Josh Hartnett: Why Did Once Popular Actor Disappear & How Did He Come Back?

Remember the young man who saved his school (and the world) from aliens, fought at Pearl Harbor, and survived the fall of Black Hawk Down? Josh Hartnett was one of the most promising young actors of the early 2000s. But the actor's rise was just as rapid as his fall.

Josh landed his first feature film role at the age of 19. Then he starred in two big-budget blockbusters that would have a significant impact on his future career – Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down.

Hartnett Refused to Follow Hollywood Rules

Colleagues predicted his huge success, but such a prospect scared Hartnett: he had worked for several years, and now wanted to spend more time with his family. Besides, Josh understood the rules by which Hollywood operates. And he wasn't willing to follow them, because he didn't want to be anyone's puppet.

Hartnett decided to build his career his own way, and that was reason enough for him to turn down two iconic roles – Superman and Batman. However, such refusals had their consequences.

At the time, the actor believed that by not agreeing to play the Dark Knight for Christopher Nolan, he was eliminating any further opportunity to work with the director. According to Hartnett, it was because of his refusal that the director did not cast him in The Prestige.

The Black Dahlia and Lucky Number Slevin, released the same year as The Prestige, were not box office hits. And such a result could upset producers, who would think twice before offering a role to an actor who was losing popularity. Hartnett understood this and tried to find a balance between his personal life and his career by choosing small or independent projects.

The Actor Has Recently Risen from The Ashes

Josh's last big screen appearance in the 2000s was the horror film 30 Days of Night. After that, the once popular actor had completely dropped off the radar. But that is only partially true, as Hartnett has appeared in a dozen films in the 2010s. Most of them are indie works that the actor needed to support his family financially.

Usually in such situations, faded stars either move on to directing, star in B-movies for the rest of their days, or change profession. However, Hartnett once again became a Hollywood exception.

Since 2020, he has gradually recovered his almost ruined career, in which Guy Ritchie has helped him a lot. The British director was preparing to shoot Wrath of Man with Jason Statham when one of the actors dropped out of the project – and Ritchie invited Hartnett.

Josh was a perfect fit for the movie, considering his role – the partner of Statham's armored car collector – was changed on the fly. Originally, the character Hartnett ended up playing was only supposed to appear in a few scenes, but the role was expanded.

Hartnett's Most Recent Projects

2023 marked a full-fledged acting comeback for Hartnett. He appeared in the new season of Black Mirror and, to the surprise of many, in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer.

Nearly 20 years later, Hartnett was still able to find a common language with the director and star in one of the most acclaimed films of the year.

Now everyone is waiting for another great work of the actor, in which he played the main role – the film from the king of twists M. Night Shyamalan, Trap.