“I don’t want to be associated with that character,” Jesse Eisenberg recently said of his decision not to return as Mark Zuckerberg in “The Social Reckoning.”

12 stars who skipped sequels to their hit movies — and why

"I don't want to be associated with that character," Jesse Eisenberg recently said of his decision not to return as Mark Zuckerberg in "The Social Reckoning."

By Brianna Zigler

July 1, 2026 7:44 p.m. ET

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Rachel Weisz as Evelyn Carnahan in 'The Mummy'; Will Smith as Steven Hiller in 'Independence Day'; Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg in 'The Social Network'. Credit:

Not every movie deserves a sequel, and not every sequel needs its original stars to move forward—for better or worse.

Jesse Eisenberg recently explained his decision not to return as Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg for *The Social Network*'s upcoming "companion piece," *The Social Reckoning*. Instead, the role will be played by *Succession* star Jeremy Strong. Eisenberg has made it clear he'd rather keep making *Now You See Me* movies.

Eisenberg is far from the only actor to pass on the chance to reprise a hit role. Sometimes it's simply a matter of scheduling, as when Katie Holmes couldn't return for *The Dark Knight*. Other times, stars have reservations about the sequel itself, like Keanu Reeves, who famously turned down *Speed 2: Cruise Control* because he wasn't sold on the script.

From scheduling conflicts to creative disagreements, ** looks back at 12 actors who chose not to return for sequels to some of Hollywood's biggest hits.

Jim Carrey, The Mask 2

Jim Carrey as Stanley Ipkiss in 'The Mask'. Everett Collection

Jim Carrey's starring role in 1994's *The Mask* was just one in a string of box office hits that cemented the actor and comedian as a slapstick icon. In fact, Carrey considered doing a sequel before ultimately walking away from a reported $10 million payday.

Carrey revealed he had been offered the hefty sum during a 1995 interview with Barbara Walters. That version of the sequel, however, never materialized. Instead, a decade later, *Son of the Mask* arrived with neither Carrey nor costar Cameron Diaz reprising their roles. The film was both a critical and commercial failure.

In *Forbes'* oral history of *The Mask*, Mike Richardson, founder of Dark Horse Comics, said Carrey had been "semi-interested" in a sequel, but that the actor's schedule ultimately prevented the project from moving forward.

In the same oral history, director Chuck Russell said, "I didn't wanna do it and neither did Jim unless it was as good as the first."

Carrey eventually returned for sequels to some of his biggest hits, including *Dumb and Dumber To* (2014) and multiple *Sonic the Hedgehog* follow-ups. In June 2026, it was announced that a sequel to *How the Grinch Stole Christmas* was in development with Carrey attached to return.

In a 2024 interview with ComicBook, Carrey said he'd be open to returning to *The Mask*—provided the script was good enough. "If somebody had the right idea, I guess… It's not really about the money," he said.

Macaulay Culkin, Home Alone 3

Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister in 'Home Alone'.

After his breakout role in *Home Alone* (1990), Macaulay Culkin returned as the impish Kevin McCallister in the 1992 sequel, *Home Alone 2: Lost in New York*.

But when it came time for the franchise's third installment, Culkin's Kevin was replaced by a new protagonist, Alex Pruitt (played by Alex D. Linz). The reason? Despite his young age, Culkin had stepped away from acting in 1994.

Culkin discussed the decision in an interview with *Mythical Kitchen* earlier this year. "What I wanted is to be with people my own age,” he explained. “You have to remember: A lot of the stuff I did when I was a kid … I'm not doing ensembles. It's me.”

After starring in 1994’s *Richie Rich, *Culkin decided that he wanted a more normal adolescence.

"I wanted to go out and I wanted to date girls, and I wanted to hang out with people my own age. I wanted to, you know, go to a party. I wanted to do those kind of things. I can't tell you how many bar mitzvahs I missed,” he quipped.

