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In 1995, Arnold Schwarzenegger was “begged” to play a role. It became one of the most hated movies ever made
Arnold Schwarzenegger said Warner Bros “begged” him to play Mr Freeze in *Batman & Robin*, despite the role requiring six hours of make-up each day. The 1997 film received disastrous reviews and became widely disliked, but Schwarzenegger has said he does not regret taking the part.
He told *Empire* that he found the character interesting and that director Joel Schumacher had recently been at his peak; he also cited a $25 million payday. The article places the film amid a period when Schwarzenegger’s familiar action style was losing relevance, while noting he accepts that some of his films failed.
In short
- Schwarzenegger says Warner Bros begged him to play Mr Freeze.
- The role brought a $25 million payday and long make-up sessions.
- He says he has no regrets about the poorly received film.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Taking the role was a reasonable choice: Schwarzenegger found Mr Freeze interesting, trusted a director he believed was at his peak, and was offered a substantial payday. An actor can also value the experience and performance independently of a film’s later reception, especially when accepting that some projects will fail is part of a long career.
The case against
Declining the role could also have been prudent: the demanding daily make-up was a major commitment, and a high-profile film with an uncertain direction risked damaging his standing as audience tastes shifted. A large fee and an interesting character might not outweigh the chance to save time and protect his reputation by choosing a stronger project.