Cameron Diaz has been a force of nature since her debut opposite Jim Carrey in the 1994 riotous movie, The Mask. Her quick rise to action with the Charlie’s Angels films followed by blockbuster movies alongside Tom Cruise redefined her industry status as an A-lister and expedited her to a level of fame that reached beyond reason. In the aftermath, Diaz took an indefinite hiatus from acting that only recently witnessed an unlucky comeback alongside Jamie Foxx in the appropriately titled film, Back in Action.
Also read: After Over $7 Billion Box Office Revenue, Cameron Diaz Retires From Acting Again For Her Daughter
Cameron Diaz Replaced Angeline Jolie in a Ridley Scott Film
Despite each of the actors being wonderful in their own right, Cameron Diaz and Angelina Jolie have both had experience playing the part of the femme fatale in Hollywood films. Both have been a force of action thrillers with the latter even being named as the first female action star of Hollywood. However, Diaz managed to one-up Jolie for the role of a seductive and beautiful woman in Ridley Scott’s ensemble film that panned critically as well as commercially.
Also read: Cameron Diaz Earned $1M an Hour for 2 Straight Weeks Straight For $5.6 Billion Franchise
The high-octane 2013 thriller drama, The Counselor comprising Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Brad Pitt, and Penelope Cruz, among other namedrop actors was supposed to feature the iconic Mr. & Mrs. Smith duo, Angelina Jolie alongside Pitt in the Ridley Scott project. The tabloids at the time highly sensationalized the rumor of the real-life couple taking on a role together in this philosophically tense drama.
Unfortunately, the film which marked one of Diaz’s final projects before her retirement from the industry failed to impress on the big screen and brought in only $71 million against a budget of $25 million.
Cameron Diaz Casting Results in Vehement Fan Backlash
Despite Diaz’s A-lister status in the industry, the fan reaction received in the aftermath of her casting in the role of Malkina was vehemently criticized and ridiculed for being too radical for her to take on. Cameron Diaz was getting increasingly renowned for her roles in holiday rom-coms and airheaded action comedies and fans believed the new role that was layered under Cormac McCarthy’s brilliance would be too heavy a burden for the Knight and Day actress.
However, the role of Malkina was sufficiently and believably portrayed by the actress although Diaz’s performance did divide fans in the end as too forced and not convincing enough as the sly and dangerous woman she is supposed to be. Jolie, who was interested in the roles of Laura as well as Malkina, looked briefly into the project but later needed to cut ties with the Scott film because of her involvement with the Disney live-action film, Maleficent.
Cameron Diaz’s return in 2023 was hopeful yet brief as the scheduled filming of Back in Action was shut down due to Jamie Foxx’s sudden deterioration of health. The actor is currently out of the hospital and recuperating at home with family.
Source: Twitch
