Hollywood loves its sequels, doesn’t it? It seems like every other day, we’re hearing about a beloved franchise getting another installment, or perhaps even a reboot. While the studios perched in their high towers are always eager to cash in on a proven success, the actors who made those originals shine aren’t always so keen to jump back into the fray for another round. Sometimes, they just flat-out say, “Nope.” And honestly, who can blame them? They’ve got their reasons!
It’s not just about the money, though that can certainly be a factor. Sometimes it’s creative differences, scheduling conflicts, or even just a feeling that their character’s story has run its course. Whatever the justification, when a famous name decides to walk away from a blockbuster follow-up, it sends ripples through the industry. Marketing teams panic, fans are left heartbroken, and new faces are often brought in to try and fill impossibly big shoes. The show, as they say, must go on.
But let’s be real for a second: it still breaks our hearts when a beloved star doesn’t return. We’ve all been there, watching a sequel and thinking, “Wait, that’s not them!” It’s a fascinating peek behind the curtain of Tinseltown, revealing that not every star is willing to sign on the dotted line for a guaranteed paycheck. So, grab your popcorn and get ready, because we’re taking a look at some of the biggest times when actors refused to return for major franchise sequels, and the brave (or perhaps misguided) souls who stepped in to take their place!
1. **Keanu Reeves stayed out of Speed 2: Cruise Control**Before he was delighting the world as the Baba Yaga in the “John Wick” series, Keanu Reeves brought the undeniable cool as LAPD officer Jack Traven in 1994’s “Speed.” This movie was an instant action classic, where Traven had to protect a bus full of unsuspecting passengers from blowing up if it dropped below a certain speed. With challenging Los Angeles traffic and that incredible banter between Reeves’ Traven and Sandra Bullock’s Annie Porter, it was pure cinematic gold.
“Speed” was a massive hit, raking in over $350 million at the global box office against a modest $30 million budget. Naturally, the studio smelled franchise potential, and “Speed 2: Cruise Control” zoomed into production. However, to the dismay of many fans, Reeves didn’t return as Jack Traven. Instead, the sequel introduced Jason Patric as new character Alex Shaw, who was tasked with averting disaster on a cruise ship this time around.
So, why did Keanu Reeves decide to take a hard pass on the “Speed” sequel? Well, speaking on “The Graham Norton Show,” the actor didn’t mince words, blaming the script for his decision. He famously said, “It was about a cruise ship and I was thinking, ‘A bus, a cruise ship… Speed, bus, but then a cruise ship is even slower than a bus and I was like, ‘I love you guys, but I just can’t do it.’” It’s hard to argue with that logic, isn’t it?
Reeves’ instincts proved right, as “Speed 2: Cruise Control” bombed at the box office and was widely panned by critics, earning a dismal 4% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to the original’s 95%. Even Sandra Bullock ended up being embarrassed by the film. While both Reeves and Bullock have expressed interest in a hypothetical “Speed 3,” it seems Keanu made the right call by stepping off that slow-moving cruise ship the first time around.
2. **Michael Keaton put down the cape and cowl after Batman Returns**Tim Burton and Michael Keaton truly created magic with their darker, gothic interpretations of Gotham in 1989’s “Batman” and its 1992 sequel, “Batman Returns.” Keaton, in particular, brought a brooding intensity and vulnerability to the Caped Crusader that resonated deeply with audiences. However, the slightly darker, more unconventional tendencies of the sequel seemed to spook Warner Bros., leading them to do what studios sometimes do best: meddle.
The studio decided they wanted a more family-friendly version of the Dark Knight for the third film, “Batman Forever.” They envisioned a hero who was perhaps more aligned with Happy Meals and less prone to strapping bombs to rogues before kicking them into sewers. This creative pivot ultimately led to Tim Burton’s departure as director, with Joel Schumacher stepping in to helm the new direction for the franchise.
