From Amber Heard to Kevin Spacey, here’s a look at the strange case of Hollywood comebacks.
From Amber Heard to Kevin Spacey, here’s a look at the strange case of Hollywood comebacks.
Many Hollywood stars, from Kevin Spacey to Armie Hammer to James Franco, are attempting to resurrect their careers.
Living under continual public scrutiny can be stressful, with their highs and lows receiving special attention. Some actors’ careers suffer as a result of public occurrences, others suffer as a result of legal problems, and still others simply fade away after becoming embroiled in a scandal. When that happens, it’s difficult to come back into the spotlight. However, some performers are attempting to resurrect their careers. Here’s the skinny:
Kevin Spacey is an actor.
After being acquitted of sex assault allegations in London earlier this year, the Oscar winner is apparently preparing for a huge Hollywood comeback. Author Geoffrey Mark, a friend of the two-time Oscar winner, told the Daily Mail that Spacey, 64, wants to “rebuild” his career. “He’s going to have to rebuild, and I believe he’ll go in a direction we hadn’t considered before,” the author revealed, adding, “We’re going to see a whole new creative side of him come out.” He is not currently affiliated to any planned projects.
Johnny Depp is an actor.
Following his cancellation due to a legal dispute with his wife, actress Amber Heard, actor Johnny Depp is focusing on his work, which includes acting, music, and brand endorsements. He even discussed his return at the Cannes Film Festival. “When you’re asked to resign from the film you’re doing because of something that is merely a bunch of vowels and consonants floating in the air, yeah, you feel a bit boycotted,” he remarked during a press conference for his film, Jeanne Du Barry. Do I now feel boycotted? No way, no how. But, because I don’t think about it, I don’t feel shunned by Hollywood. I’m not thinking about Hollywood. “I don’t have much more need for Hollywood.”
Armie Hammer is an actor.
Armie Hammer’s career suffered after he was accused of rape and labeled a “cannibal,” leading to the loss of multiple jobs, including the comedy Shotgun Wedding, series The Offer, and play The Minutes. Several stories now indicate that he is planning a comeback, which gathered momentum when he was recently sighted with actress Alicia Vikander.
Amber Heard is an actress.
Amber Heard is preparing to make her acting comeback following her highly publicized defamation battle with her ex husband, actor Johnny Depp. And the voyage began in June, when she made her first public appearance in Sicily to promote her picture, In the Fire, at the Taormina picture Festival. In fact, the film’s director, Conor Allyn, stated in a new article that Heard is set to make a ‘heck of a comeback’ with the picture.
Franco, James
Actor James Franco, who left the industry following a slew of serious sexual misconduct charges, will return shortly with a period drama. In 2018, he was accused of sexual assault by five women, four of whom were his students, sparking a storm of accusations, a legal struggle, and a $2,235,000 settlement for Franco. He’ll be back in the spotlight shortly with the historical drama Me, You. Franco addressed the charges last year on The Jess Cagle Podcast, saying, “I’ve been doing a lot of work on myself.”
Mr. Ezra Miller
Actor Ezra Miller had avoided the spotlight since accusations of his questionable behavior first surfaced in August 2022. He also issued an apology statement, saying, “I am suffering from complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment.” In June of this year, he made an unexpected appearance at the opening of his film The Flash. His future after the film, however, remains unknown because he has not signed another project since then.
Shia LaBeouf is an actor.
Shia LaBeouf avoided the spotlight after being accused of sexual assault by his ex-girlfriend, singer FKA Twigs, in 2021. After more than a year, he began his road to Hollywood salvation by signing on to Frances Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, which concluded filming in March of this year. LaBeouf landed a role in the thriller film Assassination in May 2023. While he has projects in the works, industry insiders are curious to see how his return initiatives fare in the marketplace.
Jeremy Piven is an actor.
In 2017 and 2018, the actor was accused of sexual assault, harassment, and misconduct by eight women, prompting him to walk away from the spotlight. After more than five years, he made his comeback in April of this year, starring in his first notable film since his sexual-assault claims surfaced, He appeared in Sweetwater, a biographical film about basketball player Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton. “It’s about taking ownership of your life, and when you know your truth, you can get up on a stage anywhere when you have nothing to hide,” he explained at the time in an interview.
