Timothy Olyphant never actually liked being in the Hitman franchise 

Timothy Olyphant's role in the Hitman franchise has been a career highlight for him. But the reasons behind his acquisition of the role aren't exactly rooted in his love for the character or the media franchise. As someone who was in a financially mucky place, Olyphant took on the role merely to help himself out.

In the late ’90s, Timothy Olyphant looked like he was on the cusp of big-screen stardom with roles in Go and Scream 2. But, after passing on The Fast and the Furious and starring in misfires like Dreamcatcher and A Man Apart, his film career stumbled.

However, television proved a safer bet, giving him gold with Deadwood and later Justified. Then came 2006: Deadwood was canceled, and Olyphant had just bought a house. Suddenly, Fox dangled two offers: Play the villain in Live Free or Die Hard and headline a video game adaptation called Hitman. He didn’t think twice.

As per ScreenRant, the actor told Rolling Stone:

“I just bought a house,” adding, “Yes, I’ll do it.”

Olyphant continued:

How about the villain of Die Hard?” I said, “Sure.” And they’re like, “Do you want to read the script?” I said, ” I get it. I’m in. I just bought a house. Did you not hear? They just canceled my f***ing show. Yes, I’ll do it.” “What about this video game adaptation?” “Yes to that too. I’m in. I’ve got to make up some TV money.

The experience gave him what he later called a wake-up call. The actor said:

"Find yourself bald in Bulgaria doing some pile of s***, that will get you up a little earlier in the morning and make you work a little harder."

And he did, choosing sharper scripts, scoring acclaim with A Perfect Getaway, The Crazies, and cementing his legacy with Justified.

More details about Timothy Olyphant's role in Hitman

Timothy Olyphant didn’t exactly dream of becoming a barcoded assassin in a video game adaptation, but life has a funny way of dealing cards when you have just bought a house and Deadwood has been canceled.

Enter Hitman, a project he took on out of necessity more than passion, parachuting into production six weeks before cameras rolled after Vin Diesel bailed. He shaved his head, packed for Bulgaria, and signed on to play Agent 47, a genetically engineered killer with ice in his veins and a bar code on the back of his skull.

The film itself is pure early-2000s chaos: Russian politics, doubles and betrayals, Interpol on the chase, and a mysterious call girl, Nika, clinging to Agent 47 as if he is her only shot at survival. Sword fights break out in train cars, silent assassinations are botched and re-botched, and funerals become gunfights.

Trending

The story wants to be about power and corruption, but mostly serves as a platform for Timothy Olyphant to stalk through rain-soaked alleys in immaculate suits and dual pistols at the ready.

Audiences ate it up as it earned over $100 million on a $24 million budget, but Timothy Olyphant didn’t. Years later, he would look back and laugh, calling it a “bald in Bulgaria” moment that reminded him to never confuse a paycheck with purpose.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback

Quick Links

More from SoapCentral