James Bond Legend Sean Connery Left Acting After His First Tryst With Superheroes, Called it ‘Idiotic’ That Tarnished His Golden Legacy
As the face of the first modern film franchise, James Bond, Sean Connery became a global icon. However, who could have predicted that a comic book adaptation would turn into such a disaster, leading the original 007 to never grace the stage again?
While announcing his retirement from Hollywood, James Bond legend Sean Connery confirmed that he had a miserable experience on the sets of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which ultimately compelled him to retire permanently from acting.
How did Sean Connery get cast in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?
The comic book The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, authored by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill, served as the inspiration for director Don Murphy, to create a movie centered around a team of traditional superheroes akin to the Avengers. Sean Connery is renowned for his portrayal of the team’s leader Allan Quatermain. But what made him select this role?
During the production of a documentary, Sean Connery openly revealed that he had declined three substantial roles in high-budget movies. These roles included Morpheus in The Matrix, Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, and Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. He explained that he had difficulty grasping the concepts behind these roles, which led to his decisions.
Among these missed opportunities, the offer for The Lord of the Rings stood out as the most impactful as he was been offered a substantial sum of $350 million. This sentiment inspired him to accept an offer of $17 million for his involvement in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
Sean Connery’s decision to leave acting: What was the reason?
Don Murphy’s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen consisted of a group of Victorian leaders who united to safeguard the world. The film concluded with the demise of the leader Allan Quatermain during a confrontation with Professor Moriarty.
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However, the true battle unfolded behind the scenes between Sean Connery and director Stephen Norrington. Entertainment Weekly, during a visit to the set, reported on the evident tension that pervaded The League of the Extraordinary Gentlemen production. The tension started when the director halted filming for an entire day due to his dissatisfaction with an elephant prop, leading to a heated exchange with actor Sean Connery. Norrington fueled the flames by daringly challenging the seasoned actor, stating:
“I’m sick of it! Come on, I want you to punch me in the face!”
When released, The League of the Extraordinary Gentlemen only grossed $179, and Connery declined his paycheck as well. Years later, Connery confirmed that his experience on the set had extinguished his passion for film. While announcing his retirement from Hollywood the actor remarked,
“It was a nightmare. The experience had a great influence on me. It made me think about showbiz. I get fed up with dealing with idiots.”
After that, Sean Connery did not appear in any other movies. However, he provided the voiceover for James Bond in the video game From Russia with Love released in 2005.
Source: Independent
