MOVIE NEWS – One week has passed since Val Kilmer died at the age of 65, and while Hollywood continues to mourn, many are also revisiting his career. On her talk show, Drew Barrymore shared memories of filming Batman Forever in 1995, describing how much of a gentleman Kilmer was throughout the production and how that made a lasting impression on her.

According to a report from Entertainment Weekly, Drew Barrymore welcomed Kevin Bacon to an episode of her talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show. During the discussion, the two recalled moments from their respective experiences with Val Kilmer and director Joel Schumacher, both of whom have passed away. Although Bacon never worked with Kilmer on a film, they performed together in the 1983 Broadway play The Slab Boys. Kilmer also starred in Schumacher’s 1990 film Flatliners. Barrymore, meanwhile, collaborated with both men during the production of Batman Forever, the third installment of the franchise.

Reflecting on that time, Barrymore explained how both Schumacher and Kilmer had invited her to take part in the movie. “I was friends with Joel Schumacher, the director, and I was thinking about him this morning because it was him and Val Kilmer who brought me into Batman Forever. Val was incredibly kind to me—supportive, caring, and someone who made me feel safe. That really meant a lot to me at that point in my life,” she said.

Barrymore emphasized that Kilmer’s respectful behavior stood out in an industry that could often be harsh. When Bacon noted that Kilmer’s considerate attitude may not have been common at the time, Barrymore agreed. “Yeah, I remember thinking, ‘No one’s trying to get anything out of me. They’re trying to give something to me.’ That felt so different and meaningful,” she added.

In Batman Forever, Barrymore played the role of Sugar, one of Two-Face’s female sidekicks, paired with Spice, portrayed by Debi Mazar. Although the role was relatively small, Sugar appeared in a few memorable scenes, including one where she attended a party with Edward Nygma—the Riddler, played by Jim Carrey. The event served as a cover for testing the Box, a brainwave device used by Nygma to extract information from attendees and channel it into himself. Bruce Wayne (Kilmer) also attended the gathering, and the Box was used on him, allowing Nygma and Two-Face to discover his secret identity as Batman.

The Legacy of Kilmer’s Batman and Renewed Interest in the Schumacher Cut

Batman Forever marked the only time Val Kilmer played the Caped Crusader, stepping in after Michael Keaton, who starred in the 1989 and 1992 Batman films. Released in June 1995, the film became a box office success, grossing $184 million domestically and $336.6 million worldwide against a $100 million budget. Since Kilmer’s passing, fans have begun revisiting the film, and calls have resurfaced for Warner Bros. to finally release the long-rumored Schumacher Cut, which is said to include more nuanced material and deeper performances—especially from Kilmer himself.

Source: Entertainment Weekly