Still can’t believe he ditched Batman 4 for that stupid Saint movie
It was so stupid. Did he thought it would become some new long franchise? He probably did.
And then it flopped. Because he was never a true movie star he thought he was. He was another "golden boy" that Hollywood tried to make happen. Sometimes it works, often not. Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt became stars. Val Kilmer and Taylor Kitch didnt.
He could not carry a movie on his shoulders where people will come to theater just to see him. Thats why Saint flopped. Before that in his hits movies he was mostly in duets with other stars.
- Top Gun was Toms movie.
- The Doors was about famous musician, like Elvis now with Austin Butler.
- The Real McCoy was carried by Kim Basinger who was the main star.
- In Tombstone Kurt Russell was lead
- Batman Forever was about Batman
- In Heat he was supporting
- The Island of Dr. Moreau was about famous book and had Brando as main attraction. And it flopped.
- The Ghost and the Darkness was carried by Michael Douglas on his fame. And it flopped too with 38 millions on a 55 millions budget
And then came The Saint (1997) with blockbuster budget of 90 millions. Where he had to carry that movie on his own shoulders. And no one cared to see it. It mad 61 millions in USA. That when Hollywood gave up and stopped casting him in big movies. That when his career as Leading Man was basically over. He was 37 years old when Saint came out.
No, there still was some boring drama At First Sight that came out in 1999 with a whooping budget of 60 millions. And made only 22 millions. I guess it was already in development when Saint flopped.
Then was an ensemble space movie in 2000 called Red Planet. That also flopped and had 80 millions budget.
And then it was it. He got lucky to get small supporting role in Alexander (2004). He was 44 years old then and transitioned to the roles of Fathers to young actors.
He started out with Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Jim Carrey and those still could land good roles up till today. While his career basically stalled at the end of 90-th.
So stupid of him to ditch that Batman sequel thinking he is too big of a star now and dont need it. Could have milk that cow and stay relevant for longer.
But Val Kilmer was Taylor Kitch of the 90-th. Hollywood tried to make him happen but public didnt care.