General Zod is widely recognized as a formidable supervillain in the DC universe, skillfully portrayed by actor Michael Shannon. Shannon reprised the role in The Flash, where General Zod serves as the primary antagonist. Interestingly, Shannon has confessed that while he enjoys the process of participating in superhero films, he does not personally gravitate toward the genre as a viewer.
What truly sets Shannon apart is his unwavering commitment to his characters. In a surprising revelation, he disclosed that he turned down a significant role in the iconic Star Wars franchise. His decision was driven by the fact that he didn’t resonate with the story and found the grand scale of blockbusters and enduring franchises uninteresting. Shannon expressed his reluctance to contribute to perpetuating these types of films, even though he has already appeared in three movies within the DC Universe, including his latest role in The Flash.
Michael Shannon Rejected Star Wars Because Its Not Interesting
Michael Shannon, the talented 48-year-old actor who is currently starring in The Flash, his third installment within the DC Universe, recently opened up about a notable decision he made. In an interview with Empire magazine, Shannon revealed that he turned down a role in the $10 billion Star Wars franchise. When asked about his reasons for declining the opportunity, he candidly expressed his reservations about big blockbusters and enduring franchises.
Shannon explained that he stays away from becoming too involved in such massive productions, as they require a huge time-consuming commitment. Furthermore, he shared his perspective on these types of films, stating that he doesn’t find them particularly stimulating to work on. He elaborated, expressing a desire to avoid getting stuck in a franchise and his lack of interest in perpetuating them.
“I don’t ever want to get stuck in a franchise. I don’t find them interesting and I don’t want to perpetuate them he. If I’m making something, I want there to be some kind of purpose to it — I don’t want to make mindless entertainment. The world doesn’t need more mindless entertainment. We’re inundated with it,”
The actor emphasized that when he chooses a project, he seeks purpose and meaning rather than simply creating mindless entertainment. He firmly believes that the world is already inundated with such content and therefore doesn’t see the need to contribute to it. Shannon’s insightful comments reflect his commitment to meaningful storytelling and his willingness to pursue projects that align with his artistic vision.
Also Read: Michael Shannon Defends Man Of Steel’s Ending
Michael Shannon Reprised His Role As General Zod In The Flash
In a recent interview with Collider, Shannon expressed his thoughts on reprising his character and shared a sense of personal dissatisfaction. He openly admitted that the experience did not fully satisfy him as an actor. The concept of multiverse movies, in his view, was akin to someone playing with action figures.
“Yeah. I’m not gonna lie; it wasn’t quite satisfying for me as an actor. These multiverse movies are like somebody playing with action figures.” “It’s like, ‘Here’s this person. Here’s that person. And they’re fighting!’ It’s not quite the in-depth character study situation that I honestly felt ‘Man of Steel’ was. Whether people think that’s crazy or not, I don’t even care. I really felt like ‘Man of Steel’ was actually a pretty sophisticated story. I feel like ‘The Flash’ is too, but it’s not Zod’s story. I’m basically there to present a challenge.”
From Shannon’s perspective, these movies present a series of characters coming together, engaging in battles, and lacking the profound exploration of character that he experienced in Man of Steel. He acknowledged that some may consider his viewpoint peculiar, but he remained unbothered by differing opinions.
To Shannon, Man of Steel represented a sophisticated narrative, one that delved into deeper layers. While he recognized that The Flash possessed similar qualities, he acknowledged that it was not Zod’s story. In the film, his role was primarily to present a formidable challenge to the protagonist.
Shannon’s candid reflections showcased a sense of perplexity and highlighted his desire for roles that offer greater depth and character exploration. As an artist, he aspired to be part of narratives that transcend surface-level action and provide a more profound storytelling experience.
Source: Yahoo
