Willem Dafoe almost didn’t play the Green Goblin, getting the role after Billy Bob Thornton let it go.

Willem Dafoe has become a legend in the world of cinema. He has made a reputation for himself through his unique screen presence and the characters that he plays. He has played some of the most iconic characters in cinema, becoming the center of attention for all.
The roles that he plays have gained a reputation for being distinctive and versatile, which haven’t only been in the form of antagonists, but, they have become a signature for him. So much so, that the actor has recently been awarded with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Willem Dafoe in Poor Things

The most well-known of these has to be his time playing the Green Goblin in Sam Rami’s Spider-Man. This role has become the benchmark for the character of Norman Osborn, being revolutionary when it comes to what audiences want to see from him. Considering just how iconic his portrayal of this character was, it is difficult to imagine someone else in his place. This, however, almost was the case as Billy Bob Thornton, who was famously married to Angelina Jolie, was almost cast in this role until he refused.

Willem Dafoe Almost Didn’t Play the Green Goblin

The Green Goblin is one of the most iconic characters from the Spider-Man comics. It is no surprise that when Marvel was casting for this role for the 2002 Spider-Man, they were extremely selective. It was revealed by Billy Bob Thornton during an interview with MTV News that he was a contender for Sam Rami for this character. The respected actor revealed that he was offered the role by the director, however, he was not interested in doing it.

Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin

“Generally, I play the guy who on the surface looks like he is something but by the end you realize this was the guy who knew what he was talking about. I’ve never had the desire to be the bad guy to the big movie star. I think it’s not a good career move,” Thornton told, “[Sam Raimi] offered me the part of the bad guy, the surfing guy,” he said,

“I told Sam, ‘I just can’t be in makeup that long.’ I’d go crazy. But frankly I was never interested in being the bad guy. For some reason people think that I’ve played the bad guy a lot, but I really haven’t,”

The actor elaborated on this, revealing that he does not like playing villainous characters in the projects he takes up. Showcasing only negative traits while having a well-known actor play the protagonist is not something he sees himself doing, thinking that it would be career suicide. He much prefers playing roles that require him to come off as bad initially but then prove to be the good guy all along. Not wanting to play a character whose morals lie so much in the evil, Thornton refused to play the Green Goblin.

Roles Like the Green Goblin Earned Him a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Ironically enough for Billy Bob Thornton, Willem Dafoe’s time as the Green Goblin in Sam Rami’s Spider-Man has gone down as one of his most iconic and memorable roles. So much so that he receives critical acclaim for it to this day, even playing the character again the Tom Holland’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, and giving a performance equally as good as the first time around.

Willem Dafoe as Green Goblin in Spider-Man: No Way Home

It is because of this, that the actor finally received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, after working in the film industry for over three decades. Receiving the high honor on the 8th of January, on Hollywood Boulevard, Patricia Arquette and actor Pedro Pascal were in attendance as guest speakers. It is safe to say that this was a long time coming and one of the highest accolades an actor can receive.