The Dark Knight aka Batman is arguably DC’s most marketable superhero. Which other superhero has their own designated day of the year? Also think about the fact that even Alfred is getting his own television show before many other worthy superheroes. So playing the worlds greatest detective should be a highly sought after role right? Well without a doubt it has gone well for some actors like Adam West, Michael Keaton, and Christian Bale.

One of the actors who unfortunately did not fare well as the Dark Knight was George Clooney. He starred in the 1997 Batman film Batman & Robin directed by Joel Shumacher, which is often used by many as a drinking game where you take a drink every time there is an ice pun. This experience seems to have really left a mark on Clooney as it changed his approach on the way the film industry works. This is something that he revealed to The Hollywood Reporter in The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast.

“[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. “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.”

There is no doubt that Batman and Robin is a terrible film. So of course this would have left a sour taste with Clooney, which would of course lead him to advise friends against taking the role of Bruce Wayne. Why would anyone want to put the pressure of a rabid fandom that was going to be dissecting every one of your scenes and hold you accountable for the success of the film?

Clooney later had the opportunity to work with the latest Bruce Wayne, Ben Affleck when he was the producer on Argo. The relationship between the two gave Clooney the chance to give Affleck some advice before his decision to play the Dark Knight in Warner Bros. Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice. “I actually did talk to him about it. I said, ‘Don’t do it.’” Clooney remembered. “It was only from my experience, which is, you know…”

As history shows Affleck did go in to play Bruce Wayne in the Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League and he had a brief cameo in Suicide Squad. Although I don’t think that Affleck is to blame about the failures of each film, he will be forever attached to them. Good luck to the next brave actor who steps up and puts on that iconic cowl.

How do you feel about the pressures of portraying Batman? Let us know in the comment section below!

ALSO SEE: PETER JACKSON TURNED DOWN AQUAMAN TWICE

Don’t forget to share this post on your Facebook and Twitter using the buttons at the top! Or you can react to the post down below!

Source: The Hollywood Reporter