George Clooney's Batman & Robin costume, which infamously included molded latex nipples, is about to be auctioned off.
Heritage Auctions is currently accepting bids for the screen-worn outfit, with the highest bid to date sitting at $40,000 (which amounts to $50,000 once the buyer's premium is factored in). According to the lot description, the successful bidder will receive the Dark Knight's cowl, cape (with two cape clips), bat-symbol emblazoned muscle tunic, muscle tights, finned gauntlet gloves and knee-high boots, as well as a realistic mannequin modeled on Clooney himself. The description also confirms that while the cape and cowl were both worn by Clooney and bear his initials, the rest of the costume was made for a stunt performer who stood in for the Oscar-winning actor as required.
Costume designer Jose Fernandez recently opened up about the dynamic duo's controversial costumes in Batman & Robin, insisting that they weren't intended to be kinky. "It wasn’t fetish to me, it was more informed by Roman armor -- like Centurions," said Fernandez. "And, in the comic books, the characters always looked like they were naked with spray paint on them -- it was all about anatomy, and I like to push anatomy." Fernandez added that while the nipples he added to Val Kilmer's Bat-suit in Batman Forever were relatively understated, director Joel Schumacher pushed to make them more prominent when Clooney took over the role.
Tim Burton, who helmed Batman and Batman Returns before handing the franchise to Schumacher, also addressed Clooney's Bat-suit recently, and he didn't mince his words. Burton equated the Caped Crusader's redesigned crimefighting attire with Warner Bros.' decision to take the series in a goofier direction, convincing him to step down as director. "I was like, 'Wait a minute. Okay. Hold on a second here. You complain about me, I'm too weird, I'm too dark, and then you put nipples on the costume? Go fuck yourself.' Seriously. So yeah, I think that's why I didn't end up [doing a third film]," he said.
Clooney himself has disowned Batman & Robin many times in the 25 years since it first hit theaters. He's even joked about not letting his wife watch the film, and admitted that he's not looking forward to the day his children ask to see it. Clooney's co-star Alicia Silverstone apparently possesses less animosity towards the much-maligned blockbuster, however, as she recently confirmed she'd be willing to reprise the Batgirl role if invited to.
Source: Heritage Auctions