George Clooney suggested he may be a better Batman than Ben Affleck.
During a press conference at a Roybal Film & TV Magnet open house, Clooney brought up the topic of Batman himself. "I mean you'd look at me, you'd just think, 'Oh he's just the best Batman,'" Clooney said, causing laughs and applause from the audience. The veteran actor then went on to ask someone who they think the best Batman is, to which they answered Ben Affleck. "Ben Affleck, really? He's got nothing on me!" Clooney joked.
Clooney played Bruce Wayne/Batman in 1997's Batman & Robin, a film that pitted him against Arnold Schwarzenegger's Mr. Freeze. The movie was blasted by fans and critics alike and led to the Caped Crusader being re-imagined by Christopher Nolan a few years later. Ben Affleck played the character in 2016's Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, 2017's Justice League, and Zack Snyder's Justice League, the director's original vision for the movie which was released in 2021.
The many versions of the character delivered to fans over the years have led to a constant debate about Batman's best live-action depiction. One aspect of Clooney's portrayal that fans love to poke fun at is the nippled Batman costume, an out that was recently auctioned off to one lucky collector. Jose Fernandez, the costume designer on Batman & Robin, recently defended the suit. "It wasn’t fetish to me, it was more informed by Roman armor -- like Centurions," Fernandez said. "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."
While it's unknown whether Clooney will ever return as the Caped Crusader, Ben Affleck will reportedly reprise the role in next year's Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Jason Momoa has previously teased Batfleck's return to the DC Extended Universe. Speaking of working together on an as-yet-unknown project, Momoa said, "It’s just hugs and kisses. I love that guy. We get along too well. It’s very good to see him again." Warner Bros. and DC Films have yet to respond to reports that Batman will make an appearance in the Aquaman sequel.
George Clooney can next be seen in the upcoming romantic comedy Ticket to Paradise, releasing Oct. 21.
Source: Twitter