Washington [US], December 20 : Oscar-winning actor Billy Bob Thornton recently shared his reasons for rejecting iconic villain roles in major films such as Spider-Man (2002) and Mission: Impossible III (2006), revealing that he prefers more unpredictable, varied characters rather than stereotypical bad guy roles.
In an interview on the Bingeworthy podcast, Thornton explained that his decision stemmed from his desire to avoid roles that were “predictable” and physically demanding. Reflecting on the Spider-Man offer, he admitted, “I didn’t feel like getting up at 4 am for five or six hours of makeup” for the Green Goblin role. As for Mission: Impossible III, he said, “I didn’t want to be the guy trying to kill Tom Cruise.”
Thornton also noted that playing a villain in a big movie can have a lasting impact on an actor’s career. “If you’re the bad guy in a big movie like that, audiences remember it forever,” he said, emphasizing his preference for less predictable roles. The villain parts he turned down ultimately went to Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin and Philip Seymour Hoffman as Owen Davian.
Despite rejecting these blockbuster villain roles, Thornton later embraced darker, more complex characters, such as Lorne Malvo, a ruthless hitman in Fargo season 1, which earned him a Golden Globe. His portrayal of Malvo was praised for its nuance and depth, proving that Thornton is capable of bringing a unique twist to villainous characters.
More recently, Thornton has received his seventh Golden Globe nomination for his performance in Landman, a series created by Taylor Sheridan. Playing the titular character, Thornton portrays a driven landman obsessed with success and constantly solving problems in high-pressure situations. The role reflects his preference for layered, unpredictable characters, as Thornton described his character as “the foreman between the guy who owns the oil company and the people who work in the oil fields.”
Thornton’s approach to acting continues to focus on complex, realistic roles, which is why he shied away from the traditional villain path in major blockbusters.