Twenty years ago, the adaptation of Alan Moore’s ‘The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’ proved to be such a disaster that it marked the end of Sean Connery’s acting career. The film, plagued by problems and financial losses, was meant to kickstart a mega-franchise but instead became one of the biggest flops in movie history.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, based on the comic-book series by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill, brought together a group of Victorian literary characters to save the world. Sean Connery played the leader of the League, Allan Quatermain, but his on-set clashes with director Stephen Norrington and the overall troubled production led to a tumultuous experience.
The behind-the-scenes tensions between Connery and Norrington reached a breaking point when the director shut down production for an entire day due to a disagreement about a prop. The incident nearly escalated to a physical altercation, with Connery threatening to have Norrington fired. Despite the film’s troubled journey, actor Stuart Townsend, who played Dorian Gray in the film, admits he never witnessed any of the reported conflicts firsthand.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was seen as a potential money-spinner and an opportunity to launch a major franchise. However, due to various factors, including changes to the characters and interference from the studio, the film failed to live up to its potential. It received mixed reviews from critics and, although it performed reasonably well at the box office, it fell far short of the expectations set for a franchise-starter.
Looking back on the film, the cast acknowledges its flaws but also recognizes the talent and effort that went into the production. The practical effects, particularly the creation of Jason Flemyng’s Mr. Hyde character, were impressive. However, the film suffered significant setbacks, including the destruction of sets during the floods in Prague and extensive reshoots in Malta.
Despite its reputation as a critical and commercial failure, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen didn’t single-handedly cause Sean Connery’s retirement from acting. According to Townsend, Connery’s passion for acting had waned by that point, and the film was more of a financial opportunity for him. Norrington, on the other hand, hasn’t directed a feature film since the release of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
While the film’s legacy may be one of disappointment and missed opportunities, it remains a testament to the challenges of adapting beloved source material and the delicate balance between creative vision and studio interference. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen serves as a cautionary tale in the history of comic book adaptations, highlighting the importance of collaboration and the impact it can have on the final product.
Overall, the film’s disastrous production and reception made it a memorable chapter in cinema history, forever associated with the end of Sean Connery’s acting career and the cautionary tale of a mega-franchise that never was.
