Val Kilmer, Beloved Batman and Top Gun Star, Passes Away at 65

by

Actor Val Kilmer, famously known for his roles in “Batman Forever” and “Top Gun”, passed away at the age of 65 following complications from pneumonia and a long-term fight against throat cancer. Despite the challenges posed by his illness, which affected his natural speaking voice, he was able to reprise his role as Iceman in the recent film “Top Gun: Maverick”. The movie’s script took his condition into account, resulting in one of its most poignant scenes. Although Kilmer’s physical presence is limited due to archival footage and text messages with Tom Cruise’s character, he does share a scene with him in the film.

In the movie, Iceman’s dialogue was mainly through computer text because Kilmer couldn’t speak. However, filmmakers creatively used AI and editing tricks to give Iceman a short spoken line, adding emotion to his interaction with Maverick. This scene in the Top Gun sequel influenced the reboot of Willow on Disney+, another movie where he had a role years ago. A documentary titled Val, which Kilmer self-filmed throughout his life, was released in 2021. It showcases his battles with throat cancer and is based on his experiences in Tombstone. This A24 production has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and can be streamed on Prime Video for Amazon Prime subscribers.

Indeed, it’s worth noting that Val Kilmer is best recognized for portraying Batman in the movie “Batman Forever.” This made him the third actor to don the cape and cowl of Batman/Bruce Wayne in a full-length, cinematic adaptation. Following in the footsteps of Adam West and Michael Keaton, Kilmer’s portrayal was unique as he only played Batman once. The film garnered a mix of responses from both fans and critics, but Kilmer’s performance as Batman stood out as one of the highlights.

It’s said that there exists an alternative version of “Batman Forever,” known as the Schumacher Cut, which includes about 50 extra minutes of content. This version is allegedly less campy and carries a darker tone compared to the movie that was finally released. Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman has reportedly watched this version and has been advocating for its release since the early 2020s, but Warner Bros. currently has no intention of making it publicly accessible.

Among Kilmer’s impressive filmography are renowned titles such as The Doors, Tombstone, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and Heat, with Michael Mann planning a continuation of Heat which will incorporate elements of both prequel and sequel. In this new project, Kilmer’s character Chris Shiherlis is expected to reappear; however, there were initial plans for another actor to portray the role, possibly Austin Butler, due to the film’s prequel nature.

What was your favorite Val Kilmer role? Let me know in the comments.

Read More

2025-04-02 07:39