There have been several actors who have portrayed the hit DC hero, Batman, in different live-action projects. While some left an indelible mark on the character, others were not as well received. But Val Kilmer’s portrayal of the titular character is one of the most underrated portrayals of the Dark Knight.
Despite doing an amazing job, the Top Gun star left the character after just a single movie. Despite being slated to appear in another film, he states he left the film because of scheduling conflicts, although there have been several different versions of the story. But what really made him quit might have been an epiphany he had while meeting Warren Buffet.
Val Kilmer’s Humiliating Encounter with Warren Buffet Made Him Quit Batman Role
Val Kilmer starred as the Dark Knight in Joel Schumacher‘s 1997 flick, Batman Forever. An underrated Batman, his outing as the titular superhero was not as well received critically. And he remains one of the most underrated Batman of all time.
Despite his brief feat as the Dark Knight, the actor did an impeccable job in bringing the complexities of the DC character to live-action. Even though he did an amazing job, he soon left the role to pursue other projects. Although there have been different accounts of why he quit the role, it might have been something to do with the cruel realization he had while on the set of Batman Forever.
Back when he was still shooting his superhero flick, the actor was informed that billionaire Warren Buffet would be visiting the set along with his grandchildren to ‘meet Batman’. Dressed up in his Batsuit, the actor waited patiently. However, Buffet’s grandchildren hardly paid him any heed and instead got busy with the Batmobile and other bat stuff.
That’s why it’s so easy to have five or six Batmans. It’s not about Batman. There is no Batman.
Stated Val Kilmer in an interview with The New York Times. This cruel reminder that it was not him but the idea of Batman that people love the most was a wake-up call for him, which might have eventually convinced him to quit the role.
Reason Why Val Kilmer Quit Playing the Dark Knight after One Movie
If there is a list of Hollywood actors most difficult to work with, Val Kilmer would probably be present there. From allegedly not reciting his lines properly to coming up late on set and even being indifferent to other cast and crew, there are various accounts of how problematic the Batman Forever star was to work with, especially on the set of his Batman flick (via Entertainment Weekly).
Various accounts have surfaced regarding why Val Kilmer left his role as Batman. Some suggest that his challenging behavior led to his departure, while others, such as Joel Schumacher, claim that Kilmer’s desire to pursue different projects caused him to leave the project at the last minute (via THR).
Kilmer, however, in his interview with the New York Times revealed it was because there were scheduling conflicts with the film, The Saint, which he already had in his contract, that led to him quitting the sequel to Batman Forever. While he might have been a one-time Batman, there is no denying that despite all the controversies and issues, Kilmer’s Batman is among the best portrayals of the DC hero.