Michael Cera has opened up about his decision to intentionally temper his fame early in his career, revealing how this choice led him to decline a role in a high-profile film franchise. During a recent appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast, the host inquired if Cera had consciously "shied away from franchises" when selecting projects.
"I don't believe I have an inherent aversion to franchises," Cera responded thoughtfully. "I think I know what you're getting at. Yes, there was one I passed on. It was a part in 'Fantastic Beasts,' the 'Harry Potter' spin-off. I'm not even certain if I was formally offered it; I think I simply declined to pursue it because, well, it would have entailed a six-year commitment or something similar. Moreover, as we were discussing earlier, I made a deliberate choice to somewhat limit my exposure and try to maintain a bit more control over it."
He admitted, "Especially with children's movies, I harbored a deep fear of becoming overly famous too soon." Cera shot to fame with his roles in the 2007 blockbusters 'Superbad' and 'Juno,' as well as his stint in 'Arrested Development.'
The 'Barbie' actor didn't disclose which specific role he was in negotiations for in the 2016 film 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,' which starred Eddie Redmayne as the English wizard Newt Scamander. Two subsequent installments in the 'Fantastic Beasts' series were released in 2018 and 2022.
"I think that perspective has shifted somewhat," Cera reflected on his current stance towards fame and movie franchises. "I believe I've grown out of that particular sentiment. But that's how I felt at the time. If a franchise came my way now and seemed appealing, I wouldn't storm out of the room or anything solely because it's a franchise."
Elsewhere in his conversation with Louis Theroux, the actor confessed that he was never particularly "drawn to attention" and struggled to "establish healthy boundaries," particularly during his early days as a teenage actor.
Cera recounted how he would sometimes "react poorly when recognized by fans in public," entering a "fight or flight mode" due to what he described as a form of PTSD. "I was in Los Angeles, where the attention can be quite intense. I still feel a real spotlight syndrome there, even now," he explained. "You feel incredibly exposed. When I was 19, I suddenly became much more recognizable overnight, and it kind of overwhelmed me. While much of it was undoubtedly positive, and I met wonderful people, there were also those who had no sense of boundaries. You're constantly being photographed, and it makes you self-conscious. I preferred my life before all that."
