Despite being a box office hit, Batman Forever got mixed reviews, and Kilmer didn’t return for the follow-up.
Rather, he played the lead in The Saint and costarred with Marlon Brando in The Island of Dr. Moreau, a highly criticized film that was marred by conflict on location.
Kilmer’s career was characterized by his reputation as a challenging co-star. The director of Batman Forever, Joel Schumacher, famously remarked: “I hope I never collaborate with [Kilmer] again. He didn’t talk to me for two weeks, but it was heaven.
John Frankenheimer, the director of The Island of Dr. Moreau, said, “I don’t like Val Kilmer, I don’t like his work ethic, and I don’t want to be associated with him ever again.” Brando reportedly warned Kilmer, “You are confusing your talent with the size of your paycheck.”
