In business, there is a long tradition of saying, ‘Give the people what they want’. Giving the public what they want is something that the savviest showbiz stars do. This is because there is unquestionably no business like show business. And probably that’s why people in the late 1980s wanted action films featuring Steven Seagal as a stone-faced martial arts expert with a ponytail, who kicked, punched, and shot drug dealers and other international criminals.
With blockbuster hits like Hard to Kill, Above the Law, and Under Siege, this legendary actor kindly ruled the box office for years. Although you must give people what they want, their needs aren’t always the same.
Over time, changing trends led to Seagal’s status as a major movie star falling. The 1997 thriller Fire Down Below, which had an environmental theme, marked the end of his contract with Warner Bros.
Well, did you know that Jackie Chan reportedly wanted Steven Seagal to play the main antagonist in an action comedy film from 2007 before Hiroyuki Sanada took over that part?
Steven Seagal Missed A Big Comeback Opportunity With Jackie Chan
Although there aren’t many martial arts actors, a few of them have made history because of their amazing moves. In addition to Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal has also staked a claim to fame as a legendary fighter. Yes, it used to seem as though the 71-year-old actor was practically everywhere we looked.
But, then what happened to Steven Seagal, then? He has made quite an impression on Hollywood, thanks to his several blockbuster films and distinctive fighting style. And it seems like he’s had plenty to keep him busy in the years since his peak popularity has passed.
It has also been said that Seagal’s one of the close friends in the industry and fellow martial arts actor, Jackie Chan had a pivotal role to offer the Exit Wounds actor. Chan allegedly suggested that Seagal should take on the role of lead antagonist in 2007’s film, Rush Hour 3. However, the 71-year-old actor wasn’t cast in the part, and the film’s story was changed to make room for Japanese actor, Hiroyuki Sanada.
Moreover, Seagal reportedly passed up a role in The Expendables as well. There were some well-known martial artists from the 1980s on the roster, but he admitted he had a disagreement with the producer, Avi Lerner.
Is He Revisiting The Films That Made Him Famous?
You might assume that a man like Steven Seagal would find it challenging to advance and learn something new after completing so many different endeavors and hustles in this industry. You’d be correct, too. It turns out that the actor was looking backward to advance his career. One of Seagal’s biggest box office successes was Under Siege, which was followed by Under Siege 2. A third installment of the trilogy is reportedly in production.
He reportedly has been working diligently on the Under Siege 3 screenplay, the actor revealed on his official Twitter account in October 2016. He added the ominous phrase “It’s time” (probably) as a warning.
There were also rumors that several actors claimed that Steven Seagal is a very challenging coworker, something that John Leguizamo learned the hard way. During the filming of Executive Decision, Seagal allegedly shoved Leguizamo against a wall out of frustration with his co-star.
But not to forget that he has marked his charisma in many incredible films, including Contract to Kill, End of a Gun, Code of Honor, Sniper: Special Ops, The Asian Connection, Cartels, and The Perfect Weapon.
Source- Looper
