Bill Murray discusses disappearance from Hollywood: “I’ve been lazy”
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(Credits: Adam Chitayat)
Bill Murray has kept a relatively low profile in Hollywood over the past few years, appearing in only a handful of independent movies and playing bit parts in the latest Ghostbusters and Ant-Man instalments. Now, he’s explained why his career has slowed down.
Earlier this week, in an interview with film critic Elvis Mitchell at the Sundance Film Festival, the Groundhog Day actor revealed that his unofficial break from acting wasn’t intentional.
“I’ve been lazy,” Murray said (via Variety). “I don’t have an agent anymore, so I’m not the first person people think of to be in studio movies.”
Instead of viewing this period as a stepping stone to retirement, however, the actor said that it’s inspired him to get back in the game. “Only in this last year, doing these (independent movies), has reawakened me about searching for material,” he said. “I’ve lived the life of a bass… waiting for something to come down at me. If something lands in my mouth, I’ll eat it.”
Murray has been one of the most beloved figures in Hollywood since the 1970s, appearing in comedies like Ghostbusters and What About Bob? before becoming an essential element of Wes Anderson’s ensemble. However, reclaiming his place in the industry will not be as straightforward as it would have been a few years ago.
In April 2022, the Lost in Translation star was in the middle of filming Aziz Ansari’s Being Mortal, when Searchlight Pictures abruptly shut down the production due to complaints about Murray’s inappropriate behaviour with a young female assistant. The project never resumed filming.
The actor later defended himself by saying that he merely “had a difference of opinion” with the woman who didn’t understand his sense of humour, but it wasn’t the first instance in which a female co-worker accused him of unprofessional behaviour.
In 2021, his Charlie’s Angels co-star Lucy Liu revealed that she had had a confrontation with the actor while filming a scene. According to Liu, Murray began hurling insults at her. “Some of the language was inexcusable and unacceptable, and I was not going to just sit there and take it,” she said. This account was similar to one that actor Geena Davis told of her time working with Murray on the set of the 1990 comedy Quick Time.
Although these incidents were not mentioned in the interview, Murray’s re-entry into Hollywood will likely not be welcomed with open arms from every corner of the industry due to the allegations.
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