Josh Hartnett Reveals Stalking Incidents Influenced His Decision to Walk Away from Hollywood
(Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures )
Actor Josh Hartnett has opened up about why he turned down two major superhero movie roles at a time when he seemed destined for superstardom.
In an interview with the UK's Guardian newspaper, Hartnett, who stars in M. Night Shyamalan’s forthcoming psychological thriller "Trap," shared that the overwhelming attention he received contributed to his decision to step back from Hollywood at the peak of his popularity.
"People’s attention to me at the time was borderline unhealthy. There were incidents. People showed up at my house. People that were stalking me," Hartnett said. He recalled one particularly frightening event: "A guy showed up at one of my premieres with a gun, claiming to be my father. He ended up in prison."
(Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Hartnett twice turned down the role of Superman and also discussed Batman with director Christopher Nolan, a role that eventually went to Christian Bale. "I just didn’t want my life to be swallowed up by my work. And there was a notion at that time you just kind of give it all up. And you saw what happened to some people back then. They got obliterated by it. I didn’t want that for myself," he explained.
Reflecting on his career choices, Hartnett expressed regret about not working with Nolan sooner. He recently rectified this by appearing as a nuclear scientist in Nolan’s Oscar-winning film "Oppenheimer." "I recognize the missed opportunity to work with a guy like Chris. And I’ve figured out that as much as you’re worried about curating your career to things you’re interested in, I don’t believe that’s the most important thing any more. It’s about finding people who you really trust," Hartnett said.