9 Actors Who Quit Major Film Roles

8. Hugh Jackman €“- James Bond

MGM

As Christopher Reeve probably lamented in his post-Superman life, it's hard to escape a role you've once played. Type-casting is alive and well in Hollywood, and probably for good reason -€“ if there's one thing filmmakers tend to dislike, it's risk.

So if you've got someone who seems to embody some time, archetype, or general feeling €“- for Reeve it was the All-American hero €“- then you can bet your bottom dollar they're going to go for this sure thing. Of course, this works the other way too -€“ if you're associated with one thing, then some people will assume that's all you can do. For some actors, that's fine, but the vast majority want the world to remember their range, not the fact they kept donning a certain outfit.

The above is what Hugh Jackman felt when he was offered the role of James Bond post-Pierce Brosnan. Jackman felt that if he donned the suit and adopted the drinking habits of Britain's favourite amoral superspy, the fans would keep associating him with 007 for the rest of his life. So Jackman turned them down, and went back to playing Wolverine, again.

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Durham University graduate and qualified sports journalist. Very good at sitting down and watching things. Can multi-task this with playing computer games. Football Manager addict who has taken Shrewsbury Town to the summit of the Premier League. You can follow me at @Ed_OwenUK, if you like ramblings about Newcastle United and A Place in the Sun. If you don't, I don't know what I can do for you.