Have you ever wondered what could push a legendary actor to call it quits? For Sean Connery, a disastrous experience on set in 2003 might just have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. Renowned for his roles as the suave James Bond and as the adventurous father of Indiana Jones, Connery had a stellar career until his passing in 2020. But even icons have their limits.
In 2006, after decades in the film industry, Connery decided to retire from acting. This decision was announced at the American Film Institute where he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. “I have retired for good,” he declared, also mentioning a recent surgery for a kidney tumor. “It’s been a bit rough since Christmas, but I’m perfectly okay and I feel well.” His frustration with the industry had become palpable by 2005, as he expressed being ‘fed up with the idiots’ in an interview with The Telegraph. Returning to acting, he quipped, would require ‘a Mafia-like offer I couldn’t refuse’.
Despite his firm stance on retirement, Connery did lend his voice to the 2012 animated film, Sir Billi. However, his last live-action role was in the 2003 film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Adapted from a comic book by Alan Moore and artist Kevin O’Neill, the movie aimed to bring together Victorian literary characters in a superhero-like team. Yet, the production was anything but heroic. Filming in the Czech Republic, now known as Czechia, the set suffered a massive flood, leading to significant damage and delays. “We lost all our sets, we lost everything,” recounted Jason Flemyng, who played Dr. Jekyll, in an interview with The Independent. The production had to relocate to Malta prematurely, causing additional financial and logistical headaches.
The relationship between Connery and the film’s director, Stephen Norrington, was tumultuous at best. Connery admitted to being ‘heavily involved in editing and trying to salvage’ the film, a sentiment reported by The Hollywood Reporter. He openly spoke about having ‘professional differences, personal differences, you name it’ with Norrington. Flemyng supported Connery’s instincts, suggesting that neither he nor Norrington were adequately listened to by each other or the studio.
Ultimately, the film failed to impress critics and audiences alike, dashing any hopes for sequels and leaving a sour taste in Connery’s mouth. While his co-star Stuart Townsend speculated that Connery’s passion for acting had already waned, calling it a “money gig,” the tumultuous experience on The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen certainly didn’t help. Whether or not it was the definitive reason for his retirement, it’s clear that Connery was ready to step back from the Hollywood chaos.
By the end, Sean Connery’s illustrious career had seen its share of highs and lows. Despite the unfortunate end, his legacy as one of cinema’s finest actors remains unblemished. But as for his final act in Hollywood? It appears that even legends have their limits.