Why Sean Connery Hated The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen

The late Sir Sean Connery hated Stephen Norrington’sThe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen so much that after the film’s release, the Scottish actor withdrew from acting. Much of Connery’s distaste seemed to stem from the fact that the 2003 film’s production was plagued by disastrous weather and delays. However, Connery also clashed with Stephen Norrington, whose directorial methods were reportedly too quirky and experimental for Connery’s liking.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, a.k.a. LXG, involves a crew of fictional literary characters who behave like Victorian-era superheroes — a premise based on a comic book of the same name by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill. Sir Connery plays Allan Quartermain, an adventurer and big game hunter who lost his son in a previous hunting accident. Connery manages to captivate as the curmudgeonly Quartermain, but behind the scenes, literal and figurative storms made a mess of production.

Although The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was a modest box-office success, viewers and critics alike criticized the inconsistent storyline — and no one was more critical than Connery himself. Here’s why the most celebrated James Bond actor took issue with LXG.

Weather-related Production Halts

Before LXG, Director Stephen Norrington was best known for his vampire-themed Blade movie, starring the famously quarrelsome Wesley Snipes. But nothing could have prepared Norrington for the flooding that ensued when Prague suffered the worst downpour it’d seen in a century. Entertainment Weekly reported that Norrington’s LXG sets suffered $7 million in damages. Captain Nemo’s Nautilus submarine was destroyed, and Sir Connery was forced to evacuate his suite at the Four Seasons, salvaging only his prized golf clubs.

Damages notwithstanding, the inclement weather also delayed production at least two weeks. As one crewmember reported to EW during the film’s 2002 production, “[Connery’s] not used to being kept waiting on a movie set.” These weather-related delays were only the start of Connery’s problems.

Feuds With Director Stephen Norris

Weather woes notwithstanding, Connery and Norrington waged a feud that overshadowed production and ultimately drove Connery into retirement. In one case, tensions between Connery and Norrington escalated over a prop elephant gun. According to a report by The Scotsman, Connery became irked when Norrington shut down production for a full day because the prop “did not look quite right.” Connery himself admitted of production that “it’s been difficult. Very, very difficult.” It’s easy to see how prop-related delays, coupled with apocalyptic weather, might have aggravated a veteran like Connery.

Though The Scotsman dismisses allegations that Connery and Norrington actually came to blows over creative differences, Connery was reportedly so dissatisfied with Norrington’s methods that he took it upon himself to help edit the final cut. Connery told The Hollywood Reporter that he was “heavily involved in the editing” of LXG, and that Norrington should’ve been “arrested for insanity.” It’s unclear how much sway Connery actually had over the film’s final cut; regardless, he never spoke kindly of LXG.

Potential Concerns With The Script

Though much ink has been spilled over LXG‘s tumultuous production, it’s also important to consider the film’s overall storyline as a potential irritant for Sir Connery. After all, the very fact that Connery wanted to involve himself with the editing process might indicate that he had issues with the overall narrative. The highly revered Connery’s apparent dissatisfaction makes sense in light of the various roles that he declined throughout the early 2000s, including projects like The Lord of the Rings,The Matrix, and Harry Potter. Connery said no to these highly successful films because he either didn’t understand their overall storylines or found them silly. It seems likely that at some point during production of LXG, Sir Connery experienced misgivings about participating in a fantastical, tonally unsteady project. Apparently, his overall dissatisfaction was severe enough that afterward, he stopped acting.

The late Sir Sean Connery’s disdain for The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen has become the stuff of legend. Although ego may have played a hand in Connery’s feud with Stephen Norrington, the film’s somewhat harsh critical reception seems to indicate that Connery also had some fair criticisms.

About The Author

Nickalus Rupert
(25 Articles Published)

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Nickalus Rupert is a Pushcart Prize-winning writer located near the Gulf Coast of Florida. In 2019, he completed a PhD at the University of Southern Mississippi. He is author of Bosses of Light and Sound, a forthcoming short story collection from Willow Springs Books.

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