“Not enough drugs in the world”: when George Clooney did what he swore to never do
Sometimes we make decisions we once swore we’d never make. It could be Andrew Garfield’s reprisal of Spider-Man after years away from the comic book franchise, or the surprise return of Jamie Lee Curtis to the Halloween series. The pull of a good story can be enough to make actors return to familiar territory that they once thought they were finished with, with the likes of Harrison Ford and Hugh Jackman reprising beloved roles that became the catalyst for worldwide fame.
But for others, the chance to go back in time is something to be avoided at all costs, with Charlize Theron having famously disturbing experiences while filming Mad Max and being in no rush to return for the recent instalment with Anya Taylor-Joy, with the latest production sounding to be equally tumultuous and borderline traumatic. The same can be said for Kate Winslet, who reached stardom through her work with James Cameron but described her reluctance to ever work with him again, largely as a result of his short temper and intense working style.
However, sometimes the most damning sweeping statements can be reversed, with George Clooney once denouncing the possibility that he might ever return to an iconic role and later going against his word, despite having strong feelings about doing so.
To be a part of a colossal flop is somewhat of a rite of passage experience in Hollywood, with many great actors going through the heart-breaking process of starring in something that is torn to shreds by fans and critics. Margot Robbie seems to have a strong eye for flops after starring in many of them herself, picking out a recent string of projects that only get progressively worse. The same can be said for Jenna Ortega and Tom Holland, who either need to fire their agents or get better at picking scripts.
However, Clooney experienced this in a unique way after playing one of the biggest superheroes of all time in a universally hated film, starring in Joel Schumacher’s 1997 film Batman and Robin as Batman himself.
Alongside Uma Thurman, Chris O’Donnell and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Clooney took part in one of the most heinous displays of filmmaking from the ‘90’s, with his portrayal of Batman being ripped apart not due to his performance, but the general tone and narrative of the film. When asked if he would ever return to this character, Clooney replied, “Not enough drugs in the world”.
Maybe he’s a sadist or has a unique thirst for chaos, but the actor did indeed reprise this role in The Flash, with a brief cameo appearance as Bruce Wayne in the controversial 2023 film. Sadly, it was nearly as widely hated as his first foray into comic book filmmaking, largely due to the appearance of Ezra Miller and the strange legacy around the film’s production. While we might sometimes feel firm in our feelings on something, we can occasionally surprise ourselves in our ability to change our minds, something that is no doubt swayed by a fat cheque.
