Val Kilmer that same year, he starred opposite Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in "Heat", which is now considered one of the best crime/drama films of the 1990s. In December 1993, "Batman Forever" director Joel Schumacher had seen "Tombstone" and was most impressed with Kilmer's performance as Doc Holliday. Schumacher felt him to be perfect for the role of Batman, though at the time, the role was still Michael Keaton's. In July 1994, Keaton decided not to return for a third Batman film after 1992's "Batman Returns", due to "creative differences". William Baldwin (who previously worked with Schumacher on "Flatliners") was
Michael Keaton surname due to an attraction to actress Diane Keaton is incorrect. Keaton's film debut came in a small non-speaking role in the Joan Rivers film "Rabbit Test". His next break was working alongside Jim Belushi in the short-lived comedy series "Working Stiffs", which showcased his comedic talent and led to a co-starring role in the comedy "Night Shift" directed by Ron Howard. His role as the fast-talking schemer Bill "Blaze" Blazejowski earned Keaton some critical acclaim, and he scored leads in the subsequent comedy hits "Mr. Mom", "Johnny Dangerously" and "Gung Ho". He played the title character in Tim Burton's