When it comes to playing villains, Billy Bob Thornton knows how to deliver a chilling performance. But in real life, the Academy Award winner has been deliberately steering clear of villainous roles, even if it means turning down big paychecks.
In a recent episode of The Playlist’s “Bingeworthy” podcast, Thornton revealed he passed on two major antagonist roles.
Thornton shared that he was approached to play Norman Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin, in Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man.”
Point phone camera here
“With the Green Goblin, I didn’t feel like getting up at 4 a.m. for five or six hours of makeup,” he said.
A few years later, Thornton was up for another villain role in “Mission: Impossible III.” However, he declined, citing a concern about being typecast.
“I’m not going to be the bad guy who kills Tom Cruise,” Thornton said on the podcast. “America will hate me, and then the next thing you know, that’s all I’ll have to do from now on.”
Why Thornton avoids villain roles
Thornton believes that audiences remember villains from major films, and while a recent University of Michigan study found viewers often see redeeming qualities in movie villains, Thornton said he prefers roles that keep audiences guessing.
This year, Thornton is showcasing his versatility in Taylor Sheridan’s series “Landman,” which premiered last month. The show has already gained traction, with one clip from a recent episode going viral.
In the scene, Thornton’s character shares with his attorney the oil industry’s role in creating wind turbines.
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“Do you have any idea how much diesel they have to burn to mix that much concrete or make that steel?” Thornton’s character says.
New episodes of “Landman” air every Sunday, with the season finale scheduled for Jan. 12.
[KENNEDY FELTON]
When it comes to playing the bad guy, Billy Bob Thornton has more than a little practice.
“I can’t give you your mail if you don’t show some ID.” “Am I going to need to come back there and find it myself?”
But it turns out, the Academy Award winner has been steering clear of the villainous choice… even if it means missing out on some serious cash.
In a new episode of The Playlist’s “Bingeworthy” podcast, the acclaimed actor opens up about turning down two major villain roles.
Thornton revealed he was approached to play Norman Osborn – also known as the Green Goblin – in Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man.”
And a few years later, he was also up for the role of the villain in “Mission Impossible 3.” But Thornton made it clear – he doesn’t have much interest in those kinds of roles.
He shared, “With the Green Goblin, I didn’t feel like getting up at 4 a.m. for five or six hours of makeup… And with ‘Mission: Impossible III’… he didn’t want to be remembered for killing one key star.”
“I’m not going to be the bad guy who kills Tom Cruise. America will hate me and then the next thing you know, that’s what I’ll have to do from now on,” said Thornton.
Thornton pointed out he thinks audiences remember villains from big movies, which kind of aligns with a recent study by the University of Michigan. It found while most people do remember movie villains, they’re often notable to audiences for their more ‘redeeming’ qualities.
“You didn’t have to kill it.” “Well I didn’t have to kill it til you stood there and dared the [bleeb] thing to bite you.”
Thornton says he wants to keep his roles less predictable.
And it seems he’s pulling it off this year, starring in Taylor Sheridan’s series “Landman”. The show premiered last month and is already gaining traction. A clip from a recent episode went viral with Thornton’s character breaking down to his attorney how wind turbines – thought to be a clean energy source – depend on the oil industry.
“Do you have any idea how much diesel they have to burn to mix that much concrete or make that steel, and haul this [censor] out here, and put it together with a 450-foot crane?”
A new “Landman” drops every Sunday with the last episode of the season set to air January 12th.
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