Billy Bob Thornton may have cemented his place as certainly one of Hollywood’s most memorable villains, however the acclaimed actor says he simply wasn’t . Throughout an look on The Playlist’s Bingeworthy podcast, Thornton shared that he handed on two main roles: Inexperienced Goblin in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man and arms supplier Owen Davian in J.J. Abrams’ Mission: Inconceivable III.
“I don’t have a lot curiosity in these sorts of roles,” Thornton admitted, explaining why he turned down the prospect to face off towards Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man. “With the Inexperienced Goblin, I didn’t really feel like getting up at 4 a.m. for 5 or 6 hours of make-up. And with Mission: Inconceivable III, I didn’t wish to be the man making an attempt to kill Tom Cruise.”
The Sling Blade star additionally defined why he’s by no means gravitated towards enjoying villains in blockbuster franchises. “When you’re the unhealthy man in a giant film like that, audiences keep in mind it endlessly. I want to maintain issues looser and fewer predictable,” he stated.
Thornton had beforehand collaborated with Raimi on 1998’s A Easy Plan and co-wrote the screenplay for Raimi’s The Reward. Regardless of their working relationship, Thornton in the end handed on the prospect to play Norman Osborn, leaving the function to Willem Dafoe, whose menacing portrayal of the Inexperienced Goblin is now legendary.
In the meantime, Mission: Inconceivable III forged the late Philip Seymour Hoffman as Davian, delivering a chilling efficiency because the chilly and calculating villain. Whereas Thornton’s determination would possibly shock some followers, his reasoning highlights a rising concern in Hollywood: the best way audiences generally blur the road between fiction and actuality.
Lately, actors like Home of the Dragon’s Fabien Frankel and The Strolling Useless’s Josh McDermitt have confronted backlash for his or her villainous characters’ actions. Thornton appears to have correctly averted that form of drama, focusing as an alternative on extra grounded and sophisticated roles, like his portrayal of a highschool soccer coach in Friday Evening Lights or his darkly comedic flip in Dangerous Santa.
Thornton’s selection displays his want to keep up management over his profession trajectory, prioritizing authenticity over blockbuster fame. Whether or not you agree along with his determination or want he had suited up as Inexperienced Goblin, there’s no denying he’s carved out a novel legacy in Hollywood.
What do you concentrate on Billy Bob Thornton turning down these iconic roles? May he have been your favourite Inexperienced Goblin, or did Willem Dafoe set the bar too excessive? Share your ideas within the feedback beneath!
December 20, 2024 8:55 am
