Director Adam Marcus Calls Val Kilmer “Worst Human Being I’ve Ever Known”
Director Adam Marcus recently made headlines after describing Val Kilmer as the “worst human being I’ve ever known” in a social media post on Threads. The comment was shared under the hashtag #MicroIntellectMonday, accompanied by a photo from the set of their 2008 film Conspiracy. Marcus used strong language, calling Kilmer a “putz” and suggesting that if the Top Gun star had behaved similarly today, he would have been “canceled in a blink.”
The post read: “Here’s me and the Putz working it out on the set of Conspiracy. So yeah, that happened.” The comments quickly sparked public backlash, leading Marcus to delete the posts.
Marcus is best known for directing the slasher film Jason Goes to H—: The Final Friday at just 23 years old. His remarks about Kilmer, however, reignited discussions about the actor’s past reputation in Hollywood.
The timing of Marcus’ comments drew significant criticism, especially since Kilmer passed away from pneumonia at the age of 65 in April 2025. In response to the backlash, Marcus defended his statements, saying, “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 canceled in a blink.”
He added, “Worst human being I’ve ever known … and that is really saying something.”
Marcus’ comments align with a long-standing history of directors finding Kilmer difficult to work with early in his career. Joel Schumacher, director of Batman Forever, previously described Kilmer as “childish and impossible.” John Frankenheimer, who directed The Island of Dr. Moreau, famously stated he would never work with the actor again.
Kilmer addressed these challenges in his 2020 memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, and his 2021 documentary, Val. He acknowledged that he was often “careless” about his professional relationships in Hollywood. In a 2003 interview with Rolling Stone, Kilmer reflected on his behavior, saying, “I’ve been careless about how I viewed my business. But I trust that the truth is the truth and a lie is a lie.” He also mentioned that Frankenheimer, who had passed away, had a history of being “mean about people.”
In the 2021 documentary Val, Kilmer reflected on his life and career. He admitted, “I have behaved poorly. I have behaved bravely. I have behaved bizarrely to some.” He continued, “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’s legacy remains complex, shaped by both his artistic contributions and the challenges he faced in his personal and professional life. His candid reflections offer insight into the struggles of navigating fame and creativity in the entertainment industry.
