Why Man of Steel's General Zod Rejected Star Wars: The Shocking Reason Revealed!
Michael Shannon reportedly passed on a role in the Star Wars franchise, sparking speculation about what character he could have played in a galaxy far, far away
During the interview with Empire Magazine, Michael Shannon was asked about his decision to decline a role in a Star Wars movie back in 2016. Despite being offered a part in one of Disney's most popular franchises only a year after the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Shannon ultimately decided not to take part in the series. When questioned about his reasoning, Shannon discussed the importance of valuable messaging in the roles he chooses to take on.
Shannon expresses his reservations about working on giant movies, citing the amount of time they take and the lack of stimulation they provide. He is adamant about avoiding franchise films, finding them uninteresting and not wanting to contribute to their perpetuation. Shannon believes that his work should have a purpose beyond mindless entertainment, which he feels the world already has too much of. It's worth noting that his perspective is shared by other notable filmmakers, such as Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino, who have been critical of Disney's MCU franchise. Despite his previous roles in superhero films, including his portrayal of General Zod in Man of Steel and The Flash, Shannon remains steadfast in his decision to not participate in any future Star Wars productions.
What Do We Know About The Star Wars Role Michael Shannon Turned Down?
In a 2016 interview with Fandango, Shannon revealed that he had been contacted by someone from Disney regarding a project that was "some version of a movie that’s been made already countless times". While he did not disclose which project it was for, Shannon's comments suggest that he may have been approached to play a role in one of the Star Wars sequel films, which have been criticized for their similarities to prior Star Wars films. Despite being offered a significant amount of money, Shannon stated that he would only consider a role if he found the story to be interesting, otherwise he would decline the offer. As of 2023, Shannon has yet to join the Star Wars franchise, indicating that he has remained true to his values as an actor.
Source: Fandango
