John Leguizamo declined ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith' because of huge pay gap, reveals he felt 'dissed' as a Latin actor

The actor shared that he turned down a role in 'The Devil Wears Prada' and Robin Williams’ voice role in 'Happy Feet'
PUBLISHED MAY 11, 2024
In a recent interview, John Leguizamo revealed some of the roles he regrets turning down in his career (Getty Images)
In a recent interview, John Leguizamo revealed some of the roles he regrets turning down in his career (Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: John Leguizamo recently sat down for an interview where he spoke about what it means to be a Latin actor in Hollywood.

The 63-year-old actor also revealed the names of the movies that he declined but regrets now, as reported by Business Insider.

SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 12: John Leguizamo attends the 25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards
John Leguizamo attends the 25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards (Getty Images)

John Leguizamo was offered a very small amount for ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’

Leguizamo shared that he refused to work in ‘The Devil Wears Prada', Robin Williams’ voice role in ‘Happy Feet’, and Vince Vaughn’s role in ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’.

Elaborating more, the film producer reportedly said, “Well, for ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith', it was because they were paying them [Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt] $20 million and they were going to pay me scale. I felt dissed, and they probably weren't dissing me, but I felt dissed.”


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by John Leguizamo (@johnleguizamo)


 

He further stated, “Sometimes when you're a person of color, you're so used to being dissed that you think you're being dissed, and sometimes you're not being dissed."

"So that's what happens, and you have to go to a lot of therapy to fix that. And ‘Happy Feet', I had done ‘Ice Age'. I was going, ‘I don't want to be doing all these ice movies'. Such a stupid reason. But it seemed logical to me at the moment, and then I lost out on millions,” Leguizamo added.

John Leguizamo was to play Vulture in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ 

Elsewhere during the interview, the ‘Spawn’ actor reportedly mentioned his “negotiations” to play Vulture in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ but could not get the role ultimately.

He explained, “I didn't understand it. I think another actor would've sued because we had agreed on terms. We went through a huge negotiation period, and we had agreed on terms.”

Leguizamo continued, “I hadn't signed a contract, but we had agreed. I think those are sueable terms. And then the head of the studio called me up and said, ‘This is terrible. I feel horrible, and would you give it up?’ And I did.”

“I felt like, if you didn't want me, I don't want to be there either, you know what I mean? My grandma was like, ‘If they don't want you at a party, don't go.’ So I was like, you don't want me at the party. I don't want to be there,” he stated.

Leguizamo also asserted, “I felt dissed and diminished, so I didn't really want to be a part of it.”


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by John Leguizamo (@johnleguizamo)


 

John Leguizamo open to work with MCU

However, the comedian has not vowed to never work with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

He said, “I would if I was offered The Riddler or some part like that. I would go back to other franchises.”

“I mean, if you make it up to me. But then they offered me some tiny scientist in the movie. I was like, ‘No thank you. Thank you, but no',” Leguizamo added.

MORE STORIES

The post Khloe Kardashian liked featured Charlie Kirk speaking with a fan at an event about his devout Christian faith
Sep 13, 2025
Whitney Cummings sparked widespread outrage after posting a controversial tweet about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk
Sep 13, 2025
Prince Harry was spotted entering King Charles’s London residence, months after saying his father had ignored his calls
Sep 11, 2025
Rosie O'Donnell said Ellen DeGeneres’ friendship denial hurt so much she printed T-shirts for her staff reading, 'I don’t know Rosie, we’re not friends'
Sep 10, 2025
A post alleged that Karoline Leavitt called Patti LaBelle 'just a singer,' leading LaBelle to deliver a seven-word response that froze the studio
Sep 10, 2025
Jennifer Lopez feels free channeling emotions into music, but Ben Affleck is embarrassed and sees it as crossing a line, according to the source
Sep 9, 2025
Howard Stern added that he missed last week’s show due to illness, not contract talks, and addressed rumors of being fired from his own show
Sep 9, 2025
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement in August 2025 triggered a wave of pregnancy chatter after an ultrasound photo went viral
Sep 9, 2025
Ed Sheeran, 34, revealed that he was leaving Suffolk with his wife Cherry Seaborn and their two daughters, Lyra and Jupiter
Sep 9, 2025
From Ice Spice’s chaotic corset to Paris Hilton’s flame dress, see the celebs who landed on the worst-dressed list at the 2025 VMAs
Sep 8, 2025