15 Actors Who HATED Their Big Franchise Roles

For several decades, numerous stars have gained prominence from comic book, superhero, and action film franchises. Despite their widespread appeal, there are quite a few actors who, post wrapping up their roles, have openly shared their unfavorable experiences during production of these high-budget movies or the exhaustion and monotony that can arise from years of dedication to a single character.

Some actors have been more straightforward in interviews about the mixed responses their films have received, with Dakota Johnson and Michael Fassbender among those who have spoken candidly about this issue. Others may have needed a respite from the demanding physical requirements of these large-scale productions, or if you’re Daniel Craig, expressing indifference towards the future of the series can sometimes be as straightforward as saying “I don’t care”.

Here’s my take on it, written from a first-person perspective as a movie reviewer:

“I recently came across an intriguing collection of insights from some of Hollywood’s brightest stars, who have shared their thoughts about the massive film franchises they once graced – opinions that varied in tone, from praise to critique. Some spoke fondly of the experiences they had, while others were more candid about their feelings towards these blockbuster projects.

Dakota Johnson, “Madame Web”

The movie “Madame Web” was a significant box office disappointment, and its lead actress, Dakota Johnson, seemed to acknowledge this during her promotional interviews. After the film received poor reviews, such as its 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, she told Bustle that she wasn’t surprised by the outcome because “art can’t be based on numbers and algorithms.” She has long felt that audiences are intelligent, but producers have come to doubt this. Audiences will always be able to recognize insincerity. Even if movies start to be made with artificial intelligence, people won’t want to watch them.

Dave Bautista, “Guardians of the Galaxy”

Following the conclusion of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy with its third part in 2023, Dave Bautista, who portrayed Drax, expressed his readiness to move on after almost a decade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In an interview with GQ magazine, he shared that while he’s thankful for Drax, the experience wasn’t always pleasant, and the makeup process was challenging. He also mentioned that he doubts if he wants Drax to be his lasting legacy because he finds it a somewhat comical performance and yearns to explore more dramatic roles. As early as 2021, Bautista shared similar sentiments with Collider, expressing his disappointment that the character of Drax wasn’t developed further, stating that there’s a rich backstory for the character that was overlooked.

Daniel Craig, “Spectre” and “No Time to Die”

Back in 2015, before “Spectre” hit the screens, Daniel Craig made headlines for his candid remarks about another James Bond film. He bluntly stated that if offered, he’d rather contemplate self-harm, implying his reluctance was mainly due to financial reasons. He also openly discussed the grueling six months of intense training and preparation the film required. However, after his last Bond adventure in “No Time To Die”, his tone softened considerably. In an interview with BBC in 2022, he reflected on his 17-year journey making five Bond films as incredibly fortunate. He concluded that he left the role where he wanted it, and was grateful for the opportunity to do so gracefully with the last movie.

Adam Driver, “Star Wars”

After Daisy Ridley reappears in the “Star Wars” series post-2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker,” Adam Driver, who transitioned from TV shows like “Girls” and films such as “Inside Llewyn Davis” to embody Kylo Ren in the new “Star Wars” saga, will not be returning. In a podcast episode of “SmartLess,” Driver shared that working on “Star Wars” was more demanding for him than he anticipated. He admitted that he made it more taxing than necessary because he was still learning to navigate such a large production set. Previous projects he had worked on were relatively small and moved quickly.

Harrison Ford, “Star Wars”

Harrison Ford has consistently provided humorous remarks during press tours for his leading roles in “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones,” refusing to conform to fan assumptions. He famously quipped during an interview with Collider that he didn’t care when asked about who shot first between Han and Greedo. Many “Star Wars” enthusiasts are aware of Ford’s famous desire for Han Solo to perish in “Return of the Jedi,” but he ultimately reprised his role to bid a farewell to the beloved character in 2015’s “The Force Awakens.

Oscar Isaac, “Star Wars“

During interviews for the new “Star Wars” trilogy, Oscar Issac expressed his preference for smaller films. In 2020, he playfully stated that he might return to “Star Wars” if it provided him with a new house or similar. At the 2021 Venice Film Festival, he mentioned his eagerness to delve into character studies after spending years in green-screen environments. Yet, he seems more open to reprising his role as Poe Dameron, stating on SiriusXM that he is “open to anything” with a compelling story and director. Isaac also appeared in “Moon Knight,” a Marvel series, which premiered on Disney+ in 2022.

