Josh Hartnett Just Shared An Absolutely Terrifying Anecdote That Led To Him Rejecting The Spotlight After Becoming A Teen Heartthrob In The ‘90s

For a brief period in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, Josh Hartnett dominated movie screens and teen magazines. Then, he stepped away from it all.

People of a certain age will be well-acquainted with the ‘90s heartthrob Josh Hartnett, who steadily dominated both our screens and teen magazines until he suddenly disappeared from the limelight in the mid-2000s.

Josh Hartnett

But as his star power grew, Josh began to turn down big Hollywood blockbusters in favor of smaller indie projects. Most notably, the star rejected the role of Superman twice as he instead opted to work on little-known films that allowed him to steer clear of media attention and fanfare.

Josh Hartnett wearing a beanie, glasses, a buttoned shirt, and a jacket, looking slightly downwards

And Josh elaborated on this in a new interview with the Guardian's Observer magazine — where he also shared a worrying anecdote from the height of his fame.

Josh Hartnett in a black suit jacket and white shirt, posing on a red carpet in front of a backdrop with red text

He then detailed a terrifying incident when a random man showed up to one of his movie premieres with a gun and claimed to be his father. Josh was 27 years old at the time.

Josh Hartnett wearing a casual jacket, hoodie, and cap, with his arm crossed and holding a cup, poses for the camera. Another person in the background is partially visible

In recent years, Josh has opted to appear in more prominent movies in order to work with esteemed directors, which is why he agreed to a small role in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster Oppenheimer, which was released last year.

Actors pose for a photo at the "Oppenheimer" premiere. They are dressed in formal attire including tuxedos and elegant gowns. The backdrop says "Oppenheimer."

And this is why he also took on the leading role in M. Night Shyamalan’s upcoming movie, Trap, with Josh admitting that he’d hoped to work with the director since their first meeting way back in 2004.

Josh Hartnett and M. Night Shyamalan on a music-themed set with drums, guitars, and various musical equipment in the background

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