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Shall We Sequel?

News
16 August 2018
These actors have (almost) never appeared in sequels.
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Between the MCU, James Bond, Middle Earth, Star Wars, X-Men and the many millions of movie franchises out there, it’s nigh impossible to find an actor in Hollywood who has never appeared in a sequel or never played the same character more than once. But they are out there.

In honour of Denzel Washington, who makes his first sequel appearance with The Equalizer 2, we decided to look at these rare finds in Hollywood.

Daniel Day-Lewis

Not only has this three-time Oscar winner never appeared in a sequel nor played the same character twice, he never will. In 2017, Day-Lewis officially announced he’d be retiring from acting. He went out on a high note, receiving an Oscar nomination for his final film, Phantom Thread. However, Day-Lewis has “quit” acting before, so maybe we’ll see him on screen once more. One thing we do know for sure: if he does return, it will be in a fresh and challenging role.

Photo by Jason Merritt:Getty Images

Jessica Lange

Since her giant debut in King Kong Lange has displayed talent and versatility in a number of film roles – never making a sequel and never reprising a character. However, she has become a regular on the TV series American Horror Story, having appeared in four seasons as four different characters. This year she’ll reprise her role from the first season; but as it’s a TV show and not a movie, her place on this list is secure.

Photo-by-Paul-HawthorneGetty-Images

Leonardo DiCaprio

Ok, so DiCaprio has made a sequel, having appeared in Critters 3. But he was not even 20 at the time and it was his feature film debut. Afterwards, he never made another Critters’ movie; and despite having appeared in a sequel, in a career spanning decades he’s never reprised a role.

Photo by Axelle:Bauer-Griffin:FilmMagic

Matthew McConaughey

This one may come as a bit of a surprise. As rom-com king, you’d almost expect McConaughey to have made a sequel or two; but he never has. He didn’t even return for Magic Mike XXL, despite the first film’s success. He was probably too busy winning an Oscar and wowing TV fans with True Detective.

Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez:Getty Images

Meryl Streep

Technically we shouldn’t include Streep on this list, because, like Denzel Washington, 2018 is the year she made her first sequel and reprised a role. But since Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again marks the first time Streep has done this in a 43-year career, we thought she deserved the spot.

Photo by Samir Hussein:WireImage

Joining us to watch Denzel Washington return to the role of Robert McCall in The Equalizer 2 at M-Net Movies Night Out? Share a pic from the screening on social media using #MMNightOut.

Missed out? Keep an eye on this page for upcoming screenings.

Feature image: Denzel Washington as Robert McCall in The Equalizer 2. Watch it in cinemas nationwide from Friday 24 August.