33 Fleming, Michael and Anita M. Busch, “Clooney May Bat For Kilmer: Caped Vacillator Might Follow Keaton Out of ‘Batman’ Series,” Daily Variety, Feb. 14, 1996, p. 34
34 Busch, Anita M., “Schumacher Departs CAA,” Daily Variety, Feb. 29, 1996, p. 46
35 Busch, Anita M., “’Saint’ Always Looked Like a Kilmer Pic,” Daily Variety, March 13, 1996, p. 36
36 Ibid.
37 —, “Silverstone Eyes Batgirl,” Daily Variety, Jan. 16, 1996, p. 5
38 —, “Silverstone Dons ‘Bat’ Cape,” Daily Variety, Feb. 1, 1996, p. 14
39 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 25
40 Ibid., p. 39
41 Ibid., p. 39
42 Busch, Anita M., “Choose Your Poison: Uma is ‘Bat’ Girl,” Daily Variety, Jan. 26, 1996, p. 1
43 Ibid., p. 44
44 Fleming, Michael and Anita M. Busch, “Clooney May Bat For Kilmer: Caped Vacillator Might Follow Keaton Out of ‘Batman’ Series,” Daily Variety, Feb. 14, 1996, p. 4
45 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 25
46 Busch, Anita M., “Schumacher Departs CAA,” Daily Variety, Feb. 29, 1996, p. 46
47 Ibid.
48 Ibid., p. 1
49 Ibid., p. 46
50 Ibid. v 51 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 24 52 Busch, Anita M., “Crusader Clooney: ‘ER’ Star Nears $3 Mil ‘Hornet’ Deal,” Daily Variety, Oct. 24, 1995, p. 1
53 Fleming, Michael, “The Buzz Behind Kilmer’s ‘Batman’ Spat,” Weekly Variety, Feb. 19, 1996, p. 4
54 Hochman, Steve, “Entering the Sainthood: Val Kilmer Takes Off the Mask of Batman and Reveals Seven Characters, Plus That of Simon Templar Himself, in the Movie ‘The Saint.’ It Was a Choice Between Security or Fun,” The Los Angeles Times Calendar, Apr. 3, 1997, p. 6:1
55 Fleming, Michael, “The Buzz Behind Kilmer’s ‘Batman’ Spat,” Weekly Variety, Feb. 19, 1996, p. 4
56 Fleming, Michael and Anita M. Busch, “Clooney May Bat For Kilmer: Caped Vacillator Might Follow Keaton Out of ‘Batman’ Series,” Daily Variety, Feb. 14, 1996, p. 4
57 Archerd, Army, “Just For Variety,” Daily Variety, Feb. 21, 1996, p. 4
58 Hochman, Steve, “Entering the Sainthood: Val Kilmer Takes Off the Mask of Batman and Reveals Seven Characters, Plus That of Simon Templar Himself, in the Movie ‘The Saint.’ It Was a Choice Between Security or Fun,” The Los Angeles Times Calendar, Apr. 3, 1997, p. 6:1
59 Mallory, Michael, “Holy Caped Caper, IV,” Daily Variety, March 5, 1997, p. 50
60 Busch, Anita M. and Adam Dawtrey, “Clooney Fitted for Batsuit,” Daily Variety, Feb. 23, 1996, p. 1
61 Ibid., p. 76
62 Ibid., p. 1
63 Busch, Anita M., “Clooney in Tight Spot With ‘Batman’, ‘ER,’” Weekly Variety, Feb. 26-March 3, 1996, p. 14
64 Ibid., p. 16
65 Bart, Peter, “Backtalk: A Man of Action Also Can Make an Artful Gesture,” Daily Variety, March 4, 1996, p. 66
66 Fleming, Michael, “DISH: Actors Turn On, Then Drop Out; Lane Gets Seberg,” Daily Variety, Feb. 15, 1996, p. 27
67 Fleming, Michael, “Sly Quits ICM After 4 Months, Joins WMA,” Daily Variety, Feb. 26, 1996, p. 30
68 Busch, Anita M., “Bat-Cast Firms George, Arnold,” Daily Variety, March 13, 1996, p. 36
69 Evans, Greg, “Stallone Scales Back Payday,” Daily Variety, March 14, 1996, p. 27
70 —, “Inside Moves: If Schwarzenegger Chills, Willis is in Bat Wings,” Daily Variety, March 7, 1996, p. 98
