Get the latest gossip

Billy Bob Thornton Rejected ‘Mission: Impossible’ Villain Because ‘I Didn’t Want to Be the Guy Trying to Kill Tom Cruise’; Said No to Green Goblin in ‘Spider-Man’


Billy Bob Thornton turned down the villain role in "Mission: Impossible 3" because "I didn’t want to be the guy trying to kill Tom Cruise."

During an interview on The Playlist’s “Bingeworthy” podcast, the actor remembered turning down two big Hollywood villain roles: Green Goblin in Sam Raimi’s “ Spider-Man ” and the arms dealer Owen Davian in “Mission: Impossible III.” Willem Dafoe famously took on the role of Green Goblin, while Philip Seymour Hoffman was cast to go head to head with Cruise in “Mission: Impossible 3.” Both movies were box office successes, with Dafoe’s turn as the Spider-Man villain being considered one of the most iconic turns in a comic book movie. Dafoe reprised the character in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and has expressed interest in playing Green Goblin a third time.

Get the Android app

Or read this on Variety

Read more on:

Photo of Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton

Photo of tom cruise’

tom cruise’

Photo of Spider-Man

Spider-Man

Related news:

News photo

Ali Larter, 48, says playing Billy Bob Thornton's sex-crazed ex-wife on Landman is a 'dream job'

News photo

Landman star Billy Bob Thornton has been wearing the same suit to events since he was wed to Angelina Jolie

News photo

Billy Bob Thornton Reacts to ‘Landman’ Golden Globes Nomination (Exclusive)