Exclusive: Kilmer ‘Needs Help’

In an interview in this month's Empire magazine, director Joel Schumacher reveals his concerns about Val Kilmer's mental health. Asked by a reader whether Kilmer was as much of a pain to work with as rumoured, Schumacher replies, 'I've been asked a lot if Val was the most difficult actor I've worked with and I always say, "No, he was the most troubled. 'Some people think it's a bitchy comment,' Schumacher goes on to say, 'but you might say that about someone in your own family; I think Val needs psychiatric help... He's had a tremendous amount of negative press, many other directors have said much more and there have been big articles in the USA called "Psycho Val". 'Groucho Marx once said: "If ten people tell you you're dead, lie down"; sometimes if everyone speaks out about someone, maybe they will get some help. If ten people tell you you've got a drinking problem - not that Val's got one - maybe you will do something about it.' And there's more Come back to Empire Online tomorrow for news about whether Schumacher will do a sequel to The Lost Boys and find out what's the status of his film set entirely in a phone booth. You can find the full interview in the December issue of Empire which will be in the shops on 1 November 2000.