Adam Marcus, the director of Val Kilmer's 2008 action thriller Conspiracy, has publicly condemned the late actor, calling him the "worst human being I've ever known." Marcus took to Threads to share his experience working with Kilmer, who died on April 1, 2025, from pneumonia after a long battle with throat cancer.
Marcus's Harsh Critique
In a series of posts since deleted, Marcus wrote: "#MicroIntellectMonday to that time when I directed that guy. The guy who played Iceman and Doc Holiday. You know the one. Here's me and the Putz working it out on the set of Conspiracy. So yeah, that happened." He preempted criticism for speaking ill of the dead, stating, "And to any of you rolling your eyes because of the whole 'don't speak ill of the dead bulls***,' f*** that. [If] this guy did one-tenth of what he did on my set today, he would have been cancelled in a blink."
Marcus concluded: "Worst human being I've ever known… and that is really saying something." The Independent has contacted Kilmer's former manager for comment.
Previous Criticisms of Kilmer
This is not the first time Kilmer's collaborators have spoken out. Marlon Brando reportedly threw Kilmer's phone into a bush on the set of The Island of Dr Moreau (1996), telling him he confused his salary with his talent. Director John Frankenheimer said at the time, "I don't like Val Kilmer, I don't like his work ethic, and I don't want to be associated with him ever again."
Kilmer's AI Resurrection
Despite the controversy, Kilmer appeared posthumously in the 2026 film As Deep as the Grave, where his likeness was recreated using artificial intelligence. Brothers Coerte and John Voorhees, the filmmakers, secured permission from Kilmer's children and used archival footage, photographs, and voice recordings. Coerte Voorhees stated at CinemaCon, "We are 100 per cent confident it's really the right move with this specific film." They claim to have followed SAG-AFTRA guidelines, with John Voorhees adding, "We're making a bold claim, which is that we believe we're doing this in an ethical way," noting that Kilmer's estate "collaborated artistically."
