Honestly, if you grew up in the late 90s, you probably remember the sheer hype surrounding the cast of The Saint movie. It was 1997. Val Kilmer was coming off a massive run with Heat and Batman Forever. This was supposed to be the start of a massive franchise, a gritty, tech-heavy reboot of the classic Leslie Charteris character, Simon Templar. It didn't exactly turn into a James Bond level series, but looking back at the ensemble they put together, it’s a fascinating snapshot of Hollywood transition.
You’ve got a mix of A-list charisma and serious European talent that makes the film feel way more grounded than the gadgets might suggest.
People often forget how weird this movie was. Simon Templar isn't just a spy; he’s a master of disguise who names his aliases after obscure Catholic saints. This required the lead actor to basically play ten different characters in one film. Let’s get into who actually made the cut and why their performances still hold up—or don't—nearly thirty years later.
Val Kilmer as the Man of a Thousand Faces
Val Kilmer took the role of Simon Templar and really leaned into the "actor" side of the character. This wasn't just a guy in a suit. He used different accents, wigs, and even different physical gaits for every alias. Some of them were admittedly pretty goofy. Remember the nerd with the thick glasses and the buck teeth? That was Kilmer. Then there was the long-haired bohemian artist.
Kilmer was at the height of his "difficult genius" reputation during this era. According to several reports from the set, he was deeply involved in the creative process, often clashing with director Phillip Noyce about how Templar should be portrayed. He didn't want a generic action hero. He wanted a lonely, broken man who hides behind these masks. You can see that in the performance. There’s a coldness to his Templar that actually makes the romance with Elizabeth Shue’s character feel more earned.
The cast of The Saint movie really relied on Kilmer’s ability to carry the heavy lifting of the narrative. If the disguises didn't work, the movie fell apart. While some of the prosthetics look a bit "Spirit Halloween" by today’s standards, Kilmer’s commitment to the bit is undeniable. He reportedly spent hours with dialect coaches to make sure his "Thomas More" sounded distinct from his "Martin de Porres."
Elisabeth Shue: The Heart of the Cold Fusion Plot
Then we have Elisabeth Shue. She plays Dr. Emma Russell, an American physicist who discovers the secret to cold fusion. Shue was fresh off her Oscar-nominated performance in Leaving Las Vegas, and honestly, she’s almost too good for this movie. She brings a vulnerability to Emma that balances out Kilmer’s icy, detached vibe.
In many 90s spy movies, the female lead is just there to be rescued. Emma Russell is different. She’s the smartest person in the room. The entire plot of the movie revolves around her brain. Without her discovery, the Russian villains have nothing to steal.
There was a lot of talk about the chemistry between Kilmer and Shue. It’s... interesting. It’s not the fiery, explosive chemistry of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. It’s more quiet and intellectual. They spend a lot of time talking about poetry and science. It’s sort of refreshing to see an action movie where the leads bond over Shelley poems instead of just dodging explosions. Shue’s performance is the anchor. Without her, the movie would just be a series of wig changes.
👉 See also: Ted Nugent State of Shock: Why This 1979 Album Divides Fans Today
The Villains: Randal’s Russian Power Trip
Every good spy flick needs a mustache-twirling villain. We got that in Randal Keith, played by the late, great Rade Šerbedžija. He plays Ivan Tretiak, a Russian oil tycoon who wants to use cold fusion to overthrow the Russian government.
Šerbedžija is a legend in Eastern European cinema, and he brings a certain weight to the role. He doesn't play Tretiak as a cartoon. He plays him as a man who genuinely believes he is the savior of his country. He’s ruthless, sure, but he’s also tired. There’s a scene where he’s sitting in his massive, cold office, and you can see the desperation in his eyes.
The cast of The Saint movie also includes Valery Nikolaev as Tretiak’s son, Ilya. He’s the physical threat of the movie—the muscle. Nikolaev brings a terrifying, sleek energy to the role. He’s the one chasing Kilmer through the sewers of Moscow. The dynamic between the father (the brains) and the son (the brawn) provides a solid antagonist force that feels genuinely dangerous.
Supporting Players and Surprising Cameos
When you dig into the smaller roles, you find some gems.
- Henry Goodman as Dr. Lev Naumovich Botvin: He’s the Russian scientist who helps verify the cold fusion. He’s the moral compass of the Russian side of the story.
- Alun Armstrong as Inspector Teal: If you know the original Saint books or the Roger Moore TV show, you know Teal. He’s the cop who is always one step behind Templar. Armstrong plays him with a grumpy, overworked charm that provides some much-needed groundedness.
- Emily Mortimer: Believe it or not, a young Emily Mortimer has a tiny role as "Woman on Plane." It’s one of those "blink and you’ll miss it" moments, but it’s cool to see a future star in her early days.
And we have to talk about the Roger Moore connection. While he doesn't physically appear in the film, his voice is heard on a car radio at the very end of the movie. It’s a passing-of-the-torch moment that many fans of the 60s series appreciated.
