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There are many incidents when a decision made by an actor significantly alters the course of their entire life and career. For Keanu Reeves, however, a pivotal choice could have not only reshaped his trajectory but potentially spared Val Kilmer from a path that ultimately tarnished his reputation as an actor in the industry.
Kilmer took on the role of the DC superhero Batman in the 1995 filmBatman Forever. While the film performed quite well at the box office, Kilmer’s on-set behavior contributed to a growing perception of him being a difficult actor to work with. However, if Reeves had accepted the offer, Kilmer might have potentially avoided facing such consequences.
Keanu Reeves Was Considered to Star inBatman Forever
Throughout his decades-long career,Keanu Reeveshas given several hits, most notably in franchises likeThe MatrixandJohn Wick. However, among these remarkable achievements, there have also been moments, when he lost the opportunity to play a character he eagerly coveted.
One such character includes Batman, which he was considered to play in the 1995 filmBatman Forever.Following Tim Burton’s departure afterBatman Returns,Joel Schumachertook over the reins of the highly anticipated Batman franchise.
And once Michael Keaton refused to return as Batman, the makersreportedlyapproached Reeves, among many other actors, with the offer to portray the Dark Knight. However,The Matrixstar turned down the opportunity, a decision he later acknowledged with regret.
However, he eventually got to play the character in the 2022 animated filmDC League of Super-Pets,where he voiced Batman. And theSpeedactor remains open to the possibility of portraying the Dark Knight in live-action.
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“It’s always been a dream,”he said when asked about playing Batman.“So. maybe down the road. Maybe when they need an older Batman,”hefurther noted. While seeing theJohn Wickstar embodying the Cape Crusader would be amazing, its prospect remains uncertain.
Keanu Reeves Accepting the Offer Would Have Potentially Saved Val Kilmer’s Reputation
After Keanu Reeves rejected the offer and after considering several actors, the makers eventually castVal KilmerforBatman Forever.Kilmer had admitted that he signed up for the movie without reading the script or even knowing who the director was.
And the actor had also been very candid about his experience working on the movie, as he said, as perScreenRant,
Whatever boyhood excitement I had was crushed by the reality of the Batsuit. Yes, every boy wants to be Batman. They actually want to be him… not necessarily play him in a movie.
However, Kilmer was not the only one to voice frustration. The film’s director Joel Schumacher also revealed that he and Kilmer have often clashed on the film set, and theTop Gunstar often exhibited rude behavior towards the crew.
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“He was badly behaved, he was rude and inappropriate. I was forced to tell him that this would not be tolerated for one more second,”the filmmaker said, as perEntertainment Weekly. The claims about his on-set behavior contributed to a perception of Kilmer as a difficult actor to work with.
Reflecting on his behavior, Kilmer later acknowledged onReddit, “I like to take risks and this often gave the impression I was willing to risk their money not being returned, which was foolish of me.”He did not return for another film, with George Clooney replacing him inBatman & Robin.
Batman ForeverandBatman & Robinare available to stream on Max.
Laxmi Rajput
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3449
Laxmi Rajput is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, with over 3,300 articles published covering film, TV, and pop culture. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in content writing, she pivoted to entertainment journalism because let’s be honest, superheroes, sitcoms, and Netflix binges are way more fun. Laxmi frequently covers Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and popular TV shows, offering both fan-first enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. Her work often dives into Marvel theories, revisits the genius of The Big Bang Theory, or unpacks the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things.