71 Busch, Anita M., “Bat-Cast Firms George, Arnold,” Daily Variety, March 13, 1996, p. 1
72 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 33
73 Ibid.
74 Shapiro, Marc, “Batman & Robin: Is This the End of the Dynamic Duo? Of Course Not!” Starlog Presents Batman & Other Comic Heroes, 1997, p. 28
75 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 31
76 Ibid., p. 33
77 Busch, Anita M., “Arnold’s Hot Deal for Mr. Freeze,” Daily Variety, June 18, 1996, p. 7
78 Shapiro, Marc, “Batman & Robin: Is This the End of the Dynamic Duo? Of Course Not!” Starlog Presents Batman & Other Comic Heroes, 1997, p. 29
79 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 28
80 Ibid., p. 44
81 Ibid., p. 43
82 Archerd, Army, “Just For Variety,” Daily Variety, May 8, 1996, p. 2
83 Ibid.
84 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 5-6
85 Ibid., p. 24
86 Ibid., p. 116
87 Ibid., p. 47
88 Ibid., p. 48
89 Ibid.
90 Ibid., p. 49
91 Koehler, Robert, “Designing Man at the Helm,” Daily Variety, March 5, 1997, p. 46
92 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 47
93 Ibid., p. 50
94 Ibid.
95 Ibid.
96 Shapiro, Marc, “Batman & Robin: Is This the End of the Dynamic Duo? Of Course Not!” Starlog Presents Batman & Other Comic Heroes, 1997, p. 29
97 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 19
98 Ibid., p. 61
99 Ibid., p. 60
100 Ibid., p. 61
101 Ibid.
102 Ibid.
103 Ibid., p. 62
104 Ibid.
105 Ibid.
106 Ibid., p. 63
107 Ibid.
108 Ibid.
109 Ibid., p. 64
110 Ibid.
111 Ibid.
112 Ibid.
113 Ibid., p. 65
114 Ibid.
115 Ibid., p. 74
116 Ibid., p. 76
117 Ibid.
118 Ibid.
119 Ibid., p. 77
120 Ibid., p. 81
121 Ibid., p. 84
122 Ibid., p. 97
123 Ibid., p. 78
124 Ibid.
125 Ibid., p. 79
126 Ibid., p. 29
127 Mallory, Michael, “An Ice-Cold Arnold Sends Batman Back to His Cave,” Daily Variety, March 5, 1997, p. 68
128 Busch, Anita M., “A Big Deal For McDonald Duck,” Daily Variety, April 10, 1996, p. 1
129 Busch, Anita M., “’Batman’ Rings Up Taco Bell,” Daily Variety, June 11, 1996, p. 33
130 —, “WB Courts Burger King for Superman,” Daily Variety, Jan. 14, 1997, p. 59
131 Busch, Anita M., “’Batman’ Rings Up Taco Bell,” Daily Variety, June 11, 1996, p. 1 v 132 Ibid.p. 33
133 Adelson, Andrea, “The Battle Of Summer Blockbusters Extends From Theaters To Fast-Food Chains To Grocery Aisles,” The New York Times, Jun 9, 1997, p. D.25
134 Johnson, Ted, “Schumacher Sets Sail on Next ‘Batman’ Epic,” Daily Variety, Sept. 12, 1996, p. 4
135 Bart, Peter, “H’Wood Megapix Beg $100 Mil Question,” Daily Variety, May 27, 1997, p. 23
136 Shapiro, Marc, “Batman & Robin: Is This the End of the Dynamic Duo? Of Course Not!” Starlog Presents Batman & Other Comic Heroes, 1997, p. 31
137 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 8
138 Ibid., p. 31
139 Waxman, Sharon, “George Clooney, Uncowled; He Was Disappointed but Undaunted by `Batman and Robin’ and `One Fine Day’” The Washington Post, Sept. 28, 1997, p. G.04 v 140 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 27
