Val Kilmer’s Batman might not top many fan rankings, but give the man credit—he had a wild idea that would’ve made for an unforgettable multiverse movie. Back in 2017, the Batman Forever star took to social media and pitched a concept so ridiculous it might have actually worked: a film where he, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, and Christian Bale played villains fighting against Ben Affleck’s Batman.
Kilmer’s tweet read, “You’re my secret VALentine Batman. I’ve got a pitch—u, me, Clooney, and Bale all do bad guy cameos in the next one and Affleck kills us all.” The funny part? He thought he was replying to the real Michael Keaton. It wasn’t. Just some random dude with the same name.
Now, would this Batman multiverse movie ever happen? Not a chance. Warner Bros. barely managed to get two Batmen into The Flash, and even then, Keaton and Affleck never actually shared the screen. Still, imagine the chaos of a film where Affleck’s Dark Knight had to take down his predecessors, each playing a villainous version of themselves. It’s absurd. It’s over-the-top. It’s kind of genius.
Would Clooney sign on after spending years pretending Batman & Robin didn’t happen? Doubtful. Bale? Not unless Christopher Nolan directed it. And Keaton? Well, he already made his Batman return, so maybe. Kilmer himself, despite health challenges, never stopped embracing his Batman legacy.
The real tragedy here isn’t that Kilmer’s pitch never saw the light of day—it’s that his Batman didn’t get the film he deserved. Many argue Batman Forever’s shortcomings had less to do with his performance and more to do with the script. A better movie could have given him a lasting legacy in the cape and cowl.
But if Hollywood ever wants to get truly weird with the multiverse concept, Kilmer’s idea is right there, waiting. And let’s be honest—seeing Affleck’s Batman take on his predecessors would be a lot more interesting than what The Flash gave us.
RIP to one of the best Batman actors of all time: Val Kilmer.
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