The Production Struggle: Why the Cast Mattered
The making of The Saint was kind of a mess. The original ending was completely different. In the first cut, Emma Russell actually dies, and Templar has to go on alone. Test audiences hated it. They wanted the romance to mean something.
So, the producers called the cast of The Saint movie back for massive reshoots. They changed the entire third act to have Emma survive and the cold fusion actually work in front of a crowd in Red Square. This change shifted the tone from a tragic spy thriller to a more hopeful action-romance. You can actually spot some continuity errors in Kilmer’s hair and Shue’s styling if you look closely at the final scenes in Moscow versus the earlier footage.
The fact that the movie still works at all is a testament to the actors. Kilmer and Shue had to sell a completely different emotional ending months after they thought they were done with the characters.
✨ Don't miss: Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus Explained (Simply)
The Impact of the Cast on 90s Cinema
The 1990s were a weird time for the "Gentleman Thief" subgenre. You had Mission: Impossible taking off, and The Saint was trying to occupy that same space. The cast choice was a deliberate move to make it feel "prestige."
By hiring actors like Shue and Šerbedžija, Paramount was trying to say, "This isn't just a popcorn flick." They wanted gravity. They wanted stakes. While the movie didn't launch a ten-film series, it remains a cult favorite. Why? Because the people in it are interesting to watch.
Kilmer’s weirdness. Shue’s sincerity. Šerbedžija’s gravitas.
It’s a cocktail that shouldn't work, but somehow, it does.
Comparing the Movie Cast to the TV Legends
You can't talk about this cast without mentioning the shadow of Roger Moore. For a whole generation, Roger Moore was Simon Templar. He played him with a wink and a smile.
Val Kilmer went the opposite direction. His Templar is a man with no identity, someone who grew up in a brutal orphanage (as shown in the prologue) and uses his "saints" as a shield. The cast of The Saint movie had to navigate this darker, more psychological approach to the source material.
Some fans of the original books hated it. They thought it was too gloomy. But looking at it now, in a world of Jason Bournes and gritty Batmans, Kilmer’s take was actually way ahead of its time. He wasn't trying to be Moore. He was trying to be a modern-day ghost.
Quick Look: The Disguises of Val Kilmer
- Thomas More: The main "hero" look.
- Bruno Uhl: The nerdy German with the glasses.
- Martin de Porres: The artist with the long hair.
- Augustine Connors: The traveler.
- Vincent Ferrer: The Russian worker.
Every one of these required a different vocal cadence. If you rewatch the film today, pay attention to how Kilmer changes his breathing patterns for each one. It’s some high-level character work hidden inside a movie about magic cold fusion.
🔗 Read more: Big Brother 27 Morgan: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Why a Sequel Never Happened
Despite a decent box office showing, we never got The Saint 2.
There are a few reasons. First, Val Kilmer’s reputation for being difficult reached a boiling point in the late 90s. Second, the script for a sequel was reportedly stuck in development hell for years. They couldn't decide if they wanted to keep the "cold fusion" sci-fi vibe or go back to a more traditional heist format.
By the time they were ready to move forward, the window had closed. The cast of The Saint movie moved on to other projects. Shue did Hollow Man. Kilmer did Red Planet. The momentum was gone.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're a fan of this specific era of filmmaking, there are a few things you should actually do to appreciate the work of this cast:
- Watch the "making of" featurettes: The DVD and Blu-ray releases have some great behind-the-scenes footage of Kilmer working on his accents. It’s a masterclass in 90s character acting.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: This is actually vital. The soundtrack featured The Chemical Brothers, Sneaker Pimps, and Moby. It defines the "techno-spy" vibe that the actors were playing into. The music is as much a part of the cast as the actors themselves.
- Look for the "Lost" Scenes: Search for the original ending descriptions online. Knowing that Shue’s character was originally supposed to die completely changes how you view her performance in the first two acts. You can see the foreshadowing of her illness/weakness that was meant to lead to her death.
- Track the Saint's Volvo: The car in the movie, a Volvo C70, became an icon because of this film. It was a nod to the Volvo P1800 Moore drove in the TV show.
The cast of The Saint movie didn't just show up for a paycheck; they tried to reinvent a classic hero for a cynical, tech-obsessed age. It's a movie that feels like a time capsule—a bridge between the old-school spy adventures of the 60s and the high-tech thrillers of the 2000s.
Whether you love the wigs or find them ridiculous, you have to admit: they don't make 'em like this anymore.
To truly understand the impact of the film, watch it alongside Kilmer's other 90s work. You'll see a pattern of an actor pushing the boundaries of what a "leading man" was allowed to be. He wasn't afraid to look stupid or weird, and that's exactly what Simon Templar needed.
Next time you’re scrolling through a streaming service and see that blue-tinted poster of Val Kilmer's face, give it a rewatch. Focus on the nuances of the supporting cast. Notice how Rade Šerbedžija commands the screen without ever raising his voice. That's where the real magic of this movie lives.