As A Batman Forever Fan, I Was Touched Hearing Drew Barrymore Talk About Her Experience Working With Val Kilmer On The DC Movie

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Recently, Val Kilmer passed away at 65 years old. Apart from his roles in films like The Doors, Top Gun, Tombstone, and Heat, Kilmer was also recognized for his one-time portrayal of Gotham City’s Caped Crusader in Batman Forever. One of his co-stars on this 1995 movie was Drew Barrymore. As a genuine admirer of Batman Forever (though there might be a hint of irony), it was heartwarming to listen to Barrymore discuss her time working alongside Kilmer.

During a conversation with Kevin Bacon on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” it was mentioned that Bacon worked with Val Kilmer in a play titled “The Slab Boys.” This collaboration was in relation to the recent premiere of Bacon’s TV series, “The Bondsman” (which debuted recently in the 2025 TV schedule). As they reminisced about their past projects, they touched upon Bacon’s film “Flatliners,” which was directed by Joel Schumacher, who is also known for directing “Batman Forever.” This discussion led Drew Barrymore to remark:

This morning, I found myself reminiscing about Joel Schumacher, the director, with whom I had a friendship. It was primarily due to him and Val Kilmer that I became involved in Batman Forever. What stood out most about Val Kilmer was his kindness and nurturing demeanor. He provided a sense of safety that held significant importance for me at the time.

In the movie “Batman Forever”, Drew Barrymore took on the role of the “good” assistant to Tommy Lee Jones’ character, Two-Face, while Debi Mazar portrayed the “bad” assistant named Spice. During a scene, Barrymore and Val Kilmer shared screen time when Batman (Kilmer) encountered Sugar, who was actually Edward Nygma’s date at a party he hosted for the unveiling of his invention, The Box – a device designed to manipulate brains. Through some clever deception by Sugar, Batman’s mind got exposed to The Box, giving Riddler (Nygma) and Two-Face the opportunity to later discover that Batman was indeed the Dark Knight.

That level of safety might not have been as prevalent during those times.

Indeed, I found myself musing, ‘It seems everyone is seeking things for me rather than wanting anything from me.’ Quite an intriguing observation, I must say.

Drew Barrymore recently made a comment about Val Kilmer following Jim Carrey’s praise, who referred to Kilmer as a “generational talent” for his role in Batman Forever. Meanwhile, Tom Cruise honored Kilmer during a presentation by Paramount Pictures, and Glen Powell, who worked with Kilmer on Top Gun: Maverick, described him as “incredible.” Regarding Batman, Kilmer found playing the character to be isolating, and he eventually decided that it didn’t make a difference who wore the cape and cowl.

Consequently, George Clooney stepped into the role of Bruce Wayne in Batman & Robin, a decision that has prompted him to express regret on several occasions due to his performance. Interestingly, you can watch these Batman films, along with numerous other live-action and animated titles, by subscribing to Max.

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2025-04-08 04:09