Bruce Willis Reveals the One Movie He’d Never Make Again—And Why It Was a ‘Dead’ Project From the Start

Bruce Willis, one of Hollywood’s most iconic action stars, has graced the big screen with a career that spans over 100 films. From his unforgettable role as John McClane in Die Hard to his turn as Korben Dallas in The Fifth Element, Willis is known for bringing intensity, charisma, and depth to every character. Yet, despite his long and celebrated career, there is one film that the actor regrets being a part of: The Bonfire of the Vanities.

Released in 1990 and directed by Brian De Palma, The Bonfire of the Vanities was an ambitious adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s 1987 novel of the same name. The film tackled heavy themes such as racism, greed, and social class, following the story of a Wall Street executive, played by Tom Hanks, whose life unravels after a hit-and-run incident. Willis played a tabloid reporter, a role that, despite the star power of its cast, ended up being a critical and commercial failure.

Speaking candidly with writer David Sheff, Willis admitted that The Bonfire of the Vanities was doomed from the start. “It was stillborn, dead before it ever got out of the box,” he said. “It was another film that was reviewed before it hit the screen. The critical media didn’t want to see a movie that cast the literary world in a shady light.”

The film’s troubled production was marred by controversy, with many critics pointing out the movie’s miscasting and misguided tone. The casting of Willis and Hanks was particularly scrutinized, with many feeling that the actors were ill-suited for their roles. Willis, ever self-aware, agreed with the criticism. “But they were right. I was miscast. I know that Tom Hanks thinks he was, too,” he confessed.

The adaptation also faced backlash for its revisionist ending, which many saw as heavy-handed and out of place. Critics felt the film failed to capture the biting irony of the original novel, and instead, the comedic elements came off as forced. So much controversy surrounded the film that it inspired a whole book titled The Devil’s Candy: The Bonfire of the Vanities Goes to Hollywood, which detailed the disastrous making of the film.

Looking back, Willis acknowledged the fundamental flaw in the adaptation: the lack of a character for audiences to root for. “The movie was based on a great book. However, one problem with the story, when it came to the film, was that there was no one in it for whom you could root. In most successful movies, there’s someone to cheer on.” For Willis, this absence of a sympathetic character was even more unforgivable than the film’s troubled production or the series of low-budget action films he would later appear in.

Despite the failure of The Bonfire of the Vanities, Willis has gone on to achieve remarkable success in other projects. Yet, this particular film remains a blemish on an otherwise stellar career. As one of Hollywood’s most beloved action stars, it’s rare for Willis to regret any part of his extensive body of work. However, The Bonfire of the Vanities serves as a reminder that even the most accomplished actors can face challenges when a project doesn’t quite come together. For Willis, it’s clear that this is one role he’d never take again.