Actors Who Were Forced to Take Roles Due to Contracts

Hollywood history is filled with stars who appeared in films against their personal wishes because of legally binding agreements. Many of these actors signed multi picture deals early in their careers that gave studios the power to cast them in specific projects. Some cases involved legal settlements after an actor attempted to walk away from a different production. These contractual obligations often result in famous performances that the actors later criticized or admitted they only did to avoid lawsuits.

Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt was legally required to star in the comedy ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ because of an existing contract with 20th Century Fox. The actress had signed a multi picture deal when she worked on ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ several years earlier. This obligation forced her to turn down the role of Black Widow in ‘Iron Man 2’ despite her interest in joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Blunt later described the situation as heartbreaking but she fulfilled her duty to the studio. The film was a critical failure but she was finally free of her contract afterward.

Edward Norton

Edward Norton starred in the heist film ‘The Italian Job’ solely to fulfill a three picture agreement with Paramount Pictures. The studio used a deal Norton signed for his breakout role in ‘Primal Fear’ to force his involvement in the remake. Norton reportedly tried to leave the project multiple times before the studio threatened him with a massive lawsuit. He eventually agreed to play the villain but he refused to participate in any promotional events for the movie. The actor has remained vocal about his distaste for the experience and the studio tactics used against him.

Channing Tatum

Channing Tatum has openly admitted that he hated the script for ‘G.I. Joe The Rise of Cobra’ but had no choice but to star in it. He signed a three picture deal early in his career that gave Paramount the authority to cast him in their upcoming blockbusters. Tatum attempted to decline the lead role seven times before the studio reminded him of his legal obligations. He feared that a breach of contract would result in a lawsuit that could ruin his rising career. The film was a box office success but the actor remains critical of the project.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg was forced to star in the family film ‘Theodore Rex’ following a legal battle over a verbal agreement. The actress initially agreed to the project but later tried to withdraw after reading the finalized script. The production company filed a twenty million dollar lawsuit against her to ensure she would appear on camera. Goldberg eventually reached a settlement that required her to film the movie for a smaller fee. The film bypassed theaters and went straight to video as one of the most expensive projects of its kind.

Mike Myers

Mike Myers took the lead role in ‘The Cat in the Hat’ as part of a settlement for a different failed project. After Myers walked away from a film based on his ‘Saturday Night Live’ character Dieter the studio sued him for thirty million dollars. To resolve the litigation he agreed to star in a live action adaptation of the classic children’s book. Myers spent hours each day in heavy prosthetics and later expressed great dissatisfaction with the production. The movie received poor reviews and Myers has rarely appeared in live action roles since its release.

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves appeared in the thriller ‘The Watcher’ because of a bizarre situation involving a forged signature. The actor claimed that a friend signed his name to the contract without his permission or knowledge. Reeves decided to film the movie anyway after his lawyers warned him that proving the forgery in court would be nearly impossible. He only agreed to do the project on the condition that the studio waited twelve months before using his name in marketing. Reeves has since stated that he found the script boring and never wanted to be involved.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman was contractually obligated to return for ‘Thor The Dark World’ despite her desire to leave the franchise. The actress was reportedly upset after the original director was replaced and she attempted to exit the production. Marvel Studios held her to the multi picture agreement she had signed for the first film. Portman completed her scenes for the sequel but did not return to the franchise for many years afterward. She eventually rejoined the series for a third sequel after a long hiatus from superhero films.

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner had to star in the spin off film ‘Elektra’ due to a clause in her contract for ‘Daredevil’. While the actress enjoyed playing the character in the first movie she was unhappy with the script for the solo project. She reportedly told friends that the movie was awful but she was legally bound to film it. Garner fulfilled her professional duties and delivered a committed performance despite her personal feelings. The film struggled at the box office and plans for future installments were quickly canceled.

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer initially refused to star in ‘Top Gun’ because he found the script to be silly. The actor was under a three picture contract with Paramount Pictures and the studio insisted he take the role of Iceman. Kilmer purposefully acted difficult during his meeting with the director in hopes of being fired from the project. His plan failed and the studio forced him to honor his legal agreement. The film became a cultural phenomenon and Kilmer eventually grew to appreciate the impact of the role on his career.

