The entire DC Universe was relieved when Joel Schumacher got sent to Arkham after Batman and Robin, guaranteeing he would never direct a Batman movie again. Well, now we have something to regret: Coolio could’ve been the next Scarecrow. What the hell, world — you’re making me regret not having another Schumacher Batman movie.
In an interview with the Burleson Star in Texas, Coolio said the only reason he agreed to do a cameo in Batman and Robin, where he played the “Banker” during Robin and Batgirl’s bike race, was because Schumacher had promised that he’d get to play the Scarecrow in the next film. Sadly, the studio scrapped the follow-up and fired Schumacher after B&R failed to meet box office expectations, leaving us forever wondering what Coolio would look like with straw in his dreadlocks (of course Schumacher would make him wear straw).
“He was supposed to do the two next ones,” Coolio said. “He and I didn’t get along that good anyway — I mean he made a terrible Batman movie. But the next villain was supposed to be the Scarecrow. They didn’t do it though. Maybe one day. I’m sure they won’t come calling, though.”
Of course, Schumacher might not have gotten the memo. Back in 2011, Schumacher said he’d talked with Nicolas Cage about playing the Scarecrow in his next Batman flick, tentatively called Batman Triumphant, and that he’d wanted it to be a gritty retelling of Frank Miller’s comic The Dark Knight Returns. Sure, Joel, we totally believe you… even though you said that three years after The Dark Knight came out.
In any case, it’s a classic example of what could’ve been. Can you just imagine Coolio bouncing around as the Scarecrow, rapping about “Gotham’s Paradise” as he traps Batman (likely played by Kevin Costner at that point) in a fluorescent green toxic gas? Jack Nicholson’s Joker would have been there too, as a drug-fuelled memory, because according to Schumacher, Nicholson was still under contract and Schumacher doesn’t give a damn about anyone’s feelings.
Still, Coolio as the Scarecrow. Damn.