The Flash will bring back Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck to play their respective versions of Batman in what promises to be an exhilarating adventure through the DC multiverse. So far, they seem to be the only previous Bruce Wayne actors returning for Barry Allen's solo adventure, but just for some extra confirmation, we know of one who'll definitely be absent from the movie: George Clooney.
Clooney played Batman in the now-infamous Batman & Robin back in 1997, which was panned critically and became a pariah in the comic-book movie genre. Clooney hasn't been shy about criticizing Batman & Robin, and has found quite a few opportunities to poke fun at both the movie and his performance. Now, he's done it again, this time while reiterating that he will not be in The Flash.
During a screening event for the Clooney-directed film The Tender Bar (which, ironically enough, stars Ben Affleck), the actor told Variety he won't be in the movie because they haven't asked him:
“They didn’t ask me. When you destroy a franchise the way I did, usually they look the other way when The Flash comes by.”
It's worth noting that, back in 2020, the actor also told Empire (via Comicbook.com) that he had not been asked to return for the film. The playful Batman & Robin bashing didn't stop there, though. Clooney's wife, Amal Clooney, stated that the actor didn't allow her to watch the movie, to which he replied:
"There are certain films I just go, ‘I want my wife to have some respect for me.’"
Could this be an elaborate ploy to distract us from the fact that he will, in fact, be in The Flash? Anything is possible, but we highly doubt it!
As maligned as Batman & Robin is, it could be argued that it has its redeeming qualities. For starters, there is the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Alfred. The film developed a heartwarming dynamic between the two that made us believe they had been friends for decades — even though the film marked the third actor who had played Bruce Wayne opposite Michael Gough's Alfred by that point.
Secondly, there's its vibrancy. Most people think of darkness when they see the Caped Crusader, but there is also a whimsical touch in his world that we've rarely seen in live-action, and has instead been explored in shows like Batman: The Brave and the Bold and, to some extent, in DC Superhero Girls. Unlike most other Batman-centric films, Batman & Robin is colorful and playful, which makes for a fun watch. The movie may not be the epitome of comic-book-movie quality, but one could argue it's an enjoyable adventure worth revisiting every now and again when in need of a different kind of Batman fix.
For now, the Dark Knight has a bright future. He will next star in his own film, The Batman, before returning to the big screen that same year, played by both Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck, in The Flash, which releases on November 4, 2022.