'Inherit the Viper': Hollywood's prodigal son Josh Hartnett makes a comeback to the big screen at 40
Josh Hartnett was primed for success. He was a heartthrob and dubbed by the New York Post as an actor who could well be a Hollywood legend back in the day. Hartnett was to establish himself alongside the Pitts, the Damons, and the Afflecks.
Except, the drive towards the famed Hollywood hill careened off at some point. Blame it on the films or on his image when success landed at his doorstep or just call it bad luck, but Hartnett was off the radar.
In 1997, 'Cracker' got the audience buzzing when they saw Hartnett's Michael Fitzgerald being abducted by a serial killer and the actor. A fresh and baby-faced Hartnett delivered a strong performance and followed it up with his first feature film that was an insane slasher, 'Halloween H20: 20 Years Later,' in 1998. What followed were appearances in major blockbusters. Hartnett had starring roles in the war epic 'Pearl Harbor', 'O', 'Black Hawk Down', the romantic comedy '40 Days and 40 Nights', and the crime thriller 'Lucky Number Slevin'.
2001 to 2003 was a busy time for Hartnett. While it may be more of a supporting role in the war dramas, '40 Days and 40 Nights' was more of a coming-of-age film on a taboo topic back in the day. There were jokes doing the rounds that the man could give women the perfect orgasm even without touching them. The reference comes when he does it to his co-star Shannyn Sossamon in the romantic comedy.
The slide began quite immediately. His films 'Hollywood Homicide' and 'Wicker Park' were damp squibs. The latter's tagline read, "a dangerous, sexy thriller", and in all honesty, it was neither of them. 'Lucky Number Slevin' and 'The Black Dahlia' were films that fared well at the box office, and did manage to arrest the downhill ski ride, but it was an uphill climb for the actor as the next few flicks did nothing to give him support and resurrect his acting career. Add some off-screen troubles and the Hartnett Hornet clearly ran into some engine trouble.
Maybe it was all the fame. This was the man who had a chance to play Superman, Spider-Man, and Batman but ended up turning his back on all three opportunities. There were conspiracy theories on the web about his sudden Houdini act after 'Lucky Number Slevin'. In Hartnett's defense, it was his choice, a rather well-thought one. He wanted a break. The glitz, the glamour, and the ferocious rumors of Hartnett's personal life and the women he was associated with had their impact.
In an interview with Another Man, Hartnett had compared his idea of fame to driving. "If you’re getting on the freeway, you get to the place you want to a lot quicker, but you don’t see the surrounding area," he once said. "I've taken the side streets pretty much my whole life, so hopefully that'll keep working out." In 2017, he told the Huffington Post he wanted to focus on independent projects.
For now, Hartnett is still making on-screen appearances. 'Penny Dreadful' saw the critics and audience give him a warm welcome back to the world of TV and the man who tried to escape the paparazzi and the limelight is back at it again. Call it the return of the prodigal son. At 40, Hartnett is back and is gearing up for the release of 'Inherit the Viper'— an upcoming crime drama directed by Anthony Jerjen.
The official synopsis reads: "For siblings Kip (Josh Hartnett) and Josie (Margarita Levieva), dealing opioids isn't just their family business — it's their only means of survival. When a deal goes fatally wrong, Kip decides he wants out. But Kip's attempt to escape his family's legacy ignites a powder keg of violence and betrayal, imperiling Kip, Josie, and their younger brother, Boots (Owen Teague), in this searing crime-thriller that builds to a shattering conclusion."
Set to release on January 10, it's time to see if this flick can put Hartnett back on the map.