141 Ibid., p. 95
142 Ibid., p. 96
143 Archerd, Army, “Just For Variety,” Daily Variety, Jan. 28, 1997, p. 2
144 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 102
145 Ibid.
146 Ibid.
147 Ibid., p. 104
148 Ibid.
149 Seiler, Andy, “Villains Make Batman Soar: Arnold and Uma Relish Roles as Evil Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy,” USA Today, Jun. 20, 1997, p. D, 1:3
150 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 37
151 Ibid.
152 Ibid., p. 35
153 Ibid., p. 39
154 Ibid., p. 24-25
155 Ibid., p. 6
156 Ibid., p. 7
157 Ibid., p. 28
158 Mallory, Michael, “An Ice-Cold Arnold Sends Batman Back to His Cave,” Daily Variety, March 5, 1997, p. 68
159 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 87
160 Seiler, Andy, “Villains Make Batman Soar: Arnold and Uma Relish Roles as Evil Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy,” USA Today, Jun. 20, 1997, p. D, 1:3
161 Archerd, Army, “Just for Variety,” Daily Variety, Oct. 8, 1996, p. 2
162 Hontz, Jenny, “Par TV Irks Clooney,” Daily Variety, Oct. 28, 1996, p. 21
163 Johnson, Ted, “More Charges for ‘Batman’ Trio?,” Daily Variety, Nov. 4, 1996, p. 5
164 Ibid., p. 17
165 Ibid. v 166 Ibid.
167 Ibid. v 168 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 40
169 Johnson, Ted, “Schumacher Back in CAA’s Ranks,” Daily Variety, Dec. 6, 1996, p. 1
170 Cox, Dan, “The New Batman Shoots...And Misses,” Weekly Variety, Jan. 20-26, 1997, p. 4
171 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 32
172 Cox, Dan, “The New Batman Shoots...And Misses,” Weekly Variety, Jan. 20-26, 1997, p. 4
173 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 32
174 Hontz, Jenny, “”Batman and Robin’ Air on ‘ET’”, Feb. 20, 1997, p. 39
175 Shapiro, Marc, “Knight Moves: Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman Gets Into a ‘Batman & Robin’ Frame of Mind,” Starlog Presents Batman & Other Comic Heroes, 1997, p. 34
176 Shapiro, Marc, “Batman & Robin: Is This the End of the Dynamic Duo? Of Course Not!” Starlog Presents Batman & Other Comic Heroes, 1997, p. 27
177 Ibid., p. 27-28
178 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 31
179 Ibid., p. 33
180 Shapiro, Marc, “Batman & Robin: Is This the End of the Dynamic Duo? Of Course Not!” Starlog Presents Batman & Other Comic Heroes, 1997, p. 28
181 Mallory, Michael, “Holy Caped Caper, IV,” Daily Variety, March 5, 1997, p. 50
182 Moore, Daniel, “A Sure Thing at the Box Office,” Daily Variety, March 5, 1997, p. 68
183 Grove, Chris, “The Roaring Season: This Summer’s Big Pics Will Shake Auds With Crystal-Clear Digital Audio,” Daily Variety, April 18, 1997, p. 24
