Val Kilmer reported to be a top contender, though just days after Keaton dropped out, Kilmer was cast. Kilmer took the role without even knowing who the new director was and without reading the script. Released in June 1995, "Batman Forever" was a success at the box office, despite receiving mixed reviews from critics. There was debate about Kilmer's performance: some critics, like "The New York Times" Janet Maslin, thought Kilmer was a poor successor to Keaton in the part; while others, such as Roger Ebert, had kind words for Kilmer. "Batman" creator Bob Kane said in a "Cinescape" interview that of
Val Kilmer Genius." He turned down a role in David Lynch's "Blue Velvet" before being cast as naval aviator "Iceman" in the action film "Top Gun" alongside Tom Cruise. "Top Gun" grossed a total of $344,700,000 worldwide and made Kilmer a major star. Following roles in the television films "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains," Kilmer played Madmartigan in the fantasy "Willow;" he met his future wife, co-star Joanne Whalley, on the film's set. Kilmer starred in the Colorado Shakespeare Festival production of "Hamlet" in 1988. In 1989, Kilmer played the lead in both "Kill