In the early 2000s, young heartthrob Josh Hartnett was in a position that many young actors would envy. He had just starred in two big movies (“Pearl Harbor” and “Black Hawk Down”) from two very different auteurs, and for a while it seemed like he could be the next top tier star: a new Tom Cruise or Will Smith. But Hartnett avoided being locked down in any possible blockbuster franchise by turning down one superhero role after another, yet there’s one he regrets saying no to.
In a short interview with Playboy (via Variety), Hartnett was asked about the times he was asked to play Superman for Bryan Singer in “Superman Returns,” Spider-Man for Sam Raimi’s film of the same name and Batman for Christopher Nolan. What was his reasoning for turning down such potentially lucrative roles? “The intensity of my sudden fame was overwhelming for me, and in the middle of that, I felt I couldn’t trust any new person I met or their motives. I spent a lot of time back home in Minnesota with my friends and family. I did smaller movies, and I stopped working for a while.”
It’s understandable to be leery of the Hollywood system, and coupled with the very real danger of being typecast to the role —what was the last film you saw featuring Brandon Routh?— it’s no wonder that Hartnett made those choices. Yet the actor is not without regrets, further explaining how a “no” can haunt you.
“People don’t like being told no. I don’t like it. I learned my lesson when Nolan and I talked about Batman. I decided it wasn’t for me. Then he didn’t want to put me in ’‘The Prestige.’ They not only hired their Batman for it but also hired my girlfriend [Scarlett Johansson] at the time. That’s when I realized relationships were formed in the fire of that first Batman film and I should have been part of the relationship with this guy Nolan, who I felt was incredibly cool and very talented. I was so focused on not being pigeonholed and so scared of being considered only one thing as an actor. I should have thought ‘well then, work harder, man.’ Watching Christian Bale go on to do so many other things has been just awesome. I mean, he’s been able to overcome that. Why couldn’t I see that at the time?”
So Hartnett has changed his tune on superhero movies, saying “I know now that I wouldn’t turn something down just because it’s a superhero role.” You and about almost every other working actor, Hartnett. Start your fan casting below. Hartnett for Hawkman?
I salute him for now falling into the greed trap that Hollywood throws at ya. Shows boy got values.
I really appreciate his humility about all this. It\’s refreshing actually. I mean, who could have known in the late nineties/early oughts that superhero movies would go on to be sooo big? I really can\’t see him as Superman or Spiderman, but Batsy? Well…that would have been a treat. I mean, the guy\’s got the intensity for the role!
Hartnet, I need you in a Chet Baker biopic pronto! Do that, and we\’re even!
The truth is, as fun as the "what-might-have-been" casting game is, a different casting might have had a much different result for all involved. Hartnett, like Ryan Phillippe, is one of those good looking actors that leave a lot of people cold. A Hartnett/Katie Holmes "Batman Begins" might have failed to pop on opening weekend, stunting the franchise and Nolan\’s career in the process. And that might have meant no "Inception".
Great article. I agree with Mal: Hartnett seems way more grounded and intelligent than any of us ever gave him credit for. He does have a solid career, and though he may never pop up in the huge studio films, he\’s creating a solid career of film choices and projects that work for him. I\’d recommend watching and catching up on Showtime\’s Penny Dreadful, he\’s quite good in it and holds his own with Timothy Dalton, Eva Green and a host of amazingly talented British and European actors…
he\’s had a great career so far as an actor, just not superstar level, w which seems to be ok with him. I Come With the Rain and Bunraku are underrated treasures i recommend highly.
I wondered what happened to him; he was being postioned as the "it" boy of the moment.
Minnesota boy wasn\’t ready for the machine? I\’ll buy it.
He sounds far more grounded and intelligent than I would have given him credit for. I hope he has a chance to do what he wants in the future.