Arnold Schwarzenegger has never been afraid to speak his mind, whether about politics or his principles for selecting roles. In a refreshingly candid recent interview, Schwarzenegger opened up about turning down a titanic blockbuster part solely because he refused to work with its notorious director – passing on the lead in 2007’s I Am Legend due to his contempt for Michael Bay.
Despite the film going on to gross over $585 million with Will Smith in the iconic role of the last man on Earth, Schwarzenegger stood firm in declining due to his distaste for Bay’s directorial style.
The admission provides rare insight into Schwarzenegger’s reputation for being selective about his collaborators and rejecting projects that don’t creatively appeal to him. For Schwarzenegger, not even the prospect of virtually carrying a guaranteed smash hit could induce him to partner with the bombastic Bay.
Despite being offered the highly coveted role of Robert Neville, the only man left on Earth after a pandemic, Arnold Schwarzenegger opted to let Smith take the job instead. For Schwarzenegger, his total disinterest in collaborating with Bay overrode even the chance to star in virtually a solo $585 million hit film.
No Desire to Team Up With Michael Bay
Though offered the iconic part of virologist Robert Neville, Schwarzenegger admitted he turned it down because of his lack of interest in working with Bay. “I didn’t like the director,” Schwarzenegger bluntly stated about his reason for withdrawing from I Am Legend.
According to Arnold Schwarzenegger, he takes issue with Bay’s over-reliance on flashy style over substance. Having heard stories of Bay’s infamously demanding behavior on set, he didn’t want to subject himself to such an unpleasant experience. For Schwarzenegger, avoiding an unenjoyable collaboration was paramount..
Not a Big Enough Role
Schwarzenegger also took issue with Neville being the only character on screen for much of the film, saying “there was not enough for me to do.” The small scope didn’t match Schwarzenegger’s preference for ensemble casts and non-stop action.
Knowing he thrives on bouncing off other performers and set pieces, the isolation and stillness required as Neville would have represented a creative challenge Schwarzenegger wasn’t eager to take on. He favors big, bombastic storytelling over such a subdued character journey.
Missed Chance at a Massive Hit
While many action stars would leap at a $585 million box office smash, Schwarzenegger passed on I Am Legend solely due to his distaste for Bay’s bombastic filmmaking style. Schwarzenegger’s loss was Will Smith‘s gain, who carried the movie to huge success.
In retrospect, Schwarzenegger may regret passing on such an iconic role in a major hit. But his principles against working with Bay outweighed any career or financial incentives at the time.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s reveal about refusing I Am Legend demonstrates his choosiness when it comes to collaborators. Even the appeal of a guaranteed blockbuster couldn’t persuade Schwarzenegger to work with the notorious Michael Bay.
Source: MovieWeb
