Following Michael Keaton’s upcoming return to the role of Batman in next year’s The Flash, his fellow former caped crusader Val Kilmer has said he would also like to return to the role if asked by DC.
Val Kilmer originally played Bruce Wayne on the big screen in 1995’s Batman Forever, the first of director Joel Schumacher’s two much maligned entries in the Batman franchise. The film pitted Kilmer’s Dark Knight against Jim Carrey’s Riddler and Tommy Lee Jones’ Two-Face, as well as introducing Chris O’Donnell’s Robin.
With DC now gearing up to follow in Marvel Studios’ footsteps by exploring the multiverse on the big screen, could the doors be opening to a return from Val Kilmer’s Batman?
Could Val Kilmer Play Batman Forever?
During a recent interview with IGN about his return to the Top Gun franchise in Top Gun: Maverick, Val Kilmer was asked about a potential return to the role of Batman, something he expressed an interest in pursuing.
The topic of comic book movie multiverses was brought up in the interview. The returns of previous Spider-Men in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Michael Keaton’s Batman in The Flash were referenced as examples of how the concept is being utilized to bring back former superhero actors.
When asked if returning to the role of Batman in a future DC movie was something he would be interested in, Val Kilmer simply responded “Yea please.” Clearly the critical response to Batman Forever hasn’t dampened Kilmer’s enthusiasm for playing the character.
Whether fans would welcome Val Kilmer back to the role of Batman is another matter. After the dark, gothic take on the character delivered by Michael Keaton and director Tim Burton, the campy, cheesy version of Batman brought to life in Schumacher’s movies – infamous Bat-nipples and all – was far less well-received by DC fans.
Directed by Andy Muschietti from a script written by Birds of Prey scribe Christina Hodson, The Flash is inspired by the Flashpoint comic book storyline, which followed Barry Allen as he navigated an altered DC Universe. Written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Andy Kuber, Flashpoint radically altered the status of the DC Comics universe and led to the launch of the New 52 titles.
In addition to Ezra Miller, The Flash also features Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck as two separate versions of Batman, Ron Livingston as Henry Allen, Maribel Verdú as Nora Allen, Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Antje Traue as Faora-Ul and Sasha Calle as Supergirl. Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Rudy Mancuso, and Luke Brandon Field are also on board in undisclosed roles.
The Flash is currently set for release on June 23, 2023. Stay tuned for all the latest news on the Ezra Miller film, and subscribe to Heroic Hollywood’s YouTube channel for more original video content.
Source: IGN
