Frank Grillo's Biggest Regret? Turning Down a Chance to Come Back in Endgame
Frank Grillo who inhabited Bruck Rumlow, which later became Marvel's villain Crossbones has said that he had initially turned down an offer to star in Avengers: Endgame. He even called himself an "a**hole" for refusing to reprise the role.
"There was supposed to be a lot more of Crossbones. I was the one character who I think should be in more of [MCU movies], and these other idiot characters are still there. I was being an a**hole, being a bit petulant," the actor said in his interview with ComicBook.
But how come his cameo was still possible? We should be grateful to his son for that. It was him who convinced Grillo to change his mind.
"This is going to be the biggest movie in the world," the Crossbones actor recalled his son persuading him to reprise the role. He also said that he really had a beautiful time because the ten-year anniversary was great.
Stan Lee attended the event and Grillo just stood there and couldn't believe how wrong he had initially been.
After joining the cast Grillo recreated this signature elevator scene where Captain American is having a showdown with Rumlow and his gang. But why on earth had Grillo turned down the offer? Well, there was a good reason for it. The actor starred in two Captain America movies as Crossbones. He first appeared in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). Two years later he reprised his role in Captain America: Civil War ( 2016). In his interview with Comicbook, Frank Grillo said that he should have been featured in seven films as per contract he signed with Marvel.
"The trajectory of Crossbones took a turn and he was out of the series really quickly, right? And I was a little pissed off about it because, y'know, I signed a seven-picture deal with them," the actor said on the Lights Camera Barstool podcast in 2021.
Obviously he was very angry with the Marvel bosses as he felt offended and betrayed by the production team. When the Russo Brothers came calling for Avengers: Endgame, Grillo simply hung up during the first call.
Grillo's feelings were hurt and he was clearly upset by the fact that Crossbones was closed off. The recreated elevator scene is one of many in the movie but it is the exact scene which is so heartwarming for Captain America aficionados. The fans can certainly argue if the decision was right or wrong (because one has to honor commitments) but the fact that in the end everything turned out well for everyone involved is absolutely inspiring.