Actor Val Kilmer passed away on April 1, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of an extremely well-received filmography. Kilmer appeared in blockbuster movies such as Top Gun and Batman Forever, seeing a meteoric rise in Hollywood during the 1990s.
However, in the 1980s, Kilmer was a bit of an unknown commodity, especially when he tested for the role of Paul Atreides. He was considered for David Lynch’s adaptation of Dune, long before Timothée Chalamet’s more modern take on the character.
Despite being a frontrunner for the role, Kilmer eventually lost to Kyle MacLachlan, who made his big-screen debut with the film. As a result, fans must be curious to know why Kilmer missed out, and reports alleged it was because of one facial feature. Here is everything you need to know about Val Kilmer’s audition for Dune.
Val Kilmer allegedly lost the lead role in Dune because of one facial feature
In the 1980s, Dino De Laurentiis hired filmmaker David Lynch to adapt the Frank Herbert novel Dune for the big screen. Max Evry provided an oral history of the tumultuous project in the book Masterpiece in Disarray, which revealed several actors who were auditioned for the lead role.
According to casting director Jane Jenkins, eventual Batman Forever star Val Kilmer, who was yet to make his feature film debut, was the frontrunner for the role. Production assistant Craig Campobasso corroborated the same, stating Kilmer was the top choice until Kyle MacLachlan auditioned.
I thought he did very well, but later I heard Dino had misgivings over the shape of his lips.
Actor Everett McGill, who plays Stilgar in the movie, made the above comment (via Mashable), implying that Kilmer lost the past because De Laurentiis did not like the shape of the actor’s lips.
McGill described Kilmer and MacLachlan’s take on the character of Paul Atreides, citing Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond as a metaphor. As a result, it is safe to deduce that Kilmer was seriously considered for the lead role in Dune.
Val Kilmer most likely turned down David Lynch’s Dune
Although Kilmer eventually lost out in the past to MacLachlan, there is no concrete evidence that it was primarily because of his facial features. Later, Kilmer was also considered for a role in Lynch’s 1986 film Blue Velvet, which he turned down, and MacLachlan was cast instead.
During an interview with Attitude, Kilmer expressed regret over turning down the film, stating the following (via Irish Examiner):
David Lynch I remember, because the second film I turned down was Blue Velvet, because it was really graphic and I was just too shy back then.
From Kilmer’s words, it is evident that he turned down Lynch twice. Since he was seriously considered for the role in Dune, it is safe to assume that Kilmer turned down the project contrary to the notion that MacLachlan was preferred because of his facial features.
Kilmer made his big-screen debut with the comedy Top Secret!, which was released just a few months before Dune. Hence, the Top Gun star likely preferred the former project over the ambitious sci-fi adaptation. The actor sadly passed away on April 1, 2025, aged 65, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.
Dune (1984) is streaming on Paramount+.
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