When an actor suddenly becomes 'hot property'

[levcore]

Yes i'm talking about Chris Pratt specifically, but this happens fairly regularly with actors. It's great to see talented actors make their mark as leading men and women. There's nothing more frustrating than average performers somehow making it big when so many very talented actors never get the chance. So yes Chris Pratt is a good actor, i can't deny that, he was great as Star Lord, though far less memorable in Jurassic World. Now of course there's the talk of him playing Indiana Jones, hmm so if that happens he'll be the lead in three MAJOR franchises. It's just too much IMO. It kind of bugs me that Zoe Saldana has Avatar, Star Trek and GOTG. I just think are there really so few good actors out there that we have to use the same people for major franchises? I know they sometimes force leading status onto actors that perhaps can't carry a movie (Worthington, Farrell) and the audience clearly doesn't accept it. Has Pratt proved himself as someone who can open a movie? Well i'm not sure, let's see how his first non major franchise starring role goes down.

I just don't want to see the same actors in so many major franchises, it would be nice to have a bit of diversity. It actually makes me like good actors less because they are being forced down my throat so much. If Pratt bags Indy (i hope he does not get the job) that'll be three humongous franchises that he is the lead in. Screw it, let's cast him in the next Die Hard, Transformers, Bond. Let's just have him in EVERYTHING.

I wish Hollywood wouldn't overuse certain actors as soon as they become popular, even though the audience might accept them, it still feels like they're being forced down our throats. Hemsworth was the it guy for a while until Blackhat was released. If these actors are genuine stars, let's see them open their own movie, not some franchise piece that was going to gross big regardless.

[LegacyCosts]

Unless actors are of a transcendant tremendous talent I tire of them quickly so I share your sentiments. But according to this forum guys like the rock and pratt are the second coming of jesus and action heroes and should not be criticised and should be respected for bringing in billions at the box office.

[levcore]

Originally Posted by LegacyCosts

Unless actors are of a transcendant tremendous talent I tire of them quickly so I share your sentiments. But according to this forum guys like the rock and pratt are the second coming of jesus and action heroes and should not be criticised and should be respected for bringing in billions at the box office.

Ah The Rock, thank you, i should have mentioned him. Nice guy, decent enough performer (in the right role) but good lord does his agent need to take a chill pill. Channing Tatum is another, these guys are fine but i don't want to see them in EVERYTHING.

The new that Pratt has signed on for Jurassic World sequel already makes me role my eyes and now i'm looking forward to another installment even less as i know his flat character will be front and centre.

[LegacyCosts]

My favorite actors tend to not over saturate. Ddl, fassbender, Cranston (I know he's mostly tv) etc. Hollywood budgets are getting so huge that gambles can no longer be made with action stuff. If one boring actor works, they'll run him into the ground with audiences until they stop working.

[Samus Aran]

Remember when Josh Lucas was the next big thing? He even got top billing over Kurt Russell in Poseidon.

Would Theo James be the one they're trying to mold now?

Jai Courtney may be in a lot of things, but so far they haven't tried to bill him as a leading man where he's carrying the movie like they tried with Sam Worthington.

[Randall Flagg]

When an unknown actor becomes hot property it never ends well for them. On another note saying Jurassic World is a hit because of Chris Pratt is a sick joke.

[Buscemi]

It's worse when Hollywood tries to make someone happen even though the audience isn't buying. This was the case with Emma Roberts and more recently, Chloe Grace Moretz (who seems to never turn down a project).

And then there's the case of James Franco. He might have a hit or two and an Oscar nomination but that doesn't mean have him in a new movie every week.

[iank]

I have nothing against Pratt, but if there's one actor I could have actually bought as a new Indiana Jones (not an idea I'm especially keen on to start with) it would have been Joshua Jackson. Which will never happen, not least because he never seems to have been given anything like a fair shake on the big screen (while some considerably less talented/likeable male actors (like Worthington) rather inexplicably have. Oh well...

[Buscemi]

I'd like to see Dan Stevens as Indiana Jones but people don't seem to be keen on an English Indiana Jones.

[Jegærn]

Well...

It takes something special to carry a franchise. Simple as that. Actors that got the right combo of charm/talent and draw to millions of people isn`t easy to find. Hollywood can`t just hire some random talented actor/actress to star in and carry a huge movie franchise on their shoulders. It has to be someone proven.