Michael Fassbender, “Assassin’s Creed”

The movie adaptation of “Assassin’s Creed” fell short in both commercial and critical acclaim. Michael Fassbender, who starred in and produced the film, expressed disappointment to Movie’n’co, stating that the project didn’t turn out as well as they had hoped. He admitted they missed a chance to excel, adding, “So we’ll see what Ubisoft plans next.” If given another shot, Fassbender stated he would focus on making it more enjoyable and entertaining.

Jamie Dornan, “Fifty Shades of Grey”

After the release of “Fifty Shades of Grey” movies catapulted Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson into stardom, they didn’t necessarily welcome the subsequent wave of attention. Following the success of his series “The Fall,” Dornan revealed on BBC Radio 4’s “Desert Island Discs” that his family had to seek refuge in Dornan’s house due to the negative reactions following the debut film in 2015. In an episode of the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast in 2023, Dornan shared that he was aware the movies would be criticized, understanding that while they would generate a significant amount of income and delight fans, critics would disapprove of them.

Sally Field, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”

Shortly following the less-than-satisfying debut of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” that seemingly ended the Andrew Garfield-led universe, it was Oscar-winning actress Sally Field, who portrayed the cherished Aunt May, who candidly expressed her disengagement with the cinematic world. In an interview with Howard Stern, she admitted, “It’s not really my type of film. It’s quite challenging to locate a fully dimensional character within it, and you strive to breathe life into it as much as possible, but it’s impossible to cram ten pounds of substance into a five-pound sack.

Shia LaBeouf, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”

2016 saw Shia LaBeouf expressing his thoughts about working with director Steven Spielberg, who had directed him in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and produced “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.” LaBeouf admitted that he wasn’t encountering the Spielberg he had imagined. Instead, he met a different Spielberg, one who was in a different phase of his career and functioned more like a corporation rather than a director. He frankly stated that he didn’t appreciate the movies he made with Spielberg, finding the large studio sets to be overly mechanical and restrictive.

Robert Pattinson, “Twilight”

Similar to Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson rejuvenated his acting career by taking on independent films following the “Twilight” series. Over time, during various press engagements, Pattinson has been candid about the franchise, such as in 2019 when he characterized it as bizarre. During an interview with Chris Van Vliet, he expressed his feelings that “much of the ‘Twilight’ universe didn’t add up,” and he pondered why the centenarian vampires were still attending high school.

Megan Fox, “Transformers”

The “Transformers” series played a significant role in boosting Megan Fox’s career, but she eventually parted ways with the series following the second movie. In an interview from 2009 that gained wide popularity, Fox made a comparison between her director, Michael Bay, and Adolf Hitler, stating that he aimed to establish a reputation as a highly controversial and erratic figure.

Eddie Murphy, “Beverly Hill Cops III”

After playing Axel Foley in the initial “Beverly Hills Cop” trilogy, Eddie Murphy openly expressed his views about the quality of the third installment, “Beverly Hills Cop III,” which received negative criticism. Before the premiere of the latest “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” Murphy told Screen Rant that “the reason ‘Beverly Hills Cop III’ was disappointing was because Taggart wasn’t present in the movie, the antagonist wasn’t menacing enough, and Alex didn’t have any personal stake.” In 1989, Murphy stated that “the only motivation for making a ‘Cop III’ was to make money.

George Clooney, “Batman & Robin”

The movie “Batman & Robin” is often criticized by comic book enthusiasts as one of the poorest superhero films ever made. George Clooney, who played Batman in this movie, has frequently joked that his performance contributed to its downfall. During a 2020 interview with GQ, Clooney elaborated on why he believes “Batman and Robin” was such a flop: “When I say the film is terrible, I always follow up by saying ‘I was terrible in it.’ That’s because I truly wasn’t great. But also, that allows me to add that none of the other elements worked either – like those cheesy lines such as ‘Freeze, Freeze!’

Val Kilmer, “Batman Forever”

In his self-portrayal film titled “Val,” Val Kilmer openly discussed his struggles during the filming of “Batman Forever” as the main character, Batman. He explained that the enthusiasm he felt as a child was dampened by the actual Batsuit experience: “Every boy dreams of being Batman, but they don’t necessarily want to portray him in a movie.” He went on to describe the batsuit as making him feel lonely and confined: “I couldn’t hear anything, and eventually people stopped conversing with me.

2025-01-31 22:19