Typically, an actor is seen as “successful” in the event that they make the transition from small, impartial movies to massive, blockbuster motion pictures. Landing a task in a significant franchise might help an actor get elements in additional blockbusters, reminiscent of Chris Evans reserving key roles in Knives Out and The Gray Man post-MCU.
However, some actors make a reputation for themselves in big onscreen hits, then resolve to pivot to impartial movie — even when it is only for one film.
Here are 14 actors who starred in franchise motion pictures, bought paid, then went to indie movies:
1.
Daniel Radcliffe grew up enjoying the titular lead within the Harry Potter motion pictures.
After saying goodbye to his function because the boy who lived, he instantly shifted to indie motion pictures just like the rom-com The F Word and the Allen Ginsberg biopic Kill Your Darlings.
2.
Emma Watson spent practically a decade enjoying Hermione Granger within the Harry Potter franchise.
After wrapping Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Emma Watson booked key roles in a number of impartial movies, together with the Marilyn Monroe biopic My Week with Marilyn and the cult basic The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
3.
Regina Hall grew to become a reigning scream queen together with her function as Brenda Meeks within the Scary Movie franchise.
In current years, she’s pivoted to extra indie roles, together with Support the Girls, a comedy a couple of sports activities bar supervisor, and Master, a psychological horror thriller a couple of cursed college with darkish secrets and techniques.
4.
Kristen Stewart rose to fame as Bella Swan within the Twilight franchise. She additionally performed the titular lead within the Snow White and the Huntsman motion pictures.
Afterward, she made a significant profession shift to indie flicks, beginning with Camp X-Ray, a drama in regards to the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. She went on to star in movies like Still Alice, which is a couple of professor who’s recognized with familial Alzheimer’s illness, and Anesthesia, which is a twisty drama that follows the fallout after a professor is mugged.
5.
Robert Pattinson had main roles in two massive franchises — Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and Edward Cullen in Twilight.
In between Breaking Dawn Part 1 and Part 2, he starred in two indie dramas — Bel Ami, by which he performed an impoverished former soldier, and Cosmopolis, by which he performed a billionaire. He went on to construct a prolific indie portfolio in movies like High Life, a sci-fi drama a couple of single father in area, and The Lighthouse, which follows two lightkeepers on a distant island.
6.
Ashley Greene’s first main movie function was Alice Cullen within the Twilight franchise.
After Breaking Dawn Part 2, she bought her subsequent function within the impartial manufacturing CBGB, a biographical drama in regards to the iconic music venue in NY. She went on to star in indie flicks like Kristy, a horror film a couple of school scholar who’s focused by ritual killers whereas staying alone on campus, and extra not too long ago, Wrong Place, an motion film a couple of meth cook dinner searching down a former police chief.
7.
In the ’00s, Hayden Christensen grew to become well-known for enjoying Anakin Skywalker in Stars Wars.
Following Revenge of the Sith, his first put up–Darth Vader function was Billy Quinn in Factory Girl, a biopic about Andy Warhol’s ’60s muse Edie Sedgwick.
8.
Elijah Wood made the transition from little one actor to main movie star with the main function of Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings.
His first post-franchise function was Patrick Wertz within the acclaimed indie sci-fi romance Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
9.
After a number of smaller roles, Dakota Johnson rose to prominence as Anastasia Steele within the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise.
More not too long ago, she starred in a number of acclaimed indie movies, together with The Lost Daughter, a psychological drama in regards to the parallel struggles of two moms, and Cha Cha Real Smooth, a comedy-drama a couple of occasion starter-for-hire.
10.
Liam Neeson has had a spread of franchise roles all through his profession, together with Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars, Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia, Henri Ducard/Ra’s al Ghul in Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, and Bryan Mills in Taken.
However, in 2021, he performed Jim Hanson in The Marksman, the highest-grossing indie movie of the yr.
11.
Laura Dern performed Dr. Ellie Sattler within the authentic Jurassic Park trilogy.
Her first post-franchise function was Gertrude Hart in Focus, an indie drama about antisemitism on the finish of World War II.
12.
Keira Knightley performed Elizabeth Swann within the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
After her ultimate look in Dead Men Tell No Tales, her subsequent function was French writer Gabrielle Colette within the indie biopic Colette.
13.
Macaulay Culkin rose to little one stardom by way of his function as Kevin McCallister within the Home Alone motion pictures.
After returning to appearing as an grownup, he is principally centered on indie movies, together with Party Monster, a biopic about notorious NYC occasion promoter Michael Alig, and Saved!, a darkish comedy that satirizes each faith and teenage motion pictures.
14.
And lastly, one of the notable roles Brendan Fraser has performed in his lengthy profession is Rick O’Connell in The Mummy franchise.
However, he not too long ago earned popularity of the indie drama The Whale, which is about an English instructor reconnecting together with his estranged daughter. Many followers have hailed it as his comeback.