Entertainment
George Clooney declares himself ‘best Batman of all time’ as he jokes Ben Affleck ‘has nothing’ on him in role-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro
He has previously slammed his own performance in the role, so we’re pretty sure he’s joking.
The star is one of several high-profile actors to have played the superhero (Picture: Getty)
George Clooney has issued some fighting talk, proclaiming himself ‘the best Batman of all time’, and dismissing any competition from Ben Affleck in the role.
The DC superhero, currently played by Twilight star Robert Pattinson, who made his debut in Matt Reeves’ moody The Batman earlier this year, has also been played by Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and Christian Bale.
So quite a claim from ol’ George there.
The actor made the quip as he joined forces with fellow actors Mindy Kaling and Don Cheadle to open a brand-new school in Los Angeles, focused on helping future filmmakers.
The 61-year-old Ticket To Paradise star took to the stage to make a speech during the official launch event for the Roybal School of Film and Television Production Magnet.
Wearing jeans and a blue polo shirt, the actor and producer was his usual charming self as he joked: ‘If you think of actors, you don’t really think of education – in general. If you look at me you just think, “Oh, he’s just the best Batman of all time”.’
George’s outing as the Caped Crusader was for 1997’s Batman & Robin (Picture: Christine Loss/Warner Bros/Kobal/REX)
He is next teaming up again with Julia Roberts for rom-com Ticket To Paradise (Picture: Universal)
As the crowd laughed along at his claim, he continued in video captured by The Hollywood Reporter staffer Chris Gardner: ‘No, I know what you’re thinking… the best Batman? Yes.’
Looking to his Oceans 11 pal Don in the audience for back-up, he was met with burn ‘the best available’, to which George laughed and replied: ‘Thank you, Don.’
Going in for the kill, George then added: ‘I mean, Ben Affleck, really? No, he’s got nothing on me.’
George famously played the Caped Crusader for one outing, 1997’s Batman & Robin with Chris O’Donnell, Uma Thurman, Alicia Silverstone and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
He replaced Val Kilmer in the role, who led 1995’s Batman Forever, and himself replaced Michael Keaton in the role after Keaton’s two outings for Batman (1989) and Batman returns in 1992, both directed by Tim Burton.
However, the Money Monster actor has previously been very self-deprecating about his outing as Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, saying: ‘I did one superhero movie and I f**ked it up so bad they won’t let me near the set.’
Michael Keaton was Batman twice in the first blockbuster takes on him, and will be donning the cape once more in 2023 (Picture: Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
Robert Pattinson will be back for a sequel to The Batman, adding further bats to the mix (Picture: Warner Bros/Moviestore/Shutterstock)
Following George, Christian Bale took the role to new (and gravelly-toned) heights for the critically acclaimed Dark Knight Trilogy, directed by Christopher Nolan.
Although we are now in the era of R-Batz, Ben Affleck was the actor who donned the cowl for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League – as well as its 2021 re-spin Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
Known for having a pretty good sense of humour, we doubt Ben will take much offence at George’s jibe, and he’s busy in newly wedded bliss with Jennifer Lopez anyway.
Ben could be back too, Jason Momoa has suggested (Picture: Instagram/prideofgypsies)
From what Jason Momoa has let slip too, we may see Ben back as Batman after all for the first time in six years for Aquaman 2.
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Plus, fresh from his historic Emmys win, Michael Keaton will be seen reprising his role as the Dark Knight in The Flash next year, although his second scheduled appearance in the role for Batgirl has sadly been canned, along with the film.
With Christian Bale also saying he would be up for returning to the DC superhero role, providing director Nolan was back too (yes I know, we can barely keep up either), it seems the moral of the story is you can probably never walk away from the role of Batman…
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