December 20, 2024: Billy Bob Thornton, known for his wide-ranging acting abilities, recently shared insights into why he’s avoided traditional villain roles in big films like Spider-Man (2002) and Mission: Impossible III (2006), despite being offered the parts. In a candid conversation on the Bingeworthy podcast, the Oscar-winning actor explained that his reluctance to embrace the “bad guy” roles stemmed from his preference for more unpredictable and varied characters.
“I don’t have much interest in those kinds of roles,” Thornton admitted, revealing that he wasn’t eager to endure the lengthy makeup sessions required for playing the Green Goblin in Spider-Man, nor did he want to portray the villain in Mission: Impossible III—a role that ultimately went to Philip Seymour Hoffman. He also acknowledged the lasting impact such roles can have on an actor’s career. “If you’re the bad guy in a big movie like that, audiences remember it forever,” he explained. “I prefer to keep things looser and less predictable.”
In the case of Spider-Man, the role of Green Goblin was eventually taken by Willem Dafoe, and in Mission: Impossible III, Hoffman played the arms dealer Owen Davian. Both roles became iconic, but Thornton’s decision to avoid them highlights his desire for more nuanced, multi-dimensional roles.
While he turned down these high-profile villain parts, Thornton later embraced darker, complex characters in other projects. Notably, his portrayal of Lorne Malvo in Fargo (Season 1) earned him widespread acclaim. As a ruthless hitman, Thornton won a Golden Globe for the role, which further proved his ability to give a unique spin to darker characters.
More recently, Thornton’s work in Taylor Sheridan’s Landman has earned him his seventh Golden Globe nomination. In the show, he plays a driven landman, obsessed with success and constantly solving problems in a high-pressure environment. Reflecting on this role, Thornton explained that his character’s job as a “fixer” leaves little room for reflection or thinking about the past.
“My character obviously came up doing more menial jobs in this,” Thornton said. “So he has been there. He knows how this works, and now suddenly he’s like the foreman between the guy that owns the oil company and the people who work in the oil fields.”
As Thornton continues to choose roles that are complex and grounded in realism, it’s clear that he thrives on unpredictability. His reluctance to embrace the stereotypical blockbuster villain is a testament to his commitment to versatility, ensuring that his career remains dynamic and ever-evolving.
Thornton’s approach to acting—favoring roles that are unpredictable and rich with complexity—explains his hesitance to play stereotypical villains, cementing his place as one of Hollywood’s most intriguing and versatile actors.
