"A Role Honestly Without Interest": 21 Years Ago, Clovis Cornillac Said No to Spielberg and Tarantino! Which Films Did He Decline?

Clovis Cornillac reveals that he turned down roles in cult films by Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino. A decision that continues to divide opinions: discover which feature films he declined… and why.

Last year, during the promotion of Vacances forcées, Clovis Cornillac revisited a career choice that continues to surprise: his refusal of several offers from major Hollywood directors, including Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino.

The actor stated that he has always prioritized the coherence of his career over the prestige of a name. For him, accepting a role solely because it is offered by a renowned filmmaker has never been a sufficient motivation.

"I said no to Spielberg or Tarantino; I received offers from great American directors. Everyone gets excited when they offer you a crappy role. There’s a kind of ‘chic-itude’ in saying: ‘I’m working with Spielberg.’ But you know very well how it works."

He continued by explaining the logic he believes lies behind such casting: "Basically, you are part of the referenced French actors; they are going to shoot a co-production or something like that in France. So, they will look for somewhat known names to offer you a role that is frankly without interest."

The Films Finally Revealed

In February 2025, during an interview on the show Legend, Clovis Cornillac had already revealed that he turned down a project from Steven Spielberg, without specifying the title.

"I knew very well that I wasn’t going to do the film, that I was going to say no. I refused because they block you for 6 months for 3 lines. They don’t really know the date. I have 2 scenes; why should I care about working with Spielberg when I have to defend a film in France?"

Invited this time on Europe 1, the actor finally lifted the veil on the productions in question. When asked by Thomas Isle, he replied: "With Spielberg, it was Munich, with Tarantino, it was Inglourious Basterds, the role with the villain at the beginning. There was another one too, Da Vinci Code."

Decisions Made with No Regrets

Far from renouncing these refusals, Clovis Cornillac asserts that he would make exactly the same choices today. According to him, there was no reason to accept a character abroad that he would have declined in a French production.

"A role that I would refuse in France, why would I accept it just because it’s American? I thought it wasn’t healthy. But on the other hand, I love their films, and I have a lot of admiration for their work. It’s not pretentious; it’s just about being coherent. It’s not really courageous because no one knows about it at the moment, and I didn’t miss the film."

Mixed Reactions from Internet Users on This Career Choice

These statements sparked numerous reactions on social media, especially after their broadcast by Europe 1. Several internet users believe that the actor may have missed out on significant opportunities, especially since he referred to these offers as "crappy roles."

In Munich, several French actors, including Mathieu Amalric, Yvan Attal, and Mathieu Kassovitz, play significant roles within the plot. As for Inglourious Basterds, its impressive opening scene notably helped Denis Ménochet gain international recognition.

A Career That Continues to Succeed

Despite these refusals, Clovis Cornillac feels no remorse. This position contrasts with that of Tomer Sisley, who admitted to regretting turning down a role in Skyfall. "It’s a mistake because it was, for me, the best James Bond,” he admitted on the show Quelle époque in June 2024.

In 2024, Clovis Cornillac achieved immense success with Un P’tit truc en plus, viewed by over 10 million spectators and now available on VOD. He then starred in the comedy Vacances forcées, alongside Laurent Stocker, Aure Atika, and Bertrand Usclat, a film that, however, did not meet with success but remains to be discovered on Ciné+ OCS.