Richard Dreyfuss, Jaws 2

Robert Shaw as Quint, Roy Scheider as Martin Brody, and Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper in 'Jaws'. Courtesy Everett Collection

*Jaws* forever reshaped the film industry, defining the modern blockbuster and helping turn rising director Steven Spielberg into one of Hollywood's biggest filmmakers. It also spawned three notoriously schlocky sequels—none of which involved Spielberg.

In part because of Spielberg's absence, Richard Dreyfuss declined to reprise his role as Matt Hooper in Jaws 2. But money also factored into his decision.

Speaking with *The Hollywood Reporter* in 2014, Dreyfuss explained, "I knew what made *Jaws* good, and we weren't talking about Steven [Spielberg] directing it [the sequel]."

Dreyfuss also recalled a conversation with *Jaws* producer David Brown, who couldn't understand why he didn't want to return. “‘I never understood why you didn’t give us Latvia,’" Dreyfuss claimed to have replied. "We were not bonused — not at all — and you would be embarrassed at how much they paid us. I said to David, ‘You could have given us Eastern Europe.’ And not only did he not, but he didn’t again and again.”

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Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Reckoning

Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg in 'The Social Network'.

Merrick Morton/Columbia/Sony

Though the role provided him with his first Academy Award nomination, Jesse Eisenberg ultimately turned down the opportunity to play Mark Zuckerberg in *The Social Reckoning* because he no longer wanted to be associated with the real guy.

At the Los Angeles premiere of *Minions & Monsters* in June 2026, the actor spoke to *Variety* about his decision to pass on Aaron Sorkin’s *Social Network* follow-up — though not before praising Sorkin's work.

"It's an honor to speak to Aaron in any capacity, because he's so articulate and charming and so bright," Eisenberg said. "We talked about doing the movie for several days, as he said. The way Aaron speaks, he speaks so wonderfully — as he writes — that in a way, if you're not going to do something with him, it feels almost like you're letting down America."

He continued, "I just told him I'm moving in different directions in my life, and you know, what he said sums it up nicely: I don't want to be associated with that character. But all of my reasons for not wanting to do the movie have nothing to do with how wonderful the movie is, and will be, and I'm sure is already."

Shortly after Sorkin revealed that a *Social Network* follow-up was in the works in 2024, Eisenberg discussed his aversion to Zuckerberg on BBC Radio 4’s *Today*.

"I haven't been following [Zuckerberg's] life trajectory, partly because I don’t… when I think of myself as associated with somebody like that, it's not like I played a great golfer and now people think I'm a great golfer; it’s this guy that’s doing things that are problematic," he explained.

Jodie Foster, Hannibal

Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling in 'The Silence Of The Lambs'.

Orion/Kobal/Shutterstock

Though Jodie Foster took home an Academy Award for her performance as Clarice Starling in *The Silence of the Lambs, *she didn’t return for the 2001 sequel, *Hannibal. *And she wasn’t alone: director Jonathan Demme was replaced by Ridley Scott.

In a 2005 interview with Total Film*, *Foster claimed that she passed on playing Starling again in part because she was already filming another movie, *Flora Plum. *However, *Flora Plum* ended up not moving forward. By that point, Clarice Starling had already been recast, with Julianne Moore stepping into the role.

But Foster didn’t have any regrets. “Clarice meant so much to Jonathan [Demme] and I ... and I know it sounds kind of strange to say, but there was no way that either of us could really trample on her," she said.

Crispin Glover, Back to the Future II

Crispin Glover as George McFly in 'Back to the Future'.

MCA/Universal Pictures - Courtesy: Everett Collection

Marty McFly's father, George McFly, was played by Crispin Glover in *Back to the Future*. However, Glover famously did not reprise the role in *Back to the Future Part II*. Instead, George McFly was played by a relatively unknown actor who wore prosthetic makeup made to resemble Glover.

