Josh Harnett, the actor who became a teenage heartthrob in the late ’90s before suddenly backing away from Hollywood, has shared why he rejected major film roles just when he was on the cusp of becominga huge movie star. According to theOppenheimerstar, it had a lot to do withtoxic fan behaviorand even some incidents of stalking. Most notably, Hartnett was at one point in talks to star in Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy, and was also seen as a potential Superman. Instead, he decided to walk away from the spotlight to focus on other things and prevent the stalking situation from reaching a dangerous point. PerDeadline, Hartnett explained:
“People’s attention to me at the time was borderline unhealthy. There were incidents. People showed up at my house. People that were stalking me. A guy showed up at one of my premieres with a gun, claiming to be my father. He ended up in prison. There were lots of things. It was a weird time. And I wasn’t going to be grist for the mill.”
A man and his teenage daughter realize they’re at the center of a dark and sinister event while watching a concert.
While he did not win the role of Nolan’s Batman, more recently, Hartnett won a role in 2023’sOppenheimer,playing nuclear physicist Ernest Lawrence. And the actor now feels like he has a chance in Hollywood again:
“I recognize the missed opportunity to work with a guy like Chris. And I’ve figured out that as much as you’re worried about curating your career to things you’re interested in, I don’t believe that’s the most important thing anymore. It’s about finding people who you really trust.
I just didn’t want my life to be swallowed up by my work. And there was a notion at that time you just kind of give it all up. And you saw what happened to some people back then. They got obliterated by it. I didn’t want that for myself.”
Josh Hartnett Has Slowly Begun to Re-Enter the Spotlight
Thankfully, things could, and most likely will, change for Hartnett in 2024. He’s set to leadM. Night Shyamalan’s upcoming thriller,Trap, which will be released next month. In the film, he plays Cooper, the father to a teenage daughter who, after escorting her to a concert, discovers that the gig is a ruse by the police to capture a serial killer. The problem is, Cooper is that serial killer. At least, that’s the “official” version, but as you’re no doubt aware, this is a Shyamalan joint, and it will most likelyhave a twist ending. Care to guess what it is?
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M. Night Shyamalan’s latest is being called a throwback to some of his earlier work, with many praising the performance of Josh Hartnett.
In recent years, Hartnett has shown up in films like the action thrillerWrath of Manand the comedic spy outingOperation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre,both of which were helmed by Guy Ritchie and found Hartnett starring alongside action icon Jason Statham. He also made an appearance in the critically acclaimed third season ofThe Bear. His most prominent roles prior to this were in the late 1990s and early 2000s, where Harnett appeared in films likeHalloween H20: 20 Years Later,The Faculty,Black Hawk Down,Pearl Harbor,Wicker Park,and theterrifying vampire outing30 Days of Night,among others. Here’s hoping that his experience in the spotlight is far better this time around.
Josh Harnett’sTrappremieres exclusively in theaters on June 24, 2025.