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt wanted to quit ‘Interview with the Vampire’ during production because he was miserable with the filming conditions. The actor called his producer to ask how much it would cost to leave the project. He was informed that he would have to pay forty million dollars to break his contract with the studio. Pitt realized he could not afford the penalty and decided to finish the movie. He later described the experience of filming in the dark for months as a depressing ordeal that tested his patience.

Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando starred in the historical drama ‘Desirée’ to settle a lawsuit with 20th Century Fox. The actor had walked away from the film ‘The Egyptian’ and the studio demanded damages for his sudden departure. To avoid a trial Brando agreed to play Napoleon Bonaparte in the upcoming production. He reportedly showed his disdain for the project by using a high pitched voice and intentionally forgetting his lines. The film received mixed reviews and Brando remained one of the most difficult actors for studios to manage.

Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman returned for ‘Superman IV The Quest for Peace’ only because of a contract he signed nearly a decade earlier. The actor had a clause in his original agreement from the first film that required his participation in multiple sequels. Hackman was famously unhappy with the production quality and the reduced budget of the fourth installment. He fulfilled his obligation by playing the villain Lex Luthor one final time. The film was a critical and commercial disaster that effectively ended the original franchise.

Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis agreed to a three movie deal with Disney after he caused the collapse of a film called ‘Broadway Brawler’. The studio threatened to sue the actor for millions of dollars in losses after he fired several crew members. To compensate for the damage Willis signed a contract to star in three future projects for a significantly reduced salary. This deal led to his roles in ‘Armageddon’ and ‘The Sixth Sense’ as well as ‘The Kid’. While the first two films were massive hits the actor only took them to resolve his legal troubles.

Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx was required to star in the action film ‘Stealth’ because of a contract he signed with Sony Pictures. The agreement was made before Foxx won an Academy Award for his performance in ‘Ray’. Once he became an Oscar winner the actor had no interest in the military thriller but the studio refused to release him. Foxx later admitted during press tours that he knew the movie was not good while they were filming. The project became one of the biggest box office bombs of the year.

Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson was forced to star in the musical ‘From Justin to Kelly’ due to her contract with the ‘American Idol’ producers. The singer begged the studio to let her skip the film so she could focus on her debut album. Her contract stated that the winner of the competition must star in a movie project developed by the production company. Clarkson reportedly spent much of the filming process in tears because she found the script embarrassing. She has since joked about the film and remains thankful that it did not end her music career.

Roy Scheider

Roy Scheider appeared in ‘Jaws 2’ as part of a deal to exit another film called ‘The Deer Hunter’. The actor was unhappy with his role in the war drama and Universal Pictures agreed to let him leave if he did the shark sequel. Scheider was vocal about his lack of interest in returning to the character of Martin Brody. He frequently argued with the director on set and felt the sequel was unnecessary. Despite his reluctance the film was a major financial success and Scheider was praised for his performance.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor starred in ‘BUtterfield 8’ only because she was under a long term contract with MGM. The actress despised the script and the character she was asked to play. She famously stated that the film made her sick but the studio insisted she complete the project before her contract expired. Taylor eventually won an Academy Award for the role which she attributed to a sympathy vote after a health scare. Once the film was finished she was finally free to pursue independent projects outside of the studio system.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds was pressured into playing Wade Wilson in ‘X-Men Origins Wolverine’ by the studio management. He was told that if he did not take the role the studio would find another actor to play the character forever. Reynolds was a fan of the comics and did not like the way the character was written for the film. He agreed to the project to ensure he would have a chance to play a more accurate version of Deadpool in the future. It took him many years to eventually produce the solo film he truly wanted to make.

Shia LaBeouf

Shia LaBeouf returned for ‘Transformers Revenge of the Fallen’ because of a multi picture contract with Paramount and DreamWorks. The actor had become a massive star and was looking to pursue more dramatic roles outside of blockbuster franchises. His contract required him to return for the sequels regardless of his personal career goals. LaBeouf later criticized the film for being cluttered and lacking the heart of the original. He fulfilled his obligations for the third film before finally leaving the series for good.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Gordon-Levitt joined the cast of ‘G.I. Joe The Rise of Cobra’ because of a contract he signed earlier in his career. Like his co star Channing Tatum he was legally bound to appear in whatever projects the studio selected for him. The actor attempted to make the best of the situation by requesting a heavy mask so he would be unrecognizable on screen. He played the villainous Commander and later moved on to more prestigious independent films once his contract ended. He has rarely spoken about the film in the years following its release.

Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke signed on for ‘Iron Man 2’ after a successful career comeback but found the experience frustrating. He had a multi picture agreement that gave Marvel Studios significant control over his involvement. Rourke spent months researching his character and even visited Russian prisons to add authenticity to his performance. He was reportedly furious when the studio edited out much of his character development in the final cut. The actor later claimed that he only did the movie for the money and the contractual requirement.

Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel agreed to a cameo in ‘The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift’ to settle a complex legal and contractual situation. The actor wanted the rights to the ‘Riddick’ franchise which were owned by Universal Pictures. The studio agreed to trade the character rights if Diesel filmed a brief appearance in the third racing movie. This deal allowed him to produce future films in his preferred science fiction series. It also paved the way for his eventual return to the main cast of the racing franchise years later.

Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston only appeared in ‘Beneath the Planet of the Apes’ because the studio insisted on his return. The actor felt that the story for the sequel was weak and did not want to participate in a follow up. He eventually agreed to a small role on the condition that his character would be killed off at the end. The studio accepted his terms to ensure they could market the film with the original star. Heston donated his salary from the production to charity and never returned to the series again.

Tippi Hedren

Tippi Hedren was trapped in a personal contract with director Alfred Hitchcock that lasted for several years. After the success of ‘The Birds’ the director refused to let her work with any other filmmakers. Hedren was forced to star in ‘Marnie’ despite a deteriorating relationship with Hitchcock on the set. When she tried to break her contract the director threatened to ruin her career and kept her under salary without giving her work. This effectively prevented her from capitalizing on her fame during the peak of her career.

Christopher Lee

Christopher Lee was pressured into starring in ‘The Scars of Dracula’ by the executives at Hammer Films. The actor had grown tired of the role and felt the scripts were becoming increasingly poor in quality. The studio told Lee that the film had already been sold to distributors and would be canceled without him. They claimed that many crew members would lose their jobs if he did not agree to return. Lee reluctantly filmed the movie to protect the livelihoods of his colleagues but he remained deeply unhappy with the project.

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck was required to film ‘Daredevil’ as part of a multi picture deal with 20th Century Fox. The actor was a lifelong fan of the comic book character but found the production process to be a disappointment. He later stated that he hated the movie and felt it did not represent the source material well. His contract for the film also included potential sequels and spin offs that he was legally bound to consider. Affleck eventually found redemption in the superhero genre by playing Batman for a different studio years later.

Geena Davis

Geena Davis starred in ‘Cutthroat Island’ due to a contract she had with her then husband who was the director. The production was troubled from the start and many other actors walked away from the project. Davis remained committed to the film because of her professional and personal ties to the production company. The movie became one of the biggest box office disasters in history and led to the bankruptcy of the studio. Davis fulfilled her duties but her career as an action star suffered significantly after the release.

Bette Davis

Bette Davis was forced by Warner Bros to star in ‘Marked Woman’ as part of her ironclad studio contract. The actress famously sued the studio to gain more control over her roles and career direction. She lost the legal battle and was ordered to return to work on whatever projects the studio assigned to her. Davis decided to give a powerful performance despite her anger over the situation. Her dedication eventually convinced the studio to give her better scripts and more artistic freedom in the future.

Olivia de Havilland

Olivia de Havilland appeared in the film ‘Government Girl’ because of a contract dispute with Warner Bros. The studio attempted to extend her seven year contract by adding time for every period she had been on suspension. This practice effectively turned a standard agreement into a life long obligation for many actors. De Havilland filmed the movie under protest before taking the studio to court. Her eventual victory led to the creation of the De Havilland Law which limited the length of personal service contracts in California.

Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig was contractually obligated to return for ‘Spectre’ despite his public comments about wanting to leave the James Bond franchise. The actor had signed a deal that included multiple films and the studio exercised their right to his services. Craig had previously stated that he would rather harm himself than play the character again at that moment. He completed the film as required and delivered a massive box office hit for the studio. He eventually returned for one final installment years later after negotiating a new agreement on his own terms.

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