Studios try to milk a movie franchise as much as they can with sequels. But not every time the actors are on board. Sometimes these actors, who play iconic characters in their respective franchises, refuse to come back.
Jamie Lee Curtis – Halloween 4: The Return Of Michael Myers
Many would call Curtis’ Halloween movies her first ever important contribution to the world of cinema. Laurie Strode was more or less her breakout role. By the time Halloween 4 came, Curtis was already an established actor in Hollywood. So in order to stop the people from looking at her as just another scream queen, she decided not to star in the movie. The movie killed off the character in a car crash at the very beginning.
Linda Hamilton – Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines
Hamilton starred in two of the first Terminator movies. But she refused to come back for T3. The reason, according to her, was the script. Hamilton hated the script for Terminator 3. She said it had numerous flaws, chief of which was its severe lack of character development. One question though – how come she starred in Dark Fate then? It didn’t exactly have an Oscar-worthy story either.
Robert Duvall – The Godfather Part III
Duvall was one of the many faces made famous after the Godfather movies. But he was nowhere to be found in The Godfather Part III. It turns out the reason was money. Al Pacino, his co-star, was being paid 4 times his salary. Duvall asked for more money for the third movie. The studio refused and kicked him out.
Crispin Glover – Back To The Future Sequels
Glover starred in the first back To The Future movies. But he did not like how the movie ended. He was even pretty vocal about the movie’s conclusion back then. So when the studio asked him to come back for the Back To The Future sequel projects, he straight up refused. That’s some pretty tough artistic integrity.
Keanu Reeves – Speed 2
While speaking to Jimmy Kimmel on his talk show, Reeves confirmed he was indeed offered a role for Speed 2. He said he declined because the movie’s script was so convoluted he couldn’t wrap his head around it. Reeves was very polite when he refused. Apparently the paycheck was 12 Million dollars for the role.
Rachel Weisz – The Mummy 3: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor
There is no official source to confirm why Rachel Weisz did not return for Mummy 3. Some sources claim Weisz was not keen to play the role of a mother to a 21 year old in the movie. Others say she did not want to stay away from her family for so long since the shooing was taking place in a lot of foreign locations.
Jim Carrey – Bruce Almighty 2 (Script Reworked To Evan Almighty)
Reports suggest that there were indeed plans by Universal to make a Bruce Almighty sequel. They even offered Carrey the same role but he refused because he doesn’t like doing the same role twice. The plot was then reworked and Steve Carrell, who played a supporting role in Bruce Almighty, became the lead. Evan Almighty (2007) is one of the most expensive comedies ever made.
Will Smith – Independence Day: Resurgence
Smith was not there in the sequel to the 1996 blockbuster Independence Day. But there was no dramatic reason for him not showing up. There was just a simple scheduling conflict.
Jodie Foster – Hannibal
After the success of Silence Of The Lambs, people were expecting Jodie Foster to return to play Clarise Starling in the sequel – Hannibal. But the actor refused, citing no official reason for doing so. The role of Clarice Starling later went to Julianne Moore.
Sean Connery – Indiana Jones & The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull
Sean Connery appeared in Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade. That was his final Indiana Jones movie. He retired from acting in 2003. Crystal Skull came in 2008. The legendary actor passed away last year.
