1997’s Batman & Robin may go down in history as one of the worst Batman movies ever filmed.  Directed by Joe Shumacher, the film starred George Clooney as Gotham city’s savior, Batman, and while Clooney is one of this era’s most celebrated actors, the star has admitted that he still has nightmares about the film.  According to Clooney he believes that he “terribly destroyed” the role of Batman and feared that the movie would ruin the franchise and his career.  Batman & Robin received mostly negative ratings and the subsequent sequel was cancelled, with Clooney referring to the 1997 film as “a waste of money.”  In 2010, Empire Magazine even named Batman and Robin the worst film of all-time.

Many who have viewed the film believe that it was Shumacher’s poor direction that caused the film to fail; not Clooney’s acting ability. However, Shumacher blames Warner Bros. for the movie’s lackluster performance, saying “There was a lot of pressure from Warner Bros. to make Batman & Robin more family-friendly…We decided to do a less depressing Batman movie and less torture and more heroic. I know I have been criticized a lot for this, but I didn’t see the harm in that approach at all.”

Now, almost 20 years later, it’s almost impossible to believe that George Clooney could have been the part of something that failed so miserably.  If the two-time Academy Award winning actor had taken on the role of Batman today it is quite possible that he may be successful.  With one failed super hero attempt behind him, Clooney could easily correct his mistakes and make the role work for him.  Perhaps with a better script and a different director, Clooney could better highlight the contrast between Batman and his alter-ego Bruce Wayne.

Present day Clooney also has the benefit of having Batman & Robin behind him, a film which many younger viewers may not have ever seen. Younger audiences will likely be more familiar with the Clooney they’ve grown up watching; the Clooney that never misses. Since Batman and Robin, Clooney has gone on to star in dozens of popular films including The Perfect Storm and the Ides of March.

With a proven track record of success and a strong fan base, it’s safe to say that with a new script, a new director, and a new suit; George Clooney could easily work as Batman today.

(Photo by Toby Canham/Getty Images)