Trap’s Josh Hartnett Declined Superman Role Twice, Almost Played Batman Too

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As a seasoned gamer who’s seen his fair share of reboots and remakes, I can’t help but admire Josh Hartnett‘s career choices. While many might regret passing on iconic roles like Superman or Batman, it’s clear that Hartnett made the right call for himself. He chose to steer clear of the spotlight, avoiding the potential pitfalls that come with such roles.

As a gamer, I’m currently riding a wave of internet buzz thanks to my gripping portrayal of a mysterious serial killer in M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller, “Trap”. When speaking with reporters recently, I opened up about the chance I had to don the cape and play Superman. Yet, on two separate occasions, I chose to decline this superhero role.

Josh Hartnett said no to playing Superman twice

Hartnett has revealed that he declined not one, but two opportunities to play Superman on the silver screen.

Josh Hartnett, who was once linked to the role of Superman in Bryan Singer’s 2006 reboot, explained his decision to decline the iconic part during a past interview. As reported by ComicBook.com, Hartnett stated that he didn’t want his life to be consumed by his work, fearing the fate that some actors faced at the time. He expressed concern about being engulfed by the role and not wanting to experience the same obliteration others went through.

During an interview with Variety, Josh Hartnett clarified, “At that stage in my career, many were proposing films of that genre.” Essentially, he didn’t feel drawn to the superhero movie trend at the time.

At a separate time, Josh Hartnett advanced to the stage of fitting costumes for JJ Abrams’ unused Superman: Flyby production. Several actors were in contention for the role, with Hartnett among them; however, he turned down the opportunity. Matthew Bomer was eventually chosen, but the film never came to fruition after Abrams’ departure from the project.

Why Josh Hartnett didn’t want to play Batman

Besides Superman, Josh Hartnett was also given a chance to portray Batman in the Dark Knight trilogy directed by Christopher Nolan.

In a conversation on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, as reported by IndieWire, Nolan shared that he had admired Hartnett’s work previously. Moreover, they had a preliminary encounter, yet Hartnett expressed a greater inclination towards participating in The Prestige instead.

In an interview with Playboy back in 2015, I shared my thoughts about turning down the role of Batman. I explained, “I chose not to take it up as it wasn’t for me. And he didn’t want me in The Prestige either.” Reflecting on that decision, I admitted, “I was so determined to avoid being typecast and so afraid of being labeled as just one kind of actor. If only I had thought, ‘Well then, work harder, man.’ Seeing Christian Bale excel in various roles since has been truly inspiring. I mean, he’s proven that you can overcome such labels. Why didn’t I see that back then?”

Regardless of his previous choices, Hartnett has skillfully built a thriving Hollywood career for himself. Additionally, he teamed up with Nolan in the critically acclaimed and Academy Award-winning movie “Oppenheimer”.

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2024-07-31 18:42