‘Batman and Robin’ Movie Director Joel Schumacher Apologizes For the Movie, Takes Full Responsibility For the Disappointment Caused By It
It has already been 20 years, and the director of “Batman & Robin” is sorry about the film.
What was the reason behind the criticism of the movie, its stars, and pretty much almost anything about the movie? Dig in to know about it and the director’s response.
The Outcry To the Bat Vigilante
Outspoken fans of the DC Comics franchise objected to almost everything in the 1997 Batman movie, from the casting of George Clooney as Batman to the nipples on his bat suit.
In a recent interview with Vice, “Batman & Robin” director Joel Schumacher offered up a mea culpa.
“I want to apologize to every fan that was disappointed because I think I owe them that,”
he said, taking full responsibility for the film landing with a fizzle.
“A lot of it was my choice,”
he said.
“No one is responsible for my mistakes but me.”
One of the parts of the issue, the director said, was that “Batman Forever” actor Val Kilmer quit the project to take a role in the movie “The Island of Dr. Moreau.” Clooney came into play due to his popularity and Bob Daly, the chief executive at Warner Bros. at that time, also wanted Clooney.
“Clooney was an obvious choice because he was a rising star on ‘ER’”
Schumacher said.
“I had a talk with him and he was like, ‘Alright, if you do it I’ll do it.'”
Schumacher said that the audiences instinctively had very high expectations after “Batman Forever“. However, after “Batman & Robin” was released, the reaction was very much swift as well as harsh.
“I was scum. It was like I had murdered a baby,”
Schumacher recalled.
The Nipples on Bat Suit
One of the most criticized aspects of the movie was nipples on the bat suit. But what was the reason behind those nipples? Turns out that particular costume feature was inspired by history.
“By the time ‘Batman Forever’ came around, rubber molding had become so much more advanced,”
Schumacher went on to explain.
“So, I said ‘Let’s make it anatomical’ and gave photos of those Greek statues and those incredible anatomical drawings you see in medical books. He did the nipples and when I looked at them, I thought, that’s cool.”
Short Bio of Joel Schumacher
Joel Schumacher is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. Schumacher rose to fame after directing hit films like St. Elmo’s Fire, The Lost Boys, and Flatliners. He later went on to direct The Client and A Time to Kill.
In 1993, Joel went on to sign to direct the next installments of the Batman film franchise. Schumacher-directed Batman Forever and particularly Batman & Robin received negative reactions from both the public as well as the critics.
After Batman films, he pulled back away from the blockbusters and returned to making minimalist films such as Tigerland and Phone Booth, with both movies earning positive reviews.
