Director Calls Out ‘Top Gun’ Star Val Kilmer in Shocking Posthumous Remarks, Sparking Heated Debate Over ‘Worst Human Being’ Claim

Director Adam Marcus has sparked backlash after making harsh comments about the late actor Val Kilmer, more than a year after Kilmer’s death.

Marcus, who directed Kilmer in the 2008 action film Conspiracy, posted a series of remarks on Threads that were later deleted. In the post, he shared an old photo of himself with Kilmer and revisited their time working together on set.

He referred to Kilmer in insulting terms while recalling their collaboration, writing: “#MicroIntellectMonday to that time when I directed that guy. The guy who played Iceman and Doc Holiday. You know the one,” alongside a caption that described Kilmer in a derogatory way.

Marcus continued the post by addressing critics who objected to speaking negatively about someone who has died. He dismissed that idea entirely. “And to any of you rolling your eyes because of the whole ‘don’t speak ill of the dead bulls–t’, f–k that,” he wrote, according to the report.

He also doubled down on his criticism of Kilmer’s behavior on set, saying that if the actor had acted the same way today, he would have faced serious consequences. Marcus added that Kilmer, in his view, would have been “cancelled in a blink” if the same conduct had happened in the current industry environment.

The director ended his comments by calling Kilmer the “worst human being I’ve ever known,” a statement that quickly spread online before the post was removed.

Kilmer, known for major roles in films such as Top Gun, Batman Forever, and Tombstone, had long been the subject of mixed accounts from colleagues about his behavior on set. Over the years, several directors and co-stars have described him as difficult to work with, while others have defended him or spoken more positively about their experiences.

Earlier interviews from the 1990s included similar criticism from filmmaker Joel Schumacher, who directed Kilmer in Batman Forever. He once described the actor as “childish and impossible,” reflecting a strained working relationship during production.

Director John Frankenheimer also previously stated he would not work with Kilmer again after their collaboration on The Island of Dr. Moreau, adding to a long-standing public narrative about tension between Kilmer and some filmmakers.

Kilmer himself addressed his reputation in a 2021 documentary about his life. He acknowledged that his behavior had sometimes been difficult, but he framed it as part of a broader personal journey. “I have behaved poorly. I have behaved bravely. I have behaved bizarrely to some,” he said. “I deny none of this and have no regrets because I have lost and found parts of myself that I never knew existed. And I am blessed.”

Kilmer passed away in April 2025 at the age of 65. He died from pneumonia at his home in Los Angeles. In his later years, he had faced serious health challenges following treatment for throat cancer, which significantly affected his energy and ability to work.

Reports also noted that Kilmer had been largely bedridden in the years leading up to his death.

The resurfaced comments from Marcus have reignited discussion about Kilmer’s legacy, with fans and industry figures divided over how public figures should speak about the dead, especially in cases involving complicated working relationships in Hollywood.

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