The A-List Stars Who Haven't Tainted Themselves with Sequels
Filed under: Remakes and Sequels, Lists
With Hollywood's neverending desire to milk every story and success for all its worth, it's easy to assume that no one is impervious from part 2, 3, 4, 10 -- especially A-listers. Part of the reason for their success is starring in successful films, and the better a movie does, the better the chance we'll get at least one sequel. But did you know that some of the biggies have only stuck to numero uno?Movieline has a great post up about the A-listers who have headed for sequel land, and those that have stayed blissfully away -- and they're not necessarily the actors you'd guess. Some are easy: Brad Pitt and Clooney had those Ocean's films (and does it count that Clooney once got some tomato revenge?). Ben Stiller is all about the sequels. Clint Eastwood got dirty for Harry in 5 films.
But who hasn't return for a part 2? I'll give you one: Denzel Washington. However, the site does point out that the actor is set for an Inside Man follow-up, so his status could change. But can you guess the others? There are 3 actors and 1 actress. Make your guesses below and then head over to Movieline to see if you're right. One of those names will probably be quite a surprise until you think about it. And, is there any sequel-free A-lister they missed?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-17-2009 @ 1:22PM
Kurt Munro said...
Jack Nicholson?
Reply
6-17-2009 @ 2:10PM
robert said...
Two Jakes
6-17-2009 @ 2:03PM
Ryan said...
All of the acting winners at the Oscars this past year have not done any sequels. At least according to my all too brief look-over at their IMDB pages.
Kate Winslet
Sean Penn
Penelope Cruz
Heath Ledger (Yes, Dark Knight is a sequel, but this was his first and only movie in the series).
Reply
6-17-2009 @ 2:14PM
Jonathan Kuhn said...
Yeah, that one that they say is shocking definitely surprised me too.
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6-17-2009 @ 2:32PM
Robin said...
...a little surprised that Robert Downey isn't on the list but Sandler is.. and he doesn't have to do any sequels anyway since his movies are all essentially the same.
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6-17-2009 @ 3:00PM
Weitz said...
Nicole Kidman have never starred in a sequel either.....
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6-17-2009 @ 4:21PM
mike said...
interesting that Denzel has no sequels, but that he's starred in 4 Spike Lee with a possible 5th, and 4 Tony Scott movies, also with a possible 5th. I know that these don't count as sequels, but don't they feel that way (esp the Tony Scott films)?
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6-17-2009 @ 4:33PM
Wexler said...
This is very interesting to think about. I think the two biggest factors are at what point does a star become an A-lister, and how long is their movie career, aka how long have they been around for the possibility of a sequal. It would be rather easy to name some stars who are kind of big, or are pretty young. That said, I checked up on a few actors who I personally think are big enough to have been tempted by sequal land.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman (until a Fockers or Kung Fu Panda sequal)
Edward Norton (waiting to see if he gets into more Hulk action)
Hilary Swank
Alec Baldwin
Jennifer Connelly
Charlize Theron - (until the Brazilian Job)
Mark Wahlberg - (until the Brazilian Job)
Reply
6-17-2009 @ 5:06PM
GLYN said...
if being in a sequel is enough to cross them off the list,
Wexler- you have to lose Philip Seymour Hoffman
(red dragon and MI III)
and
Hilary Swank- (The Next Karate Kid.)
And Weitz- Nicole Kidman was in Batman Forever.
6-17-2009 @ 5:17PM
Wexler said...
I was more going off the last part of the movieline article, "Only five of the twenty biggest stars have never made a sequel to a film they starred in."
But if the criteria is simply the movie be a sequal then I would agree.
I would also have to discount Dustin Hoffman, Alec Baldwin, and Edward Norton.
6-21-2009 @ 10:50PM
J. said...
Meryl Streep. I actually have her entire film collection in front of me, and there are no sequels.
Quite appropriate for a person who's considered the greatest actress of all time.
(Until the unlikely Mamma Mia! sequel, she is "clean".)
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