Val Kilmer has a legendary career to his name with several significant roles that made him the Hollywood heartthrob. The Top Gun star once developed a keen desire for the MCU star Robert Downey Jr and that was pretty intense.
Downey Jr and Kilmer starrer Kiss Kiss Bang Bang came out in 2005 and the movie has certainly changed the course of the narrative of Kilmer’s life, at least for a short period of time. Such is the charm the Iron Man star had stored in him.
Val Kilmer Insisted On The Change in Script to Kiss Robert Downey Jr
Val Kilmer, 63, vividly remembered meeting Robert Downey Jr, 58, for the first time. The Batman Forever actor throwing a party for My Left Foot director Jim Sheridan. Downey graced the party with his presence. “I’d never spent any time with him,” Kilmer told The Guardian. “It was about 1996. At some awards ceremony. And I thought well that’s quite a talent, because he was clearly high when we first met,” Kilmer said of Downey. Just a week after the party, the Heat actor got the script of Downey starrer Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. “Before I’d even finished it I called up and said ‘Love to be in it!’” Kilmer said revealing that he insisted on changing the script.
“He [Kilmer’s character] wasn’t gay when I read it, I insisted. I said Shane, we gotta get a little colour in here. We gotta juice it up a little. I think I should be gay. I think I should kiss Robert Downey in the middle of the film. Maybe even earlier. Several times.”
Advertisement
The Shane Black-directed neo-noir black comedy crime thriller has further enhanced his attraction to the Avengers star. Kilmer played a gay detective in Hollywood Gay Perry, even his name was exclusively reserved for the kiss.
Val Kilmer Definitely Loved Robert Downey Jr
Certainly, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang has left a mark on Kilmer. Of course, Downey has a remarkable charm in his very appearance and his happy-going attitude, as Kilmer put it, “contagious.” Kilmer was even keen on starting a relationship with the Oppenheimer actor. Speaking of talking up a gay role in the future, Kilmer told The Guardian, “I certainly would! I don’t know how I’d feel about having an actual relationship – separate from Robert”
“I think it’s got to be Robert or no one. It’s gonna be in my contract. You know, the only other guy I’ve kissed was Colin Farrell, and Robert was … better. Colin’s sloppy. Well no, not sloppy – but he’s not a giver. He really did [slip in the tongue]. And there was some groping too. He looks like a groper, doesn’t he?”
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang did not see the bright light of the box office. The movie has earned only $15.8 million against the production budget of $15 million. However, the movie has impressed a lot of critics. It was well-received at The Cannes Film Festival with a long ovation.