Television's Hercules Has Harsh Words For Sam Raimi
Filed under: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Comic/Superhero/Geek
In what could be described as a case of "sour grapes," former Hercules star and recent The OC guest star Kevin Sorbo had some, shall we say, choice words about his former Hercules exec. producer and Spider-Man franchise director Sam Raimi. In an interview detailed over at IESB, Sorbo accuses Raimi of, among other things, not giving him parts in any of his bigger films because he is infantile and holds a grudge against him for not wanting to do more season of Hercules.According to Sorbo: "I busted my ass on Hercules and during Season Five, I almost died doing it. I think I'm a good enough actor that [Sam Raimi] can put me in a secondary part in one of his feature films. It would be nice if he did that. I think he's holding a grudge over me." In the article, Sorbo also recounted the director's actions when he ran into him during the filming of For Love of the Game. Sorbo, who is friends with the film's star Kevin Costner, was hanging with the actor in his trailer when Raimi came in and, according to Sorbo, acted nice but was really holding back. "It is very infantile from a guy who's as powerful as he is and as wealthy as he is to. Throw me a bone. Why not let me do something?
Even if Sorbo hasn't been in any of Raimi's movies, its not like he hasn't had work. He starred in another successful TV show after Hercules -- Andromeda -- which ran for five years. Maybe Sorbo feels he deserves the same treatment as longtime Raimi friend Bruce Campbell? After all, Raimi has thrown Campbell many bones and had him appear in most of his big projects, including the first two Spider-Man films. To me, Sorbo comes across as jealous of Campbell and doesn't really make much of a compelling case -- especially knowing how Hollywood works. Sure, it would be great if everyone did the "right" thing in Hollywood. Unfortunately, that's just not how things work. Sorry Kevin. Maybe Kevin Costner will give you a job?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-14-2007 @ 4:51PM
Cath said...
In an industry where 90% of the talent rarely work and can't make a living, it does not behoove anyone who's had that kind of success to be complaining that things aren't better for them. And personal disputes are best handled in private, though I can understand inadvertently letting one's guard down or being overheard.
Reply
2-14-2007 @ 5:56PM
bgdc said...
Dude sounds like a whiner. Campbell isn't just an employee of Raimi's. Campbell is a long time friend that helped establish Raimi.
Reply
2-14-2007 @ 5:50PM
Rich Drees said...
Oh please Sorbo. Sam and Bruce's friendship dates back to their teens and neither of them would have a career if it weren't for the other. Of course Sam's going throw Bruce a bone or two. But even so, Bruce brings the goods for the parts. Could it be that Sorbo is just not that good an actor?
Reply
2-14-2007 @ 6:06PM
joe said...
woah. where'd you find that pic? kev is lookin like mr. burns.
Reply
2-14-2007 @ 6:12PM
BigTed said...
In Sorbo's defense, Raimi is known for hiring people close to him to work on all his projects (including his brothers, one as an actor and the other as a writer). So I can understand why he feels left out.
On the other hand, I think when people see him in anything now, they think exactly what I thought when he was on "The O.C.": "What the heck is Hercules doing there?"
Reply
2-14-2007 @ 8:16PM
Themis said...
Please note that it was the WRITER OF THIS ARTICLE, Chris Ullrich, NOT Kevin, who brought up Bruce Campbell. Read the original article linked in the first paragraph. Bruce and Kevin shared the very last scene shot in Herc and Bruce had nice things to say about Kevin in his book.
Kevin has been telling the same Raimi story at cons for at least three years. I suspect there were many positive things in the original article that were left out because the writer of the original (or maybe the editor) thought it would get more comment the way it ran...
Reply
2-14-2007 @ 9:00PM
Rich Drees said...
Well, why else would Sorbo think he's entitled to continual work from Raimi? You don't see Frances McDormand or Liam Neeson kvetching like this.
Reply
2-15-2007 @ 10:58AM
Eric said...
Honestly for a guy Kevin's size where are you gonna put him in a movie, could you really see him playing the ring announcer or the snoody usher?
Reply
3-13-2007 @ 9:43PM
WilBarn99 said...
Kevin is not helping his case by making statements like this. He is digging himself a hole. Kevin did not complain when his wife Dienneria was cut from the series early. Nor the other actors who did not get nearly as much work as him in the series. Kevin is still a whiner. He whined about being in New Zealand long periods of time he needs to stop complaining. Frankly he does not look as good as he used too.
Reply