Sometimes, an actor is seen as “profitable” in the event that they make the transition from small, unbiased movies to large, blockbuster films. Touchdown a job in a significant franchise will help an actor get elements in additional blockbusters, akin to Chris Evans reserving key roles in Knives Out and The Grey Man post-MCU.
Nonetheless, some actors make a reputation for themselves in enormous onscreen hits, then resolve to pivot to unbiased movie — even when it is only for one film.
Listed here are 14 actors who starred in franchise films, received paid, then went to indie movies:
1.
Daniel Radcliffe grew up taking part in the titular lead within the Harry Potter films.
After saying goodbye to his position because the boy who lived, he instantly shifted to indie films just like the rom-com The F Phrase and the Allen Ginsberg biopic Kill Your Darlings.
2.
Emma Watson spent almost a decade taking part in Hermione Granger within the Harry Potter franchise.
After wrapping Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Half 2, Emma Watson booked key roles in a number of unbiased movies, together with the Marilyn Monroe biopic My Week with Marilyn and the cult basic The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
3.
Regina Corridor grew to become a reigning scream queen together with her position as Brenda Meeks within the Scary Film franchise.
In recent times, she’s pivoted to extra indie roles, together with Help the Ladies, a comedy a couple of sports activities bar supervisor, and Grasp, a psychological horror thriller a couple of cursed college with darkish secrets and techniques.
4.
Kristen Stewart rose to fame as Bella Swan within the Twilight franchise. She additionally performed the titular lead within the Snow White and the Huntsman films.
Afterward, she made a significant profession shift to indie flicks, beginning with Camp X-Ray, a drama concerning the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. She went on to star in movies like Nonetheless Alice, which is a couple of professor who’s identified with familial Alzheimer’s illness, and Anesthesia, which is a twisty drama that follows the fallout after a professor is mugged.
5.
Robert Pattinson had main roles in two large franchises — Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and Edward Cullen in Twilight.
In between Breaking Daybreak Half 1 and Half 2, he starred in two indie dramas — Bel Ami, wherein he performed an impoverished former soldier, and Cosmopolis, wherein he performed a billionaire. He went on to construct a prolific indie portfolio in movies like Excessive Life, a sci-fi drama a couple of single father in house, and The Lighthouse, which follows two lightkeepers on a distant island.
6.
Ashley Greene’s first main movie position was Alice Cullen within the Twilight franchise.
After Breaking Daybreak Half 2, she received her subsequent position within the unbiased manufacturing CBGB, a biographical drama concerning the iconic music venue in NY. She went on to star in indie flicks like Kristy, a horror film a couple of faculty scholar who’s focused by ritual killers whereas staying alone on campus, and extra not too long ago, Fallacious Place, an motion film a couple of meth cook dinner searching down a former police chief.
7.
Within the ’00s, Hayden Christensen grew to become well-known for enjoying Anakin Skywalker in Stars Wars.
Following Revenge of the Sith, his first put up–Darth Vader position was Billy Quinn in Manufacturing unit Lady, a biopic about Andy Warhol’s ’60s muse Edie Sedgwick.
8.
Elijah Wooden made the transition from little one actor to main movie star with the main position of Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings.
His first post-franchise position was Patrick Wertz within the acclaimed indie sci-fi romance Everlasting Sunshine of the Spotless Thoughts.
9.
After a number of smaller roles, Dakota Johnson rose to prominence as Anastasia Steele within the Fifty Shades of Gray franchise.
Extra not too long ago, she starred in a number of acclaimed indie movies, together with The Misplaced Daughter, a psychological drama concerning the parallel struggles of two moms, and Cha Cha Actual Easy, a comedy-drama a couple of celebration starter-for-hire.
10.
Liam Neeson has had a variety of franchise roles all through his profession, together with Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars, Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia, Henri Ducard/Ra’s al Ghul in Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, and Bryan Mills in Taken.
Nonetheless, in 2021, he performed Jim Hanson in The Marksman, the highest-grossing indie movie of the yr.
11.
Laura Dern performed Dr. Ellie Sattler within the unique Jurassic Park trilogy.
Her first post-franchise position was Gertrude Hart in Focus, an indie drama about antisemitism on the finish of World Warfare II.
12.
Keira Knightley performed Elizabeth Swann within the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
After her closing look in Lifeless Males Inform No Tales, her subsequent position was French writer Gabrielle Colette within the indie biopic Colette.
13.
Macaulay Culkin rose to little one stardom by way of his position as Kevin McCallister within the House Alone films.
After returning to appearing as an grownup, he is principally centered on indie movies, together with Celebration Monster, a biopic about notorious NYC celebration promoter Michael Alig, and Saved!, a darkish comedy that satirizes each faith and teenage films.
14.
And eventually, one of the crucial notable roles Brendan Fraser has performed in his lengthy profession is Rick O’Connell in The Mummy franchise.
Nonetheless, he not too long ago earned approval for the indie drama The Whale, which is about an English instructor reconnecting along with his estranged daughter. Many followers have hailed it as his comeback.
