Arnold Schwarzenegger and Uma Thurman have reunited and announced a new film adventure, Batman & Robin, 27 years after the superhero film hit theaters in 1997.
Thurman, 54, who played Dr. Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy, was the first to post a selfie of the two stars as they posed together in what appeared to be a restaurant.
“Freeze and Ivy are back together — super strong and super cool in a warming world!” she wrote in the caption, a pun on their characters.
Thurman’s villainous co-star, who played Dr. Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze, took to Instagram and wasted no time in reposting the photo, along with his message: “Freeze and Ivy, reunited. Watch out, Batman.”
The duo were just two of the stars in the now cult classic, the fourth and final installment of Warner Bros.’ first Batman film series, starring George Clooney (Bruce Wayne/Batman), Alicia Silverstone (Barbara Wilson/Batgirl) and Chris O’Donnell (Dick Grayson/Robin).
Arnold Schwarzenegger, 77, and Uma Thurman, 54, had a Batman & Robin reunion some 27 years after the superhero film premiered in theaters
Thurman and Schwarzenegger co-starred in Batman & Robin (1997) as Dr. Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy and Dr. Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze, respectively.
Batman & Robin (1997), directed by Joel Schumacher from a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman, has been widely regarded by critics and fans alike as the worst Batman film over the years. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds a 12 percent approval rating.
The film website’s critical consensus reads: “Joel Schumacher’s ironic attitude reaches an unbearable level in Batman & Robin, resulting in a frantic and mindless film that’s too funny to care much about.”
In addition to the main characters, the cast also includes Elle Macpherson (Julie Madison), Pat Hingle (Commissioner James Gordon), Michael Gough (Alfred Pennyworth), John Glover (Dr. Jason Woodrue) and Jon Simmons (Young Alfred Pennyworth).
This installment of the franchise is also known for Batman’s suit with its prominent nipples, which has caused Clooney much grief since his debut in the late 1990s.
Clooney had just taken over the role of the Caped Crusader from Val Kilmer, who had starred in the previous sequel Batman Forever (1995), after Michael Keaton had starred in the first two films, Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992).
“Freeze and Ivy are back together — super tight and super cool in a warming world!” Thurman wrote in the caption, as a pun on their characters.
Despite negative reviews from critics, Batman & Robin grossed $238 million worldwide, despite its budget being between $125 and $160 million.
While the production clearly made money, it was also a major disappointment, as the film grossed $100 million less than its predecessor Batman Forever (1995), which grossed $336.6 million on a $100 million budget.
Because the film was poorly received, Warner Bros. canceled future Batman films, including Schumacher’s planned Batman Unchained.
The first of the four Tim Burton-directed installments was by far the most successful, as Batman (1989) grossed $411.6 million against a budget of $48 million,
The second and final Burton-Keaton film, Batman Returns (1992), was a financial success, but box office sales dropped to $266.8 million against a budget of $50–80 million.
It turns out that Warner Bros. has accelerated development on Batman & Robin after the box office success of its predecessors.
Schwarzenegger, who played Dr. Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze, wasted no time in reposting the photo, along with his message: “Freeze and Ivy, reunited. Watch out, Batman”
Batman & Robin grossed $238 million worldwide at the box office, against a budget of $125-160 million
In fact, Schumacher was tasked with making the film more realistic than Batman Forever, reports Shame.
As a result, he said, “The first time I felt like I was making a movie. The second time I felt like I was making a toy commercial.”
He also said that ‘everything felt a lot sharper and more focused, and it felt like everything softened up a little bit on the second try.’