184 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 124
185 Ibid.
186 Ibid., p. 113
187 Shapiro, Marc, “Batman & Robin: Is This the End of the Dynamic Duo? Of Course Not!” Starlog Presents Batman & Other Comic Heroes, 1997, p. 30
188 Singer, Michael, Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie, © 1997 Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, p. 113
189 Ibid., p. 125
190 Fleming, Michael, “Helmer’s 3rd at Bat: Schumacher Signals He’s Up for ‘Batman 5,’” Daily Variety, Feb. 21, 1997, p. 3
191 Ibid., p. 66
192 Ibid., p. 3
193 Shapiro, Marc, “Knight Moves: Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman Gets Into a ‘Batman & Robin’ Frame of Mind,” Starlog Presents Batman & Other Comic Heroes, 1997, p. 35
194 Fleming, Michael, “Helmer’s 3rd at Bat: Schumacher Signals He’s Up for ‘Batman 5,’” Daily Variety, Feb. 21, 1997, p. 3
195 Ibid., p. 66
196 Ibid., p. 3
197 Fleming, Michael, “Helmer’s 3rd at Bat: Schumacher Signals He’s Up for ‘Batman 5,’” Daily Variety, Feb. 21, 1997, p. 66
198 Ibid., p. 66
199 Fleming, Michael, “Hollywood is Taking Stern Look at Howard,” Daily Variety, March 3, 1997, p. 66
200 Fleming, Michael, “Belushi in ‘Total’; Howard’s End of ‘Batman,’” Daily Variety, March 4, 1997, p. 82
201 Fleming, Michael, “Weber to Wing It; Smart a Woman of ‘Style,’” Daily Variety, March 18, 1997, p. 31
202 Cox, Dan, “WB Lunch Long—On Talent: Bucks and Yuks Mark Studio’s Upcoming Features,” Daily Variety, March 6, 1997, p. 83
203 Seiler, Andy, “Villains Make Batman Soar: Arnold and Uma Relish Roles as Evil Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy,” USA Today, Jun. 20, 1997, p. D, 1:3
204 Waxman, Sharon, “George Clooney, Uncowled; He Was Disappointed but Undaunted by `Batman and Robin’ and `One Fine Day’” The Washington Post, Sept. 28, 1997, p. G.04
205 Littlefield, Kenny, “Channel Surfer: ‘Batman & Robin’ Cast Makes the Rounds,” The Atlanta Constitution, June 9, 1997, p. D, 9:5
206 —, “Heavy Hitters at ‘Bat’ Preem,” Daily Variety, June 16, 1997, p. 35
207 —, “’Batman’ Brings Back Old Colors,” Daily Variety, June 20, 1997, p. 10
208 Stack, Peter, “Direct From Movies, the Toys of Summer Set Their Sights on Mayhem,” San Francisco Chronicle, Jun. 18, 1997, p. E, 1:1
209 Adelson, Andrea, “The Battle Of Summer Blockbusters Extends From Theaters To Fast-Food Chains To Grocery Aisles,” The New York Times, Jun 9, 1997, p. D.25
210 Interview with Michael Uslan, conducted Sept. 1, 2009
211 McCarthy, Todd, “Film Reviews: Batman and Robin,” Daily Variety, June 16, 1997, p. 2
212 Ibid., p. 22
213 Maslin, Janet, “Movie Review: Holy Iceberg! Dynamic Duo Vs. Mr. Freeze,” The New York Times, June 20, 1997, http://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/20/movies/holy- iceberg-dynamic-duo-vs-mr-freeze.html?scp=376&sq=batman&st=nyt, accessed July 3, 2011
