Val Kilmer Reveals Why He Only Played Batman in 1 Movie & Responds to Rumors That He's Difficult on Set

Val Kilmer played the iconic role of Batman in the 1995 film Batman Forever, and he’s finally revealing why he left the role behind after only one movie.

It apparently started when he did a set visit with investor Warren Buffett with his grandkids. He stayed in costume, waiting for the grandkids to arrive, and when they did, they showed more interest in the Batman props and Batmobile than meeting him.

“That’s why it’s so easy to have five or six Batmans,” Val told the New York Times. “It’s not about Batman. There is no Batman.”

Val took over the role of Batman from Michael Keaton, who starred in the 1992 movie Batman Returns. George Clooney took over the role from Val.

Val also addressed rumors that he has been difficult to work with on set, including rumors that he burned a crew member’s sideburn with a lit cigarette on the set of The Island of Dr. Moreau.

“Everyone has to work out their own salvation,” he responded. “How to live and by what morality, and I found that the part that I feel bad about is hurting somebody in the process.”

A 1996 EW article elaborated further on the incident, with one source saying, “He burned that cameraman right on his face, and no, he wasn’t fooling around. It was intentional. He did apologize to the crew.”

“Val was sort of teasing him with the end of his cigarette and burned this guy’s sideburn,” executive producer Tim Zinnemann said about the incident. “The guy was upset, naturally.”

Find out which famous celeb Val said was his most difficult breakup.