It is often said that some actors are just destined to play some roles. Just as Robert Downey Jr. was apparently destined to play Iron Man, Daniel Radcliffe to play Harry Potter, Henry Cavill to play Superman, Val Kilmer too was supposedly set to play Batman at least once.
Despite having starred in just one Dark Knight movie, Batman Forever, Kilmer did a spectacular job of portraying the iconic superhero. While his portrayal has now left a long-lasting impression on the DC character’s legacy, the tale behind his casting will convince any fan that playing Batman was his destiny.
Val Kilmer Was Born to Play Batman
Before Val Kilmer was cast as the Dark Knight, the actor was not even in the country. according to Batman Forever: The Official Movie Book by Michael Singer, the actor was busy exploring the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa. Apparently researching for his future film (which may or may not be the epic The Ghost and the Darkness), it wasn’t until he arrived in London that he got to know that he had been cast as Batman.
After arriving in London, the actor was informed by his then-wife Joanne Whalley-Kilmer that he had received several faxes. One of the many faxes read Congratulations, you’re Batman. After warming up to the news, the actor realized that it was perhaps fate that got him the role of the Dark Knight.
Singer, in the book, wrote,
Val Kilmer realizes that at the approximate moment in time that the casting decision had been made, he was in a cave full of bats in the wilderness of South Africa. […] So is Val Kilmer a believer in synchronicity? ‘Yes,’ he replies. ‘I’d already begun my preparation for the Dark Knight.’
A shocking coincidence, Val Kilmer’s Batman movie might not have been well received by critics back then, but it is now a beloved part of the DC mythos. Despite the challenges associated with Batman Forever, Kilmer’s dedication to the role and his embodiment of both Bruce Wayne and Batman were undeniable and praiseworthy.
Val Kilmer Does Not Believe His Batman Casting Was Fate
Anyone reading this tale of Val Kilmer being with actual bats in a Batcave will be convinced that the actor was destined to play the Dark Knight at least once in his career. Yet, Kilmer himself does not believe it was fate that made him Batman but only a surprising turn of events.
–
In the book, Batman Forever: The Official Movie Book, Michael Singer recalled that upon realizing the crazy coincidence between his adventures in Southern Africa and his Batman casting, Kilmer maintained it was not fate that got him the role.
It is an extraordinary opportunity, but one that you could never plan. […] The circumstances were all so strange anyway, since Batman is such a substantial character and the two other films were so successful, and Michael Keaton was so good. I never thought, ‘They’re going to do a third Batman film and I wonder if they’re going to recast it.’ It was just a happy series of bizarre circumstances.
Stated Kilmer to Singer in the book. While the actor remained grateful for the opportunity and did a wonderful job, his run as Batman ended after Batman Forever. While there were said to be different accounts of why Kilmer left the role, his run as the titular comic book character is nonetheless one of the best ones.
Batman Forever can be streamed on Amazon Prime.