But I agree to some extent. Sam Worthington did a decent job in Avatar, but he always plays himself. We get easily tired of one dimensional actors/actresses. I feel Pratt is different. He`s got the right amount of diversity and charm to play in these huge blockbusters. Let me ask you.. Who would you hire to lead those big franchises? You have to see it from hollywoods perspective. It`s about lots and lots of money here. They can not hire a "nobody". It just doesn`t work that way.

[Buscemi]

Anyone could have played the roles Pratt played because he isn't the star. Sure, he may be the main character but we don't see them for him. It's the visuals, the special effects, the comic relief and the brand names that sell his movies.

Pratt will finally get his test with Passengers which is in pre-production. Basically Sony's attempt at Gravity, he will be paid $12 million (and Jennifer Lawrence $20 million) to sell this currently budgeted at $117 million (though Sony intends to cut it to $100 million*) sci-fi movie not based on a product or franchise. If it fails to break even (which it will require a lot to do so, as prints and advertising are expensive and Lawrence is getting something like 30% of the gross), it could hurt Pratt's bankability in non-franchise films.


* - Sony and Tom Rothman are probably wishing this was still a low-budget film with Keanu Reeves and Rachel McAdams.

[Roonan]

May I ask where are these rumours about Indiana Jones coming from? It seems more wishful thinking by a bunch of "journalists" (which by passing it as fact will probably work for them to hire him).

[toddly6666]

I'm happy for Chris Pratt's fame but the true test is to see him in a blockbuster film that isn't connected to Marvel, dinosaurs or monkey brains.

Gerard Butler, Clive Owen, Daniel Craig are some more actors that came and went. (Craig is only a success in his James Bond films not in other films)

Chris Pratt so far is a great replacement for Cary Elwes. When the action movie gigs fade, he may have a good run with comedies too (hopefully not a string of romantic comedies) since he is originally a funny guy.

[AaronJ]

Not every actor or actress is interested in being some sort of mega-star. Some are just in a lot of excellent films, whether they are big or not.

[WhatALovelyDay]

Originally Posted by Buscemi

It's worse when Hollywood tries to make someone happen even though the audience isn't buying. This was the case with Emma Roberts and more recently, Chloe Grace Moretz (who seems to never turn down a project).

And then there's the case of James Franco. He might have a hit or two and an Oscar nomination but that doesn't mean have him in a new movie every week.

you mean Johnny Depp, Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, etc.

[MrBlonde]

How exactly was Emma Roberts shoved down our throat by Hollywood?

[Buscemi]

Originally Posted by WhatALovelyDay

you mean Johnny Depp, Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, etc.

Audiences bought Depp for a while (though much of it could have been due to Burton) and Hemsworth had a brief spurt outside of Marvel (Snow White and the Huntsman's success was pretty much all him). I can give you Downey though (audiences might finally tire of him due to typecasting and things he's said recently).

Another one I thought of was Eva Green. Hollywood thought last year was going to be her breakout year but that ended up in a moderately successful movie (300: Rise of an Empire), a flop that was sold heavily around her (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For) and a minor TV success (Penny Dreadful). And for a while, Rebel Wilson was supposed to be the next Melissa McCarthy but Super Fun Night got canceled and she's retreated back to supporting roles (and Dish commercials).

[Buscemi]

Originally Posted by MrBlonde

How exactly was Emma Roberts shoved down our throat by Hollywood?

Hollywood was hyping her for nearly a decade based on her connections (her aunt is Julia Roberts). Even after Nancy Drew flopped, she was still showing up in plum roles and was being considered for big roles even though audiences didn't care the first few times. When she finally showed up in a hit with We're the Millers, Hollywood had moved on.

[WhatALovelyDay]

Originally Posted by MrBlonde

How exactly was Emma Roberts shoved down our throat by Hollywood?

I don't get that either. It's not like she was cast in one of these young adult franchises with multiple sequels. She's always been in indie movies.

[MrBlonde]

Originally Posted by Buscemi

Hollywood was hyping her for nearly a decade based on her connections (her aunt is Julia Roberts). Even after Nancy Drew flopped, she was still showing up in plum roles and was being considered for big roles even though audiences didn't care the first few times. When she finally showed up in a hit with We're the Millers, Hollywood had moved on.

Ah. I don't really remember any hype, but I also have the memory of a bag of sand.