Jeremy Renner, known for his roles in blockbuster franchises, recently shared why he declined to reprise his role as William Brandt in the “Mission: Impossible” series. They were made known during his podcast interview and are based on fatherhood responsibility, and an unfulfilling storyline for his character.
The move to leave the action packed series was primarily due to family responsibilities that Renner has as a father of an 11 year old daughter, Ava. Renner, who shares custody with his ex-wife Sonni Pacheco, explained that the unpredictable and demanding shooting schedule of “Mission: Impossible” would have expected him to leave his daughter for longer periods of time, a thing he was not willing to do.
I can’t just move my daughter out here because [her] mom is… I was landlocked out here,”
Further, Renner elaborated on one incident where he had to travel across the world for a week to shoot a scene where he died. This, of course, could not be well received by him. He said: “You’re not going to drag me over there and just kill my character,” which allows to emphasize his only condition – the character must be used purposefully and with dignity. This particular offer was met with a stern rejection based on his unwillingness to surrender the principles of art and family.
Renner also talked to the rumors saying that he could succeed Tom Cruise and become the lead of the series. He emphasized that the idea was never an option as he underlined: “It was always Tom’s show” and any such decision would only belong to Cruise.
This information from Renner is rather insightful with regards to the private and career issues performers confront. It proves that even in Hollywood, people need to find the balance between their work and personal lives. For Renner, family is important, especially being a father, and he was not going to jeopardize this for any exclusive project.
Renner’s story also shows that despite being an actor featured in the high-profile films filled with breathtaking scenes and outrageous stunts, he is a man with a family and responsibilities.
His decision to put his daughter before an extremely lucrative franchise is touching and realistic, proving that sometimes the greatest roles are the ones that happen behind the scenes.
