When it comes to playing villains, Billy Bob Thornton knows how to deliver a chilling performance. But in real life, the Academy Award winner has been deliberately steering clear of villainous roles, even if it means turning down big paychecks.
In a recent episode of The Playlist’s “Bingeworthy” podcast, Thornton revealed he passed on two major antagonist roles.
Thornton shared that he was approached to play Norman Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin, in Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man.”
“With the Green Goblin, I didn’t feel like getting up at 4 a.m. for five or six hours of makeup,” he said.
A few years later, Thornton was up for another villain role in “Mission: Impossible III.” However, he declined, citing a concern about being typecast.
“I’m not going to be the bad guy who kills Tom Cruise,” Thornton said on the podcast. “America will hate me, and then the next thing you know, that’s all I’ll have to do from now on.”
Why Thornton avoids villain roles
Thornton believes that audiences remember villains from major films, and while a recent University of Michigan study found viewers often see redeeming qualities in movie villains, Thornton said he prefers roles that keep audiences guessing.
This year, Thornton is showcasing his versatility in Taylor Sheridan’s series “Landman,” which premiered last month. The show has already gained traction, with one clip from a recent episode going viral.
In the scene, Thornton’s character shares with his attorney the oil industry’s role in creating wind turbines.
“Do you have any idea how much diesel they have to burn to mix that much concrete or make that steel?” Thornton’s character says.
New episodes of “Landman” air every Sunday, with the season finale scheduled for Jan. 12.
