By: Renae Richardson
Some believe celebrity gives you access to every room. Shaquille O’Neal knows that is not necessarily the case.
A Conversation That Went Beyond Basketball
O’Neal, whose celebrity is closely tied to a basketball career that brought him national acclaim, recently sat down with Variety for an interview centered on a league he currently leads, The Dunkman League. As interviews often do, the conversation eventually moved beyond its central topic, creating an opportunity to explore some of O’Neal’s other ambitions. One in particular has remained just out of reach: landing a superhero role in the Marvel Universe.
Shaq Is No Stranger to Hollywood
O’Neal is no stranger to cinema. His transition from professional athlete to actor has produced a filmography that is more extensive than one might expect from a sports figure. His acting credits date back to 1993, when he appeared as Neon in Blue Chips, and include one of his most recognizable roles, the titular genie in 1996’s Kazaam. Yet despite his long history on screen, O’Neal has never secured a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That, he says, isn’t for lack of interest.
Why Marvel Said No
During the interview, O’Neal explained that he once hoped to join the Avengers but was told his celebrity could ultimately work against him.
“I wanted to be in the ‘Avengers,’ and they were like, ‘Shaq, we fuckin’ love you and we’d love to put you in, but if your face pops up on screen, people are going to go, “Hey, that’s Shaq!”‘ (Variety)
It is not an entirely unfamiliar challenge when it comes to casting recognizable personalities. Sometimes an actor’s public identity can become so firmly established that audiences have difficulty seeing anything beyond the person they already know. The celebrity becomes inseparable from the character, making it harder to disappear into the role.
DC Already Gave Shaq His Superhero Moment
Interestingly, O’Neal has already stepped into the world of DC. In 1997, he portrayed the titular superhero in Steel. That raises an interesting question about whether DC has historically been more willing to embrace what a recognizable personality can bring to a character, rather than asking audiences to completely forget who is underneath the costume.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson offers another example of how complicated that distinction can become. Johnson has built an impressive acting career, but his larger-than-life persona often remains visible regardless of the character he plays. Whether he is portraying a superhero, an action hero, or another larger-than-life figure, audiences inevitably recognize the personality behind the performance.
When Being Shaq Becomes the Problem
Shaquille O’Neal. Image Source: Rob Kim/Getty (Courtesy of People)
For O’Neal, however, the issue extends beyond superheroes. The former athlete, actor, and entrepreneur explained that he has repeatedly been given the same rationale for why certain roles have remained out of reach.
“I would love to do more action roles but we were told by top Hollywood executives that I’m too big, and what they mean by that is when I pop up on the screen everyone will go, ‘Oh, that’s Shaq!’ So, if I’m trying to play a doctor or anything, my character won’t be believable” (Variety).
Some Doors May Not Be Meant to Open
Perhaps that means O’Neal will never appear on screen as a doctor or lawyer. Perhaps the Marvel Cinematic Universe will remain one room his celebrity cannot open. Yet there is another side to that limitation. There will always be roles that only someone like Shaq can play, and his ability to bring audiences with him is itself a benefit of the celebrity he has spent decades building.
There is a lesson in that as well, one that extends far beyond Hollywood. Not everything is meant for everybody. Where we choose to channel our interests can ultimately shape the path ahead. It never hurts to try, but when an opportunity does not work out, there is something to be said for moving forward with grace and gratitude for what has become our portion.
Original article
Comments