Considering how instrumental Burton had been in both casting Keaton as Batman and shaping the unique tone of those first two films, Keaton’s commitment to staying on was always going to be a delicate balance. Ultimately, Keaton decided to walk away from the iconic role, and Val Kilmer was cast as Bruce Wayne for “Batman Forever.” It was a move that surprised many, given Keaton’s acclaimed performance.
In a 2021 interview with Backstage’s “In The Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast,” Keaton shed light on his decision. He explained that he spoke with Schumacher about the third movie but lost faith when their visions for the character clashed dramatically. Keaton recalled Schumacher asking, “I don’t understand why everything has to be so dark and everything so sad,” to which Keaton responded, “Wait a minute, do you know how this guy got to be Batman? Have you read… I mean, it’s pretty simple.” That fundamental disagreement was enough for Keaton to hang up the cowl, though he eventually reprised his role in 2023’s multiversal DC Comics movie, “The Flash.”
3. **Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn’t returned to the Predator franchise**In 1987’s “Predator,” Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer made us believe that a mere mortal man could stand toe-to-toe with the formidable Yautja. By the end of that film, the cigar-chomping muscle man famously got to the chopper, leaving audiences thinking, “Hasta la vista, baby, until next time.” But, as it turned out, Dutch didn’t return for the 1990 sequel, “Predator 2.” Instead, the task of protecting Los Angeles from the alien hunter fell upon the shoulders of Danny Glover’s Mike Harrigan.
Many fans might not know this, but Arnold Schwarzenegger was originally slated to return as the lead for “Predator 2.” Franchise producer John Davis revealed in a past interview that 20th Century Fox was keen on Dutch’s return. However, Schwarzenegger demanded an additional $250,000 beyond what was initially on the table. The negotiation hit an impasse, with the studio unwilling to budge on its offer, and so Schwarzenegger ultimately walked away from the deal.
It seems that beyond the salary dispute, Arnold Schwarzenegger isn’t exactly a fan of the subsequent “Predator” sequels either. In 2015, he openly spoke about how no film in the franchise ever managed to reach the peak of the first, attributing this decline to the studio’s approach of prioritizing profit over quality in its production decisions. It’s a fair assessment, given the hit-and-miss nature of some of the follow-ups, though one might wonder if he’s seen 2004’s sensational “Alien vs. Predator” crossover—now that’s cinema!
4. **Linden Ashby didn’t come back for another round of Mortal Kombat**Director Paul W.S. Anderson cemented his status (at least to some) as a force in Hollywood with the release of the 1995 “Mortal Kombat” movie. Forget outstanding martial arts choreography, or even the greatest techno theme song of all time (though it had both!). One of the standout elements was undoubtedly the outstanding and witty portrayal of Johnny Cage, courtesy of the irrepressible Linden Ashby. The “Melrose Place” actor truly established himself as one of the best parts of the film, playing the narcissistic movie star turned Earthrealm warrior to absolute flawless perfection.
So, when the sequel, “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation,” swept legs (or tried to) in 1997, fans were shocked to find Ashby nowhere to be seen. Instead, Chris Conrad, known from “The Next Karate Kid,” stepped into the role of Cage. However, his tenure was tragically brief, as Shao Kahn promptly decided to send Cage to meet the elder gods by unceremoniously snapping his neck, all within the film’s opening moments. It was a swift, brutal, and frankly, disappointing exit for such a beloved character.
Ashby wasn’t the only actor to be replaced for the sequel; Bridgette Wilson and Christopher Lambert were also swapped out as Sonya Blade and Lord Raiden, respectively. The reason Ashby decided against returning for “Annihilation” was twofold, as he explained to The Action Elite. He stated, “I was doing something else when they did the sequel, and they wrote a crappy part for me.”
