Since winning an Oscar for writing “Sling Blade” in 1996, Billy Bob Thornton has appeared in some 40 films and TV shows, an average of roughly 3 and a third a year. Look at his upcoming slate of films, then, and what’s immediately noticeable isn’t this or that particular project, but the lack of them.
That’s because at age 53, the award winning thesp is ready to throw in the towel – for a little while, anyway, Thornton confessed to MTV News.
“I’ve been in fifty some odd movies and directed three or four, and written a few, and I figure I’m tired of fighting it. I’ve had a good career as an actor, and mostly I just care about music now,” Thornton said. “There’s no passion or desperation in me anymore about movies and I think there is for music, and for my family, and for a lot of other things. [But] in terms of movies, yeah, I’ll go do it - if they call and I need the money.
“[Otherwise] it’s not exactly retirement,” he said, pausing, “but in a sense you can say that.”
We would never question Billy Bob’s rationale for hanging ‘em up, although we will note that if he’s serious, the cinematic world has suddenly become that much less fun and exciting. Mostly, of course, because he’s so utterly fantastic in just about everything he does.
But if his sojourn from being in front of the camera means he might once again move behind it, than we’re all for that too.
“I’d like to write another screen play. I’ve got one in my head. I’ve [also] got a couple movies I want to direct,” he said, his disdain and rue almost palpable. “One’s a true story, it happened in the 1920s, and the other is based on a book, a fictional book. But I can’t get them financed because they’re about actual THINGS. So it’s real tough to get actual things done.”
In the, catch him before he disappears file, Thornton has a small cameo in the upcoming movie “The Informers” and a starring role in the Polish Brother’s movie, “Manure,” about a fertilizer salesman in the 60s.
And after that? Well, nothing.
‘’Tulia’ was a movie that I was going to do with Halle Berry. She got pregnant and they kind of put it on hold, so that’s not happening,” he listed. “They say I’m in a movie called ‘Duplicity,’ which I’m not. They say I’m playing Freddie Krueger, which I’m not.
“Every now and then I’ll sneak out of my house and go do a movie,” he said, adding “but, but after all the movies…”
And just like that he was done.
Care to convince Billy Bob that he’s wanted? That he shouldn’t give up on dealing with the Hollywood BS? Or would you welcome his return behind the camera? Sound off on all your thoughts below.
