In the glamorous world of the entertainment industry, stardom and failure make an ironic pair. Fame has an expensive cost - a celebrity is robbed of his privacy and security with numerous stalkers and controversies thrown at him. One needs to be at his strongest in surpassing the challenges accompanied in a celebrity status. Otherwise, the shining light will fade in a blink of an eye.
Actor Val Kilmer has been a household name in the 1980’s. He is best known with his Bruce Wayne/Batman role in "Batman Forever" (1995), a movie that generated massive success in the blockbuster chart. In fact, the film helmed by Joel Schumacher produced $336,529,144 worldwide according to the statistics presented by Box Office Mojo.
He did an outstanding performance but why was he replaced by George Clooney in 1997's "Batman & Robin"?
Inquisitr noted that Kilmer’s casting in Batman Forever was a shocking choice since viewers are used to seeing Michael Keaton in the Batcave from the franchise’s first two movies. Yes, dressing up Kilmer in a black mask and a glossy cape was a big risk but it was worth it. Director Schumacher couldn’t be more thrilled and satisfied with Kilmer’s superb delivery in the popular movie.
“For me, Val Kilmer was the best Batman. I thought he looked great in the costume, and I thought he brought a depth to the role. I thought the relationship between Val and Nicole Kidman was very sexy. Jim Carrey, of course, was the perfect Riddler. And then I had the great Tommy Lee Jones and a lot of other great people are in that movie.”
His success was an envy to a lot of actors but the time came that his popularity was snubbed by highly relevant people that he had worked. Entertainment Weekly published an article titled Val Kilmer makes enemies in Hollywood and the negative comments of his colleagues were nothing short of direct and honest.
Here are the testimonials that Kilmer’s colleagues noted about his attitude problems:
Richard Stanley, who directed Kilmer for a short stint in The Island of Dr. Moreau before being terminated said, ”Val would arrive, and an argument would happen.”
John Frankenheimer, who substituted Stanley express his disapproval of Val .
”I don’t like Val Kilmer, I don’t like his work ethic, and I don’t want to be associated with him ever again.”
Finally, Joel Schumacher who contradicted his prior praising of the Caped Crusader described his former star as childish and impossible.”
It is saddening that a skilled actor, singer, and poet like Kilmer did not make it bigger in the film industry. If only he was able to manage his temper, he would have stayed as one of Hollywood’s finest actors to date. He still is. It’s just that directors and producers are quick in refusing a project with him.
Indeed, good manners and right conduct really matter above anything else.
