Title: John Leguizamo Shares Glimpse of Hollywood’s Dark Side Through Experience on Die Hard 2
Key Takeaways:
– John Leguizamo had a negative experience on the shoot of Die Hard 2 due to the role changes based on his appearance.
– The actor reflected on the superficial side of Hollywood, which was revealed to him early in his career.
– Despite this, Leguizamo acknowledged the important learnings from his role in Super Mario Bros.
– His experiences have contributed to his growth as an actor in Hollywood.
The Disappointing Experience in Die Hard 2
John Leguizamo, popular for his roles in movies like Super Mario Bros. and Carlito’s Way, reflects on his initial experience in Hollywood. Specifically, on Bruce Willis’ Die Hard 2, noting it as a stark awakening to the industry’s superficial side.
The actor recounted his story of starting with an important terrorist role, only to be given a much smaller part because of his appearance. His first significant exposure to Hollywood resulted from Die Hard 2, where he played the character Burke, a terrorist. However, his experience on the set wasn’t all roses.
Leguizamo shared with the AV Club, being initially excited about playing ‘terrorist number two’. However, upon arriving on set, he was further demoted based on his physical stature. He bemoaned, “I was the shortest guy and the youngest guy, I got demoted to ‘terrorist number seven,’ and I was so bummed.”
Moreover, he stated that the film’s makers diluted his role by stripping many of his lines before replacing his voice and cloaking his identity in the movie with a hood, causing further disappointment. At the time, this was one of his first significant film roles after small gigs in Miami Vice and a Madonna music video.
Learning On Sets Of Super Mario Bros.
It wasn’t all regret for Leguizamo. Notably, his time filming Super Mario Bros. provided a significant learning curve despite the film’s commercial failure. He played Luigi in what is now a notoriously disastrous film, alongside actors Bob Hoskins and Dennis Hopper.
He confessed the movie’s production process was highly informative. He remarked, “The bigger they are, they become almost a military operation.” He realized essential skills needed in the industry such as leadership, social skills and staying true to the craft despite the pressures.
Despite its commercial failure, earning just $38 million against its $48 million budget, his lessons from Super Mario Bros. solidified his understanding and navigation of the film industry.
An Early Glimpse Into Hollywood’s Realities
John Leguizamo’s career offers valuable insight into Hollywood’s less-glamorous aspects. Despite the initial setbacks, the actor has prevailed, earning nominations and awards alike. His narrations serve as an important reminder of the industry’s hardships even as they shape and propel careers.
His experience on Die Hard 2 underlined Hollywood’s superficiality, pushing him down the call sheet due to his appearance rather than his abilities. On the contrary, Super Mario Bros. provided crucial learnings contributing to his growth as an actor.
Today, fans can revisit Die Hard 2, streamed on Hulu. Despite his early experiences, Leguizamo’s stories continue to shine a stark light on Hollywood’s underbelly while also reminding us of his journey in the industry.
