With Batman easily being one of the most popular comic book heroes of all time, if not the most popular, it’s no surprise that there have been many films based on him over the years. A variety of actors have all taken a stab at the role, with most appearing as Batman at least a couple of times before hanging up the cowl. However, Val Kilmer only played Batman once, in the film Batman Forever, and has now revealed why he didn’t return for Batman & Robin.
In an interview with The New York Times, Kilmer explained why he didn’t like playing Batman in Batman Forever. Kilmer said that a set visit from Warren Buffet and his grandchildren proved to him that people don’t really care about Batman, they’re more interested in his gadgets. “That’s why it’s so easy to have five or six Batmans. It’s not about Batman. There is no Batman.” Kilmer added that he found the Batman suit to be uncomfortable to wear, which is another reason why he declined to return to the role in Batman & Robin.
Ultimately, few would argue that Kilmer made a bad call by not appearing in Batman & Robin. George Clooney took on the role of Batman in that movie instead, and it’s largely considered to be not just the worst Batman movie, but also one of the worst movies ever made.
Batman Forever is available on home media.
Source: The New York Times
