Michael Shannon Refuses 'Mindless' Film Franchises, Says No to Star Wars Role

Michael Shannon turned down a role in the Star Wars franchise because he finds big blockbusters unstimulating.
Shannon prefers working on projects he finds purposeful and turned down Star Wars to avoid getting stuck in a franchise.
Shannon took the role of General Zod in Man of Steel because he found the script to tell a relevant story but did not enjoy reprising the role in The Flash.
Shannon has criticized blockbuster franchises as "mindless entertainment" and sees little point in them.
Despite appearing in both Man of Steel and The Flash, Shannon remains wary of big franchise films and the entertainment they provide.