“He’s a really sophisticated artist”: Robert Downey Jr. Had The Time of His Life Working With Val Kilmer Despite ‘Batman’ Director Berating His Unprofessionalism

Val Kilmer is a big name in Hollywood who continued to deliver iconic performances with his projects like the Top Gun film series, Batman Forever, Top Secret! and The Doors among several others. While the industry highly credits his acting talent, he had earned a bad reputation due to his attitude which often ticked off many including the 1995 DC film director.

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However, Oppenheimer star, Robert Downey Jr. who worked with him in the 2005 film, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang has completely different views on working with him.

Robert Downey Jr. Shared His Thoughts on Working With Val Kilmer

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In a recent Vanity Fair video interview, Robert Downey Jr. appeared as part of the marketing for the release of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. In one segment, he shed light on the 2005 film, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang in which he worked alongside Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan.

Playing the lead role of Harry Lockhart alongside Kilmer’s Perry van Shrike, he mentioned having the time of his life working with a ‘vintage’ actor.

He shared,

“As far as working with Val on Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, he’s Val Kilmer, it’s vintage Val Kilmer. He comes in with such an off-centre point of view on things”

He was pleased to work with the Top Gun: Maverick actor stating,

“I just found it so delightful to be staying up all night with Val Kilmer shooting these ridiculous scenes about these two oddballs that are chasing this kind of a my case and your case.”

He concluded by sharing,

“He’s a really sophisticated artist and I have nothing but fond memories about Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.”

He had a genuinely great time working with the latter which is quite opposite to what Kilmer’s infamous of. Due to his bad reputation, he even ended up making a bad impression on his Batman Forever director, Joel Schumacher.

Joel Schumacher Has No Good Words for Val Kilmer

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The late filmmaker, Joel Schumacher found Kilmer quite annoying with his presence nothing but sour for him, and the actor felt likewise. In 1996, he spilled the beans on some behind-the-camera tension confessing that the duo had a “physical pushing match.” 

It all happened to have stemmed from the actor’s diva-like attitude which became unbearable for the late director at one point. He told EW,

“He was being irrational and ballistic with the first AD, the cameraman, the costume people. He was badly behaved, he was rude and inappropriate.”

His unpleasant behavior continued to press the issue more which eventually led Schumacher to explode at him.

“I was forced to tell him that this would not be tolerated for one more second. Then we had two weeks where he did not speak to me, but it was bliss.”

Source: Vanity Fair