This Actor Almost United Two of the Highest-Grossing Franchises in the World
It would've been wild to see him in such different movie franchises.
Summary
- There are many franchises, but Fast & Furious and the DC cinematic universe are two of the most popular and successful.
- F&F's ultimate star was offered the chance to portray one of DC's central characters.
- The actor eventually decided not to take the role.
Currently, there are dozens of successful franchises in film and TV. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Twilight Saga, Yellowstone and its many spin-offs, One Chicago - these are just a few of the titles that come to mind. But just two decades ago, things were very different...
At the dawn of the twenty-first century, there were only a handful of popular franchises, with several more on the way. The Bond film series and numerous DC movies were arguably the most famous and successful examples of the former, while Harry Potter and Fast & Furious were still finding their audience. But interestingly enough, the DC and F&F franchises, which have grossed billions of dollars over the years, were almost led by the same actor.
Paul Walker Was Offered to Play Superman
According to Oakley Lehman, the actor's childhood friend and stunt double, Paul was anxious to take the role because he didn't want to be Superman for the rest of his life. However lucrative the deal, the beloved Fast & Furious star stayed true to himself and turned down the DC flick – without a shadow of a doubt, it seems.
According to Walker's manager, Matt Luber, the F&F star auditioned for the role of Superman before Brandon Routh's foray into the part. In the 2018 documentary I Am Paul Walker, Luber said that the actor was offered a $10 million contract, but turned it down at the last minute.
Walker's Unwillingness to Be Superman
Per Oakley Lehman, the actor's childhood friend and stunt double, Paul was anxious about taking on the role as he didn't want to be Superman for the rest of his life. And however lucrative the deal was, the beloved Fast & Furious star stayed true to himself and rejected the DC flick – without a shadow of doubt, it would appear.
'Yes, I could have made a gazillion dollars on that franchise. I could probably have bought my own fleet of jets or my own island. You know what? I don't need it. My favorite brand of running shoes costs $23. I rarely pay more than $40 for my jeans. Throw in a T-shirt and that costs me $20 or $10 if I buy it on the beach. I don't need a gazillion dollars to manage that kind of lifestyle,' Paul Walker said in a 2003 interview concerning his decision to forgo Superman.
In the end, the actor didn't lose much, as his fans will forever remember him for the characters he so brilliantly portrayed.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times.