214 Bart, Peter, “The Back Lot: Sequels Segue Into the Box Office Blahs,” Daily Variety, July 14, 1997, p. 18
215 Hindes, Andrew, “’Wedding’ Rattles Batcage: Summer B.O. Finally Takes Off,” Daily Variety, June 23, 1997, p. 1
216 Ibid., p. 32
217 Ibid., p. 1
218 Ibid., p. 32
219 Ibid.
220 Ibid., p. 1
221 Weiner, Rex, “Cybergeek Leaks Freak Pic Biz,” Weekly Variety, July 28-Aug. 3, 1997, p. 73
222 Groves, Don, “’Batman’ Flying High in O’Seas Run,” Daily Variety, July 1, 1997, p. 9
223 Groves, Don, “’Bat’ Beats Up B.O.: WB Sequel Conquers 5 Markets; ‘Men’ Bows Big,” Daily Variety, July 8, 1997, p. 12
224 Groves, Don, “’Bat’ Beats Up B.O.: WB Sequel Conquers 5 Markets; ‘Men’ Bows Big,” Daily Variety, July 8, 1997, p. 12
225 Ibid., p. 17
226 —, “Obituary: Jeep Swenson,” Daily Variety, Aug. 27, 1997, p. 14
227 Lines, Andy, “Batman Fat Man Killed By Steroids,” The London Mirror, Aug. 28, 1997, p. 7
228 Fleming, Michael, “Schumacher Trims Sails,” Daily Variety, Dec. 11, 1997, p. 42
229 Ibid.
230 Ibid.
231 —, “’Batman’ Leads Bad-Movie Pack,” Los Angeles Daily News, Feb. 10, 1998, p. L5
232 Brennan, Judith A., “Reports From the Batcave: Another Sequel in Works?” The Los Angeles Times, July 1, 1998, p. 2
233 Durgin, Vance, “People: Michael Jackson, Wife Divorcing, Keanu Reeves in Next ‘Batman’ Movie?” The Orange County Register
, Oct. 9, 1999, p. A.02
234 Garner, Clare, “Why Batman is Really a Turkey,” The (London) Independent, Feb. 23, 1999, p. 3
235 Schaefer, Stephen, “Holy Box Office! He Swings Again After Three Strikes,” USA Today, Nov. 4, 1999, p. 04D
236 —, “News Lite: Clooney Taking It Easier After Series of Film Flops,” Los Angeles Daily News, Sept. 19, 1997, p. N.2
237 —, “Film: Back to a Land Well Visited: Teenage Angst,” The New York Times, July 25, 2010, p. AR8
Chapter Ten: FALSE STARTS
BATMAN: THE MUSICAL, or GUYS & DOLLS ON MESCALINE
Though Batman & Robin was definitely a disappointment, it wasn’t the huge bomb that many believe it to be. The film did make money for Warner Bros., just not nearly as much as they’d hoped. And, perhaps because they’d had a good time making it, when it became clear that the film had become a Hollywood punch line, there wasn’t the usual finger-pointing among the principals involved. In fact, it was quite the contrary. Director Joel Schumacher, actor George Clooney, and scriptwriter Akiva Goldsman all publicly shouldered responsibility for the film’s perceived failure. “I think we just went off the rails with Batman & Robin,” said Goldsman, “and nobody wants to make a movie that doesn’t work and each and every one of us is like ‘blame me, blame me.’ It just was, sometimes that happens. It was reasonable after Batman & Robin for the franchise to take a rest.”1 Rumor has it that if you meet George Clooney and tell him you paid to see Batman & Robin, he’ll personally refund your money. For a celebrity roast of the actor, Clooney’s pal Matt Damon recorded a video that showed him outside a theater in Africa, where he was filming a movie, confronting a group of irate moviegoers who had just seen Batman & Robin. After placating the crowd, Damon says, “You can try and give people their money back, but with projects like that what they really want is their time.”2
Warner Bros. began to regroup. While Joel Schumacher pondered a lower-budget Batman, the studio began thinking even farther outside the box. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage musical The Phantom of the Opera had earned more than 2.6 billion worldwide in a little more than a decade. During that same period, Webber’s previous musical, Cats, earned $2 billion through its various touring companies. The Walt Disney Company jumped on the bandwagon with a musical adaptation of their animated film Beauty and the Beast, which racked up an estimated $500 million in four years, not including merchandise sales.3 Disney was now reaping the benefits of another Broadway hit, The Lion King, with more shows in preparation. Maybe, thought Warner Bros., the same treatment would work for the Caped Crusader...
Billion Dollar Batman Page 55
