Josh Hartnett has made a considerable comeback in Hollywood, but his resurgence has been more than just a few high-profile roles. True, his performances in Trap, Fight or Flight, and the upcoming Verity have made fans very favorable. However, what we haven’t noticed are the strategic steps that Hartnett has taken to give his career a new direction. Instead of going the most obvious ways (like picking a big-budget Hollywood blockbuster), Josh Hartnett has opted for an alternative route that consists of both indie filmmaking and the traditional approach (which makes him an extraordinary bail-out story).
A Calculated Return to the Spotlight
Hartnett, who gained prominence by rejecting mainstream Hollywood in the 2010s, has always been rather picky about his roles. In contrast to accepting each role that came his way, he instead consciously built a filmography that allowed him to elevate his career from being an actor known only for his funny roles to the category of a serious actor. The work in the Penny Dreadful series was the beginning of a bigger project and it proved, in fact, that he could get on with complex characters with multiple layers. Thus, in Trap and Fight or Flight, he decided the perfect formula to cater to both the critics and the audience.
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Reports from sources very close to Hartnett present a different picture and state that Hartnett has been making other moves while not acting, for example, towards the production sector. He is said to be not just another actor looking for just another box-office hit as Hartnett is allegedly working on his own production company that is going to base its main focus on films driven by characters’ studies and psychological dramas. This is going to afford him more power over his projects and he will be able to stay on board with films he is passionate about artistically.
Why Josh Hartnett’s Approach Is Different
Most of the actors trying to return to Hollywood usually adopt the strategy of choosing continuous sequels or superheroes. Yet, Hartnett has chosen an entirely different way by working on film projects that are rich in storytelling. This way he manages to avoid being pigeonholed in a single niche while still being portrayed as a professional actor in the eyes of the public.
Many people involved in the film business believe that he is on the threshold of a new era. In the Verity movie based on a Colleen Hoover’s novel though being the one in the lead, the project is expected to be a blockbuster, Hartnett’s decision to join the crew beside Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson—two artists who can be found both in the mainstream and indie field—reveals that he is eager to be part of more nuanced, intense scenes.
Exclusive: A Secret Project in the Works?
However, Verity is still in the production stage, there are rumors circulating that Hartnett is also in negotiations for his next big project—an announcement for which has not yet been made. Through sources that are close to the actor, it has been revealed that he is conducting talks with the top directors in Hollywood for a psychological thriller that is a result of which he will come back to the indie film stations. The project, which is being described as a consciousness-bending character study, will mark his first collaboration with an A24-level studio.
Hartnett has been silent concerning the details so far but insiders claim that he is searching for a project that will demand him to bear the brunt of an actor and a potential producer. In the view of his recent choices, it is no new thought that the next role he’s got secured in Hollywood will vindicate him as one of the best career smarties in the place.
What’s Next for Josh Hartnett?
With Verity already gaining buzz, Hartnett’s strategic career moves are setting him apart from other actors making a return. But with commercial and artistic projects both, He seems to be taking one step closer to a sustainable long term career instead of a fortunate one. If his alleged secret project is for real, we will only come to know new information about Josh Hartnett.
Possible career changes at Josh Hartnett illustrate how sometimes stepping back from the glitz and glamour of entertainment is the most suitable path for survival. As opposites often attract, Hartnett is striking out a fresh course—one where he presets the narrative of what is being told and the heritage that is left out there.
