Schwarzenegger pays Warner Bros. £1 annually for Mr Freeze costume
Arnold Schwarzenegger leases Mr Freeze costume for £1 yearly from Warner Bros.
Arnold Schwarzenegger reportedly pays Warner Bros. $1 each year for an unusual reason. During the Oscars earlier this year, Schwarzenegger appeared on stage with Danny DeVito. The duo, who have both played Batman villains, humorously teased former Batman actor Michael Keaton in the audience.
Schwarzenegger’s role as Mr Freeze in the 1997 film Batman & Robin is linked to this annual payment to Warner Bros. Actors often keep props from their notable projects as souvenirs. For instance, Ian McKellen once mentioned he keeps Gandalf’s sword, Glamdring, at home.
Like McKellen, Schwarzenegger has kept memorabilia, including his Mr Freeze costume. The $1 payment is a ‘peppercorn’ payment – a symbolic gesture to confirm a legal contract. This payment allows Schwarzenegger to retain the costume on a long-term lease. By paying $1 annually, he acknowledges Warner Bros.’ continued ownership of the costume.
Arnold Schwarzenegger pays Warner Bros $1 a year in order to keep his Mr. Freeze costume https://t.co/OIHc1UkkPC pic.twitter.com/VHcnDGVJMJ
— Whar❓️🍉 (@the_whar) August 30, 2024
This arrangement means that upon Schwarzenegger’s passing, the costume will likely return to Warner Bros. instead of becoming part of his estate. Film producer Peter Macgregor-Scott revealed that this decision came from the top levels of the studio. Storage of film sets and costumes is a logistical challenge, and actors often wish to keep pieces from their roles.
Macgregor-Scott explained that Schwarzenegger requested the Mr Freeze costume, leading to a contract that requires him to pay $1 per year to borrow it. The lights in the costume last for 9,000 hours, and though Schwarzenegger doesn’t keep them on continuously, he does use them often.
Representatives for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Warner Bros. have been contacted for comment.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Tribune reports that Arnold Schwarzenegger pays $1 annually to Warner Bros. to retain ownership of his Mr. Freeze suit from Batman and Robin, symbolizing his career’s highs and lows.(read more)
- We Got This Covered reports that Arnold Schwarzenegger pays Warner Bros. $1 annually for the privilege of keeping his iconic Mr. Freeze costume from the 1997 film Batman & Robin.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why does Arnold Schwarzenegger pay Warner Bros. $1 every year?
He pays $1 to keep his Mr. Freeze costume on long-term lease.
What is a ‘peppercorn’ payment?
A small symbolic payment used to confirm a legal contract.
What happens to the Mr. Freeze costume when Schwarzenegger passes away?
It will likely go back to Warner Bros. and not be part of his estate.
Did other actors keep props from their movies?
Yes, for example, Ian McKellen has Gandalf’s sword Glamdring.
Who approved Schwarzenegger’s long-term lease for the costume?
The decision went all the way to the top of the studio.
