Val Kilmer came close to leading the critically acclaimed FX crime series Terriers in 2010, potentially changing its short-lived run. Show creator Shawn Ryan shared details of the near-miss in a 2025 interview marking the series' 15th anniversary. The opportunity highlighted the era's divide between film and television stardom.
The FX series Terriers, which debuted in 2010, earned praise from critics and viewers for its subtle storytelling but lasted only one season. Executive producer Shawn Ryan, reflecting on the show's legacy in an interview with The Television Academy in 2025, revealed that Val Kilmer, known for films like Top Gun: Maverick, nearly took the lead role of Hank Dolworth. Ryan and co-showrunner Ted Griffin met with Kilmer to pitch their vision, crediting Ryan's prior work on The Shield and Griffin's feature screenwriting for securing the meeting. As Ryan explained, 'I guess we had enough juice from my work on 'The Shield' — and Ted's work as a screenwriter in features — that we got a meeting.' Despite the enthusiasm, Kilmer did not commit, as Ryan noted the prevailing attitudes at the time: 'This was before the time when actors predominantly known for feature film work could and would do television.' He added, 'Val wasn't really ready to do TV, I think, at that point... I think there was still a perception that that was a step you took down because your career had sort of dissipated.' Donal Logue ultimately portrayed Hank, delivering a performance Ryan praised as ideal, though he acknowledged the team was encouraged to pursue bigger names. The series also attracted interest from director David Fincher, known for Fight Club and The Social Network, who nearly joined the project. Ryan still views Terriers as a 'special' endeavor, suggesting Kilmer's involvement might have boosted its longevity amid the rigid separation between movie and TV careers in the early 2010s.