Batman & Robin (film) to keep their partnership together. It is also to date the only live-action film appearance of Batgirl, who helps the title characters fight the villains. Warner Bros. fast-tracked development for "Batman & Robin" following the box office success of the previous film, "Batman Forever". Schumacher and Goldsman conceived the storyline during pre-production on "A Time to Kill", while Val Kilmer decided not to reprise the role over scheduling conflicts with "The Saint". Schumacher had a strong interest in casting William Baldwin in Kilmer's place before George Clooney won the role. Principal photography began in September 1996 and finished in January
Robert Downey Jr. filmography had a regular role in the television series "Ally McBeal" in 2000, which won him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. He was then cast in the 2003 films "The Singing Detective" alongside Robin Wright and "Gothika" with Halle Berry. In 2005, he starred in "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" with Val Kilmer; in "Good Night, and Good Luck" with David Strathairn and George Clooney; and voiced the character of Patrick Pewterschmidt in the animated series "Family Guy". The following year, he appeared in the animated science fiction film "A Scanner Darkly" and as Paul Avery in the 2007 film