingly having the time of his life holding a mirror up to his career. Case in point: his extremely jovial recollections about Batman & Robin in a new Variety video interview.
It’s a movie Clooney has spoken about sheepishly in the past; in 2020, he admitted to Howard Stern, “I’m terrible in it.” In 2021, he said he wasn’t at all surprised he wasn’t invited to be part of the cavalcade of Batmen in The Flash movie because his movie helped “destroy the franchise.” However, it seems like he’s having a blast poking fun at Batman & Robin in this new chat, specifically when it comes to the movie’s most infamous and enduring contribution to pop culture: the Bat-nipples!
“I was the best Batman, and you know it, and I know it,” he jokes to the camera. “And I don’t want to hear any more shit. All those other guys…”
Continuing the bit, he adds, “You know, Batman has nipples, dude. He has nipples. How do you think he feeds the children? The little bats? So I don’t want to hear any more bullshit. I was the best Batman, you know.”
Shifting to a slightly more serious tone, Clooney recalls that “It was not the most fun shoot because of the suit. It was a very painful suit, and you couldn’t move. I would be laying on a board, and Joel Schumacher would direct you with a microphone with a giant speaker. And he would go, ‘Okay, George, and here we go, and ready, and… your parents are dead. You have nothing to live for. And… action!”
“And they would just prop me up and I go, ‘I’m Batman.’ And they go, ‘Aaaand cut!’ And they drop me back down, and they carry me out on a board. And that was my experiences,” he chuckles. “I should have realized it was not gonna be a hit right about then.”
He adds ruefully—while clearly still joking—”I’m ashamed.” You can watch the full Variety video here.
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Daniel Mercer