Glover has said his departure stemmed from both creative and financial disagreements with the filmmakers. In a 2013 appearance on *Opie & Anthony*, he recalled asking questions about the ending of the original film that he claimed irked the creative team, including director Robert Zemeckis.

"I was asking questions that the producers, director didn't like," he said. "There was a different end … I had questions about it, and it did get changed."

Glover also disputed producer Bob Gale's claim that he demanded the same salary as Michael J. Fox.

"It's a total fabrication," Glover said, though the *Willard* actor acknowledged money was still an issue. "I wanted to be in the movie, but the offer was less than half of what Lea Thompson and Tom Wilson — who had similar-sized roles — [were offered]. It just wasn't fair."

Glover objected to Universal Pictures using his likeness without his permission and ultimately sued the studio. The case was settled and ultimately helped establish new protections for actors regarding the unauthorized commercial use of their likenesses.

"They had taken the molds of my face from the old-age makeup from the original movie," he explained, "and put another actor into prosthetics that were made from my face, and inter-spliced with a very small amount of footage of me from the original movie in order to fool audiences into thinking I was in the movie."

He continued, "If I'd have played that part, I would have played it different. I didn't like the way that guy played it, and people think it's me. It still gets to me that there's that confusion."

Adrian Grenier, The Devil Wears Prada 2

Adrian Grenier as Nate Cooper and Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs in 'The Devil Wears Prada'.

In 2006, *Entourage *star Adrian Grenier* *played Andy’s (Anne Hathaway) boyfriend Nate Cooper in *The Devil Wears Prada. *Nate becomes fed up with his girlfriend’s workaholic lifestyle because of her demanding boss, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), and years later fans would go on to view Nate — not Miranda — as the real villain of the film.

When it was revealed that Grenier would not be returning for 2026's *The Devil Wears Prada 2, *fans couldn’t help but wonder what happened to Andy’s boyfriend. In a cheeky Starbucks ad, Grenier himself addressed his absence.

"You might've seen the headlines. I wasn't asked to be part of a certain sequel," Grenier says in the ad, knowingly. “But, I'm good. Really.” The camera then pulls back to reveal Grenier in line at a Starbucks.

Eventually, Grenier takes a seat. "So, a toast to Nate," he says. "He made a mean sandwich, loved his girlfriend... to a point. Okay, so, he wasn't perfect. So, let's leave Nate in 2006 and keep this good energy going!"

Nevertheless, Grenier doubles back a little, ending the ad by saying "I mean, if they call... I'm free."

Katie Holmes, The Dark Knight

Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes in 'Batman Begins'.

In the first installment of Christopher Nolan’s *The Dark Knight* trilogy, Katie Holmes plays Rachel Dawes, the childhood friend and love interest of Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman. However, the *Dawson’s Creek* actress is conspicuously absent from the iconic sequel, where the character is played by Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Holmes’ absence from 2008's *The Dark Knight* wasn’t particularly dramatic — she was simply interested in exploring other roles at the time. She ultimately chose to star in the 2008 comedy *Mad Money* alongside Queen Latifah and Diane Keaton.

In 2016, Holmes explained to *Business Insider* that she didn’t have any regrets about leaving the franchise, nor was there any bad blood.

“I really enjoyed working on the first one [*Batman Begins*], and I wish I could have worked with Chris Nolan again and I hope to work with him again,” she said. “It was a decision that I made at that time and it was right for me at that moment, so I don't have any regrets. I think that Maggie did a wonderful job. But I really hope that I get to work with Chris someday."

Mila Kunis, Ted 2

Mila Kunis as Lori Colls in 'Ted'.

In the raunchy 2012 comedy *Ted*, Mila Kunis plays Lori Collins, the love interest of Mark Wahlberg's John Bennett. John's best friend, however, is the eponymous talking teddy bear (voiced by the film's director, Seth MacFarlane), whom John wished to life as a child.

Though the film ends with Lori and John getting married (despite Ted's various illicit shenanigans), *Ted 2* reveals that the pair have divorced.

