George Clooney once joked about why he wasn’t asked to reprise his version of Batman in ‘The Flash’ movie.

Both George Clooney and Ben Affleck, in the world of film, have brought us unforgettable moments, remarkable characters, and enduring movies. They are two of the most successful and respected actors in Hollywood. And both have won Academy Awards.

George Clooney and Ben Affleck
During an interview with Variety, the Ocean’s Eleven actor joked about why he wasn’t asked to reprise his version of Batman in the standalone Flash movie, even though now we know it to be false.

George Clooney Joked that It Was Ben Affleck Who Screwed up the Batman Franchise
After nine years, George Clooney and Ben Affleck made a comeback in 2021 as a pair in the film The Tender Bar. In this movie, Clooney directed Affleck. Before that, they had collaborated in Argo in 2012.

In an interview with Variety, Clooney jokingly explained why it took nine years for them to come together for a movie. Clooney said:

“Ben Affleck screwed up the Batman franchise that I made so solid.”

George Clooney
George Clooney first stepped into the role of Batman in Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin (1997). However, despite his immense popularity and acting skills, this particular Batman film is often regarded as one of the weakest entries in the franchise.

Ben Affleck played Batman in the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the 2017 film Justice League, and the 2021 film Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Affleck’s performance as Batman received mixed reviews from viewers.

George Clooney Thought His Role of Batman Won’t be Reprised in The Flash
George Clooney shared why he thought that there would not be any involvement of him in Andy Muschietti’s DCEU standalone film The Flash. When asked about why he was not in the movie, he jokingly said to Variety: “They didn’t ask me.”

“When you destroy a franchise the way I did, usually they look the other way when ‘The Flash’ comes by,” he added.

George Clooney
However, George Clooney made a surprise cameo appearance in the 2023 DC film The Flash, reprising his role as Bruce Wayne / Batman from the 1997 film Batman & Robin. Clooney’s appearance comes at the end of the film after Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) resets the timeline and creates a new DC Universe. In this new universe, Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne gets replaced by Clooney’s.

In Batman & Robin, Clooney was saddled with a poorly written script and a campy tone that was out of step with the rest of the franchise. It was a massive blockbuster disappointment, earning just $238.2 million globally against a production budget of $160 million.