He further elaborated on his dissatisfaction: “I didn’t like the sequel script, I didn’t like the part they wrote for me in the sequel, and they weren’t going to honor my sequel deal. So, in a nutshell, that’s why.” It sounds like a perfect storm of creative differences, scheduling conflicts, and contractual disputes. Given the critical reception of “Annihilation,” which often ranks among the worst video game adaptations, Ashby’s decision appears to have been a wise one.
5. **Vin Diesel took a step back from the xXx franchise**The early 2000s were undeniably Vin Diesel’s time to shine as he carved out his niche as an action star. After roaring onto the scene as Dom Toretto in 2001’s “The Fast and the Furious,” he then donned the extreme sports gear to play Xander Cage – the adrenaline-junkie spy – in 2002’s “xXx.” The film was packed with high-octane stunts, a cocky lead, and a truly delectable soundtrack featuring the pummeling power of bands like Rammstein, Drowning Pool, and Hatebreed. It wasn’t hard to see the dollar signs in turning “xXx” into a full-blown franchise.
A sequel, titled “xXx: State of the Union,” materialized in 2005, but to the surprise of many, Diesel didn’t fuel up for an appearance. Instead, Ice Cube’s Darius Stone took over as the lead in what many considered a rather limp effort. In the film’s narrative, it was explained that Cage had tragically died on a mission, necessitating the recruitment of a new xXx operative with “more attitude” – whatever that truly meant.
So, what was the deal here? Vin Diesel didn’t return for the first “xXx” sequel because he didn’t feel creatively aligned with the story. Speaking to USA Today, he explained his perspective: “The script wasn’t right. They changed writers. It wasn’t ‘xXx’ to me.” He elaborated, “Two scripts were done, one by Rich Wilkes [who did the original ‘xXx’] and then another by someone else. I wanted the Wilkes one. That was the one I was excited about.” When his creative vision wasn’t matched, he stepped away.
Fortunately for fans of Xander Cage, Diesel’s character miraculously rose from the dead for 2017’s “xXx: Return of Xander Cage.” This comeback proved to be a success, shaking, rattling, and rolling to over $346 million at the global box office from an $85 million budget. It seems sometimes, all you need is the right script (and maybe a good resurrection clause) to bring a star back home.
6. **Will Smith didn’t kick the tire and light the fires for Independence Day: Resurgence**Earth found itself in quite a pickle in 1996, battling not only the Martians in “Mars Attacks!” but also facing a devastating alien invasion on a federal holiday in “Independence Day.” One person who definitely didn’t take the day off was Will Smith, who portrayed the brave and charismatic pilot Captain Steven Hiller. Hiller played an absolutely crucial role in stopping the initial alien onslaught and keeping humanity safe, setting the stage for an inevitable sequel.
It took a good long while, but the follow-up, “Independence Day: Resurgence,” finally arrived 20 years later. In this long-awaited film, however, Captain Hiller is now, sadly, dearly departed, having died off-screen. His stepson, Dylan (played by Jessie T. Usher), was left to carry on the legacy of saving Earth from the extraterrestrial baddies. The reason for this rather significant narrative adjustment was, of course, because Will Smith declined to return for the sequel.
As it turns out, Will Smith made the surprising choice to do “Suicide Squad” over “Independence Day: Resurgence.” The actor explained that his decision was all about timing and a strong desire to explore something different in his career, rather than simply relying on nostalgic roles. He wanted to push himself creatively and avoid being typecast in his earlier action-hero persona. A noble goal, for sure!
However, director Roland Emmerich, who helmed both “Independence Day” films, later revealed that Smith’s decision left everyone in a bit of a pickle. Smith reportedly dropped out of “Resurgence” at the very last minute, necessitating a rather rushed and extensive rewrite of the script. So, in this instance, Smith said yes, then bailed, choosing to suit up as the antihero marksman Deadshot to fight a belly dancing witch and her CGI brother in David Ayer’s “Suicide Squad,” rather than face off against those pesky aliens again. And as returning star Vivica A. Fox acknowledged, the movie really did miss out by not having Will Smith back.