Kunis has a long-standing relationship with *Ted* creator Seth MacFarlane, having voiced Meg Griffin on his animated series *Family Guy* since 1999. As such, there was no bad blood behind her absence. During a 2015 Reddit AMA, Kunis explained that she was pregnant when *Ted 2* began filming. "A little thing called 'a pregnancy' got in the way of me and production," she wrote. "But I wish them all the best, and I'm sure the movie will be hysterical."

Kunis' pregnancy wasn't the only reason Lori disappeared, however. According to *Deadline*, MacFarlane also reworked the sequel after abandoning an earlier story idea, leaving no place for Lori in the revised script. Instead, Amanda Seyfried joined the cast as Sam Jackson, the lawyer who represents Ted in his fight to be recognized as human.

Keanu Reeves, Speed 2: Cruise Control

Keanu Reeves as Jack Traven and Sandra Bullock as Annie Porter in 'Speed'.

20th Century Fox/Everett

The irresistible chemistry between Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock and the bonkers, no-holds-barred action of *Speed* propelled the film to blockbuster success.

*Speed 2: Cruise Control *centered on a villain's plot to hijack a luxury ship and crash it into an oil tanker in the Caribbean. In 2021, Reeves discussed his decision not to return on *The Graham Norton Show. *

"At the time, I didn't respond to the script," he said. "I really wanted to work with Sandra Bullock, I loved playing Jack Traven, and I loved *Speed*, but an ocean liner? I had nothing against the artists involved, but at that time I had the feeling it just wasn't right."

Though *Speed* ends in a cinematic smooch between Reeves’ Jack and Bullock’s Annie, the sequel saw Annie boarding the ship with a new boyfriend, Alex (played by Jason Patric). In 2022, Bullock admitted that she was "still embarrassed" by it.

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Will Smith, Independence Day: Resurgence

Will Smith as Steven Hiller in 'Independence Day'.

*Independence Day* was a smash hit at the box office in 1996, but it didn't receive a sequel until 2016's *Independence Day: Resurgence. *

Though much of the original cast returned — including Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Vivica A. Fox, and Judd Hirsch — there were a few noticeable absences, Will Smith being the most glaring.

Smith led the vast ensemble as pilot Steven Hiller. According to *Variety**, *Smith declined to reprise his role due to salary disagreements. Director Roland Emmerich, meanwhile, told EW that Smith didn't want to do four sci-fi movies in a row. His character was ultimately killed off between the events of the first and second films.

*Resurgence* was a critical and commercial disappointment, and Fox, who plays Hiller’s wife Jasmine Hiller, felt that the poor reception was largely due to Smith’s absence.

In a 2023 interview with The A.V. Club*, *Fox talked about the failed sequel. “I really feel we missed out by not bringing Will Smith back," she said. "We had most of the original cast, but I think the one true link that was missing to the success of *Independence Day 2* was that Will Smith wasn’t there.”

Rachel Weisz, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Rachel Weisz as Evelyn O'Connell in 'The Mummy Returns'.

Keith Hamshere/Universal Pictures

Rachel Weisz stole hearts as Evelyn Carnahan in 1999’s *The Mummy,* and reprised the role alongside Brendan Fraser’s Rick O’Connell in 2001's *The Mummy Returns*.

While Fraser came back for the 2008 threequel, *The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, *Weisz was replaced by Maria Bello. That was curious, as Weisz had expressed a willingness to do a third *Mummy* movie in a 2005* *IGN* *interview.

In 2008, Digital Spy reported that a representative for Weisz said the actress didn't want to leave behind her 2-year-old child to spend five months shooting in China.

That report also includes a quote given to *Heat* by *The Mummy* director Rob Cohen*, *who claimed that Weisz was angry over her character having a 21-year-old son. At the time, Weisz was only in her thirties.

Whatever the case for Weisz’s departure*, *she's confirmed to be returning for the upcoming *The Mummy 4**, *directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Movies”