When DC FanDome dropped its massive list of stars that will be attending the virtual event at the end of August, you’d think it’d be hard to pick just one name that stood out above the rest. But apparently DC Comics fans are flocking to social media to go absolutely wild about one name and one name only: Val Kilmer.
Kilmer’s presence at the fan event is surprising for a variety of reasons. The actor has never spoken fondly of his time making Batman Forever, which saw him play the Caped Crusader just once before being replaced by George Clooney. There’s also the small issue of director Joel Schumacher repeatedly referring to Kilmer as “psychotic” and vowing never to work with the actor again.
However, Kilmer recently waxed philosophical about his short time as Batman during a recent interview with The New York Times. While recounting a set visit from Warren Buffet and his grandchildren, the actor noticed that the kids didn’t care about meeting Batman, they wanted to try on the Batsuit and sit in the Batmobile. The revelation caused Kilmer to realize that Batman is meant to be “so anonymous” that anyone can see themselves as the hero. “That’s why it’s so easy to have five or six Batmans,” Kilmer told the Times. “It’s not about Batman. There is no Batman.”
There’s also the matter of Schumacher’s death. The director passed away in early June, not long after Kilmer’s interview with the Times, and with his death came rumors of a “Schumacher Cut” of Batman Forever that Warner Bros. might be sitting on. With Kilmer now added to the DC FanDome roster, it didn’t take long for fans to start raising their eyebrows.
Me hearing @valkilmer is going to be at #DCFanDome… pic.twitter.com/1pTlFNJcHf
— Always Hold On To Smallville (@alwaysmallville) August 7, 2020
now i want to know why Val Kilmer was on that list 😭
— sabrina 🦇 (@nightwaynes) August 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/DerfelMacGuffin/status/1291740589139136516
As Twitter is going to do, it didn’t take long for a hashtag to start forming:
Why is Val Kilmer on the DC Fandome guest star list?
Hmmmmmm…Schumacher Cut announcement?
— VENGEANCE🦇 (@BatSource1) August 7, 2020
So @valkilmer will be at the #DCFanDome…#SchumacherCut? pic.twitter.com/SorBpK6LWZ
— Gotham Monkey (@GothamApe) August 7, 2020
And then there this was interesting theory that suggests maybe Michael Keaton passed on The Flash, or he won’t be the only Batman to show up…
Ya’ll… Val Kilmer is on the list.. what if Michael Keaton said “No” 😐 #DCFanDome pic.twitter.com/aj11hgx4WR
— 3C Films (@3CFilm) August 7, 2020
Whatever Kilmer’s reason for attending DC FanDome might be, if this anecdote is anything go by, it should be an interesting experience:
https://twitter.com/dc_connections/status/1291765150056189959
