10 Insane Reasons Actors Didn’t Return for Sequels

10. Val Kilmer Felt Invisible - Batman & Robin

There are certain superheroes that have become synonymous with certain actors when it comes to live-action portrayals. Robert Downey Jr. is Iron Man. Hugh Jackman is Wolverine. Tom Hiddleston is Loki. At the other end of the spectrum, however, there have been seven men to bring Batman to life on the big screen, beginning with Lewis Wilson back in 1943.

Five decades later in 1995's Batman Forever, Val Kilmer took the cowl from Michael Keaton as Tim Burton was replaced in the director's chair by Joel Schumacher. While Schumacher went on to produce the critically panned Batman and Robin, Kilmer himself was replaced after just one turn as Bruce Wayne.

In recent years there have been multiple big-name actors, including Winston Duke, Alan Ritchson, and Jensen Ackles clamouring to be the next Batman, but the life was not for Kilmer, something that was driven home when Warren Buffet and his grandchildren stopped by the set.

Despite the role of Batman helping solidify the actor as one of the biggest names in the business at the time, according to the man himself, no one paid much notice to him. The children's attention was with the Batmobile rather than Batman, leaving him feeling completely invisible, expendable, and happy to see the job go to someone else for Batman and Robin two years later.