Val Kilmer figure rather than the neurotic recluse of the previous films. In February 1996, Kilmer decided not to return for another Batman feature film, feeling that Batman was being marginalized in favor of the villains. and because of their scheduling problems with "The Saint". George Clooney replaced Kilmer as Batman in 1997's "Batman & Robin". There were also reports that Kilmer had not had a good working relationship with Schumacher, as another reason for not reprising the role. In 1996 he appeared in a largely unknown film, "Dead Girl", and starred alongside Marlon Brando in the poorly received "The Island of
George Clooney million worldwide (he appeared, but did not star, in "Gravity", which has a $723 million worldwide box office). The film inspired two sequels starring Clooney, "Ocean's Twelve" in 2004 and "Ocean's Thirteen" in 2007. In 2001, Clooney and Soderbergh co-founded Section Eight Productions, for which Grant Heslov was president of television. Clooney made his directorial debut in the 2002 film "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind", based on the autobiography of TV producer Chuck Barris. Though the film did not do well at the box office, critics stated that Clooney's directing showed promise. In 2005, Clooney starred in "Syriana", which was