Billy Bob Thornton explains why he turned down two huge 'bad guy' roles in Hollywood
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Billy Bob Thornton has built a celebrated career in Hollywood, known for his nuanced performances and ability to bring complex characters to life.
However, the actor has deliberately avoided taking on villainous roles in major blockbuster films.
Billy Bob Thornton turned down Green Goblin and Owen Davian roles
During an interview on The Playlist’s 'Bingeworthy' podcast, Billy Bob Thornton shared that he turned down two prominent antagonist roles, citing a lack of interest in such characters.
Thornton recalled passing on the role of Green Goblin in Sam Raimi’s 'Spider-Man' and Owen Davian, the arms dealer in 'Mission: Impossible III'.
He explained, “With the Green Goblin, I didn’t feel like getting up at 4 am for five or six hours of makeup. And with Mission: Impossible III, I didn’t want to be the guy trying to kill Tom Cruise."
He added, “If you’re the bad guy in a big movie like that, audiences remember it forever. I prefer to keep things looser and less predictable.”
The two roles eventually went to Willem Dafoe and Philip Seymour Hoffman, respectively. Both performances became iconic, with Dafoe’s Green Goblin earning widespread acclaim as one of the most memorable villains in comic book films.
Dafoe later reprised the role in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' and has expressed interest in playing Green Goblin again, reported Variety.
Billy Bob Thornton's performances as morally ambiguous characters
Despite his reluctance to play traditional villains, Billy Bob Thornton has delivered standout performances as morally ambiguous characters.
His portrayal of the hitman Lorne Malvo in Season 1 of 'Fargo' earned him a Golden Globe for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie according to Screenrant.
Thornton also reflected on his work in Taylor Sheridan’s series 'Landman', where he portrays oil rig executive Tommy Norris.
“I think if you’re in that world, it’s a dangerous business. You understand the risk involved,” Thornton told Deadline.
Billy Bob Thornton’s career highlights
Billy Bob Thornton has amassed critical acclaim across a range of genres. Known for films such as 'Bad Santa', 'Friday Night Lights', and 'Armageddon', he won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for 'Sling Blade' in which he played Karl Childers.
Talking about his career choices, Thornton shared on his podcast, “I don’t have much interest in those kinds of roles,” referring to big-screen villains.
He recently received his seventh Golden Globe nomination for his role in 'Landman', continuing to prove his versatility as an actor.
“My character obviously came up doing more menial jobs in this. So he has been there," he said, adding, "He knows how this works, and now suddenly he’s like the foreman between the guy that owns the oil company and the people who work in the oil fields. There’s always a problem to solve because he is a fixer really."
