Robert De Niro Walked Off These Two Movies Mid-Shoot — ‘It Was the Worst’

Robert De Niro is famous for his dedication to acting, but even he has walked away from projects that didn’t feel right. The first time this happened was back in the 1970s. At that point, De Niro was near the peak of his career. He had just appeared in The Godfather Part II and worked with Martin Scorsese on hits like Mean Streets and Taxi Driver.

De Niro was cast in a comedy called Bogart Slept Here, directed by Mike Nichols, who had previously directed The Graduate. But soon after filming started, it was clear that the role wasn’t a good fit for him. He felt a lot of tension on set and knew the movie wasn’t going to work.

Even though De Niro usually sticks with projects, he realized this one was different. He has said he couldn’t do the role justice. Speaking at the Tribeca Film Festival, he explained, “I blame myself. I didn’t know certain things. It was a certain type of comedy – [scriptwriter] Neil Simon – that had the timing that would be a certain way… it just wasn’t working.”

He continued, “I shot for about two weeks. It was the worst. You know, I’ve had maybe three times in my life that I’ve ever had that experience with a director.” The movie eventually changed direction and became The Goodbye Girl, with Richard Dreyfuss taking the part instead.

Years later, De Niro left another project, this time replaced by Ray Winstone. This movie was Edge of Darkness, which starred Mel Gibson. At the time, Gibson had been involved in controversy, and it seems that caused tension for De Niro on set. The movie didn’t perform well at the box office and wasn’t as successful as the British TV series it was based on.

Despite these setbacks, De Niro has remained extremely active in acting. In early 2026, he starred in the Netflix political thriller Zero Day, playing a former U.S. President investigating a massive cyberattack. This role marked his first lead in a regular TV series.

Looking forward, De Niro has several big projects lined up for 2026. One is the crime thriller The Whisper Man, based on the bestseller by Alex North. The film features Michael Keaton, Michelle Monaghan, and Adam Scott, and is produced by the Russo brothers.

He will also return to comedy in Focker In-Law, a sequel to the Fockers films, reuniting with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. Ariana Grande is also making a surprise appearance. And after a dual-role performance in The Alto Knights, where he played two mob bosses, his status as a gangster film icon remains solid.

Even after decades in Hollywood, De Niro continues to choose roles carefully. Sometimes walking away is better than staying in a movie that doesn’t feel right, even for an actor at the top of his game.

Do you think Robert De Niro made the right choice by stepping away from movies that weren’t a fit? Share your thoughts in the comments.