Batman (Val Kilmer)

Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne / Batman in Batman Forever

### Abilities

Genius intellect, Expert detective, Skilled martial artist and hand-to-hand combatant, Utilizes high-tech equipment

Bruce Wayne also known by Batman is the savior of Gotham City, along with his partner Robin. By day, he is Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy celebrity covered by columnists like Gossip Gerty on a daily basis. He was portrayed by Val Kilmer replacing Michael Keaton from the previous films. He didn't reprise his role in the sequel being replaced by George Clooney.

## Role in the Film

### Batman Forever

Batman is called to stop the gangster Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) from destroying the Gotham Statue of Liberty, with help from Gordon and psychologist Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman), who becomes instantly attracted to him. Two-Face was once Gotham's District Attorney, Harvey Dent, before a criminal scarred half of his face with acid, for which he blames Batman. The Dark Knight stops Two-Face from destroying the statue, but Two-Face escapes.

The next day, Bruce Wayne visits Wayne Enterprises and becomes acquainted with Edward Nygma (Jim Carrey), an employee who is obsessed with him. Nygma has developed the Box, a machine capable of transmitting television signals directly into the human brain. He asks Wayne to fund his invention, but Wayne turns him down. Seeking revenge, Nygma reinvents himself as "the Riddler" and allies himself with Two-Face in a plot to destroy both Batman and Bruce Wayne, whom Nygma has discovered are one and the same.

During a charity circus performance, Wayne witnesses Two-Face attack and murder a family of acrobats dubbed the Flying Graysons, leaving their youngest son, Dick (Chris O'Donnell), an orphan. Feeling a kinship with Dick, Wayne takes him in as his ward. Dick soon discovers Wayne's secret identity, and asks Wayne to take him on as his crimefighting partner so he can kill Two-Face and avenge his family. Wayne, who still feels responsible for his parents' deaths, refuses, not wanting to be responsible for another lost life.

Meanwhile, Wayne soon starts a romantic relationship with Meridian, who tries help him move on the trauma of his parents' deaths. Wayne decides to abandon his war on crime and lead a normal life with her. Before he can tell her, however, Riddler and Two-Face attack Wayne Manor, take Meridian hostage, and destroy the Batcave. Batman tracks the villainous duo to their hideout, with help from Dick, whom he has finally accepted as his crimefighting partner, Robin.

Two-Face and the Riddler take Meridian and Robin hostage, setting a trap that would force Batman to choose between saving one life or the other. Instead, Batman destroys the Box, driving the Riddler insane, and saves Meridan and Robin. Two-Face corners them at gunpoint, and while flipping his coin to decide their fates, Batman throws a handful of coins at him, causing him to fall to his death, avenging Dick's family.

## See Also

* Batman (Lewis Wilson)
* Batman (Robert Lowery)
* Batman (Adam West)
* Batman (Michael Keaton)
* Batman (George Clooney)
* Batman (Christian Bale)
* Batman (The Lego Movie)
* Batman (DC Extended Universe)
* Batman (Robert Pattinson)