Wait, Coolio Almost Played Scarecrow in a Batman Movie?

Here's something that will blow your Bat-minds: Coolio — yes, he of "Gangsta's Paradise" fame — apparently came very close to playing Scarecrow in a Joel Schumacher-directed Batman movie.

Speaking with a local Texas newspaper called the Burleson Star, the rapper revealed that the only reason he appeared in Batman & Robin as the "Banker" was because Schumacher promised him the villain role in Batman Triumphant, the sequel that Schumacher would have directed if Batman & Robin became the success the studio was hoping for. But as we all know, the movie ended up being terrible, and it put the entire Bat-franchise on ice for years until Christopher Nolan came along and rebooted it in 2005.

“He was supposed to do the two next ones. 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.”

It's also worth noting that Nic Cage has gone on the record saying that Schumacher had spoken to him about possibly playing Scarecrow in that movie, but I suppose the director could have been having conversations with multiple people about the role around that time. Coolio never got his shot, but maybe he could voice the character in a LEGO Batman Movie sequel? Billy Dee Williams is finally voicing Two-Face after being promised the role years ago, so why not extend the same courtesy to Coolio?