Val Kilmer’s time as the Dark Knight was a fleeting yet memorable era in Joel Schumacher’s helmed Batman Forever, co-starring with Tommy Lee Jones as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, Jim Carrey as The Riddler, and Nicole Kidman as Dr. Chase Meridian. Needless to say, this 1995 flick, under Tim Burton Productions, remains a unique imprint on the Batman anthology.
Why did Kilmer, though, quit the series after just one movie? Up until his statements were revealed in a lengthy 2020 New York Times interview, all we knew about him was that he wasn’t easy to work with. With authenticity and perhaps a touch of remorse, the actor contended with his reputation for being “difficult” to work with.
However, when discussing the shadow of other behind-the-scenes tensions, such as those between Jones and Carrey, it appears that Kilmer’s onset hiccups came in second place. It is true that Carrey and Jones, who portrayed the movie’s two antagonists, had a lot of contempt for one another. This is something that even Schumacher later confirmed.
Val Kilmer’s On-Screen Antics During the Making of Batman Forever
Four years ago, Val Kilmer opened up about his time portraying the Caped Crusader in the 1995 film Batman Forever, and it turns out there was more drama on set than we originally thought. In a revealing interview with the New York Times in 2020, the Top Gun star, 64, shared his thoughts on leaving the role of Batman after just one flick, and it’s not what you might expect:
In an unflinching attempt to empower directors, actors and other collaborators to honor the truth and essence of each project, an attempt to breathe Suzukian life into a myriad of Hollywood moments, I had been deemed difficult and alienated the head of every major studio. Everyone has to work out their own salvation.
While many fans remember his performance as Batman fondly, the actor himself had a moment of clarity on set that led to his decision to walk away from the iconic role. During a visit from Warren Buffett & his grandkids, Kilmer realized that Batman is more of a symbol than a character and that anyone can don the suit and become the hero we need. This realization, coupled with his reputation as a “difficult” actor to work with, ultimately led to Kilmer’s exit from the franchise.
But the drama didn’t end with Kilmer. Director Joel Schumacher confirmed long-standing rumors that Tommy Lee Jones, who played Two-Face in Batman Forever, was less than friendly towards his co-star, Jim Carrey.
Batman Forever Director Shared Insights on Tommy Lee Jones & Jim Carrey’s Dynamic
According to Batman Forever’s director, Joel Schumacher, Tommy Lee Jones was not “kind” to Jim Carrey on set, despite their esteemed careers and accolades. The film was the second motion picture that Jones and Schumacher worked on together.
In 2020, the late director told Vulture that while their first project went incredibly well, Jones was awful with his co-star in Batman Forever. According to Schumacher:
He was fabulous on The Client. But he was not kind to Jim Carrey when we were making Batman Forever.
In fact, Schumacher went on to describe Jones as a “scene stealer” who may have been irked by Carrey’s undeniable talent to command attention on screen. The director explained:
Tommy is, and I say this with great respect, a scene stealer. Well, you can’t steal the scene from Jim Carrey. It’s impossible. And, I think it irked Tommy. No, he wasn’t kind to Jim.
While Jones may have been the more seasoned actor with a lengthy list of accomplishments, it appears that he struggled to share the spotlight with Carrey. Schumacher also noted that Jones did not act towards Carrey in a way befitting of his status in the industry.
Moreover, Schumacher praised Val Kilmer for his portrayal of Batman, calling him a “fabulous Batman” despite any difficulties they may have faced during production. Sure, the actor’s time as the Dark Knight may have been short-lived, but it left a lasting impact on both fans and the industry.
Stream Batman Forever on Amazon Prime Video.
