The actor Val Kilmer hated for absolutely no reason
Val Kilmer was tarred with the 'difficult' brush early on in his career, and he didn't help his case by developing random distastes for his peers.
(Credits: Far Out / Val Kilmer / Press)
Film Âť Cutting Room Floor
Fri 7 February 2025 19:45, UK
Being branded as difficult is something that can follow an actor around for their entire career, which Val Kilmer clearly didnât mind. As undoubtedly talented as he was when he first burst onto the scene, the question remains as to whether he would have become an even bigger star if he didnât keep getting in his own way.
There were always signs that Kilmer was a prickly customer, though, dating right back to his breakthrough. Tony Scottâs Top Gun gave his career a massive boost, yet he didnât have any issues telling anyone whoâd listen that the only reason he was in the movie was because the studio strongarmed him into it by exercising a contractual obligation that meant he couldnât say no.
Whether he was running amok on the chaotic set of The Island of Dr Moreau, throwing things at Tom Sizemoreâs head in Red Planet, or bickering in public with Batman Forever director Joel Schumacher, Kilmer was never too far from the headlines and generating so much negative publicity is never going to have any positive long term effects.
Before Top Gun had even been released, Kilmer showcased his vindictive side by developing an irrational hatred for one of his peers, whoâd been linked to a high-profile project helmed by one of the greatest directors of all time. Matthew Modine hadnât even been officially cast in Full Metal Jacket yet, but when he went out for breakfast, he discovered that not only did Kilmer have the scoop, he wasnât happy about it.
âSo we were eating our pancakes, and there was a guy sitting over there,â Modine told Seth Meyers. âAnd I didnât know who it was. It was Val Kilmer. And he was looking at me, saying obscene things to me. And I said, âUnless thatâs an actor learning his lines or somebody with Touretteâs, heâs clearly telling me to F myself.â
âHe said, âI know who you are. Iâm sick of you, man,'â the actor continued. âYou know, actors, every once in a while, we get on a really good run, and Iâd done a bunch of movies. And he said, âNow youâre doing Kubrickâs movie, Full Metal Jacket. I said, âYou donât have to worry about that, Iâm not doing Full Metal Jacket.'â
At the time, Anthony Michael Hall was in negotiations to play the role of Joker, who would eventually be Modineâs, but it didnât come to fruition. Kilmer was another name in contention for the erstwhile protagonist of Full Metal Jacket, and even though Modine hadnât even been cast and had no idea he was ultimately going to land the gig for himself, that was more than enough to make Kilmer hate him.
Theyâd never met before; Modine didnât even recognise him, but the animosity was already palpable.
Related Topics
Full Metal JacketVal Kilmer