Michael Shannon recently reprised his role as General Zod in the new “Flash” film for DC Studios. This marks the first time the actor has had a starring role in a huge franchise film since the original time we saw Zod in 2013’s “Man of Steel.” And according to Shannon, that’s not by mistake, as the actor doesn’t really have any interest in acting in franchise films, not even a “Star Wars” feature.
Speaking in a recent Empire Magazine print article, Michael Shannon talked about how he turned down the possibility of starring in a “Star Wars” film back in 2016. Not only that, he discussed why he doesn’t necessarily want to say yes to “giant movies.”
“I’m always a bit wary about those giant movies. Because they take a lot of time and I don’t find them very stimulating to work on,” Shannon explained. “I don’t ever want to get stuck in a franchise. I don’t find them interesting, and I don’t want to perpetuate them. If I’m making something, I want there to be some kind of purpose to it — I don’t want to make mindless entertainment. The world doesn’t need more mindless entertainment. We’re inundated with it.”
Yes, those are some pretty harsh words when talking about franchise films, especially calling them “mindless entertainment.” I mean, he’s not entirely wrong, is he? There are varying degrees of quality when it comes to franchise films. Sometimes, they’re fantastic (several Marvel Studios films even reach this level), but by and large, most are pretty dreadful. A lot of the time, you even have folks explaining that you should “turn your brain off” to enjoy them. So, you can’t blame Shannon for saying those sorts of things.
Basically, don’t expect Michael Shannon to star in a new Marvel Studios film, at this point. Of course, opinions can change and there is still the chance the actor has a different mindset in the future. We still Shannon take on big projects. Recently, he starred in “Bullet Train,” and that’s definitely a “giant movie.”
So, if you’re someone who is excited by the idea of Michael Shannon flying around and punching things, then make sure you see “The Flash” because that might be the last time that happens.