BATMAN FOREVER Star Val Kilmer Explains Why He Walked Away From Playing The Caped Crusader

BATMAN FOREVER Star Val Kilmer Explains Why He Walked Away From Playing The Caped Crusader

Val Kilmer's stint as Batman was brief, and we've heard conflicting stories over the years about why George Clooney replaced him in Batman and Robin, but the actor has now revealed why he walked away...

By JoshWilding - May 09, 2020 07:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Batman
Source: The New York Times

Val Kilmer has a new memoir out, and the actor has been making headlines this week following a revealing new profile in The New York Times. There are a lot of interesting tidbits in there, including why he decided to walk away from the role of DC's Dark Knight after starring in Batman Forever

Reflecting on his time on set, he recalled one day, in particular, which saw him decide to keep the Batsuit on because he knew some special guests were stopping by: Warren Buffet and his family.

However, when Kilmer met the tycoon's grandchildren, they had no interest in talking to Kilmer and instead just wanted to play with some of the movie's props and take a ride in the Batmobile. It was at this point, he claims to have realised that anyone could wear the mask and play the superhero. 

"That’s why it’s so easy to have five or six Batmans," he explained. "It’s not about Batman. There is no Batman."

That's pretty deep, but conflicting reports have been doing the rounds for years now about why Kilmer's run as Batman was so brief, and director Joel Schumacher revealed in 2017 that he reportedly walked away from Batman and Robin at the last-minute because he wanted to work with Marlon Brando on Island of Doctor Moreau.

What did you guys think about his time as the Caped Crusader?

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Nerdman3000
Nerdman3000 - 5/9/2020, 7:27 AM
What the [frick] happened to this dude?

IronGenesis
IronGenesis - 5/9/2020, 7:32 AM
I always thought he walked when he read in the script, “Bat-Skates”.
Origame
Origame - 5/9/2020, 7:35 AM
@IronGenesis - but he did leave to do the island of dr monreau with marlon brando. So was it really better?












Ok it was...
Nightwing1015
Nightwing1015 - 5/9/2020, 7:40 AM
@IronGenesis - Or the Bat credit card.

Never leave the cave without it
Dredd97
Dredd97 - 5/9/2020, 7:42 AM
I always liked Kilmer in the role. He played the duality the best, I felt. A shame he only did 1 and it was okay. But hey, I'm glad he's getting better. He was a great 80s/90s actor
Kumkani
Kumkani - 5/9/2020, 7:58 AM
"There is no Batman."

inkniron
inkniron - 5/9/2020, 8:12 AM
The full interview did a little deeper dive. He's an arrogant SOB but he's not particularly wrong. There are probably 20 actors at any given time that can play Bats as good or better than whichever actor is doing it.
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