When it comes to casting for big blockbusters, there are some faces that are perfect for the roles. Apparently prolific actor Michael Shannon was one of those faces wanted for the “Star Wars” franchise. But Shannon refused the role easily. Apparently due to a leeriness of films that often have the words “epic” associated with them. [Editor’s Note: Did…did he FORGET he was literally in a Superman movie? That he’s been in more than one big budget superhero movie now??]
“I don’t ever want to get stuck in a franchise. I don’t find them interesting and I don’t want to perpetuate them,” Shannon told Empire Magazine. “If I’m making something, I want there to be some kind of purpose to it — I don’t want to make mindless entertainment. The world doesn’t need more mindless entertainment. We’re inundated with it.”
Shannon tends to prefers roles that involve more thought and complexity than the beat-’em-up action hero films. To his point, there’s a sameness to the current franchises out there. Particularly all flying under the Disney banner these days. There’s a safety to the current action films. Nothing is at stake and no one will die. The heroes will always win, so there’s not much to worry about. Hence Shannon’s understandable wish to play roles that have significant thought and engagement behind them.
A Big Budget Epic Isn’t His Cup Of Tea
Shannon did find himself in the “Man of Steel,” though he accepts his role of General Zod. Largely because there was “a complexity to the character not present in a number of other super hero films.”
“I’m not going to lie — it wasn’t quite satisfying for me, as an actor,” he said. “These multiverse movies are like somebody playing with action figures. It’s like, ‘Here’s this person. Here’s that person. And they’re fighting!’ It’s not quite the in-depth character study situation that I honestly felt ‘Man of Steel’ was.”
That being said, Shannon won’t even share the “Star Wars” role he was offered. [Editor’s note: We’re actually kinda thinking it’s the part in “Ahsoka” that went to the late Ray Stevenson.] He is more likely to be found in films that give him juicy character background to work with. Largely because anything bombastic “take a lot of time and I don’t find them very stimulating to work on.”
If you’ve never watched Shannon’s tv work on “Boardwalk Empire,” you’re missing out. Also, put film “Midnight Special” in your qeue, too.
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