Jim Carrey claimed he returned from retirement because he needed the money.
Carrey announced in 2022 that he would retire following the release of “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” in which he portrayed the villain Dr. Robotnik.
In an interview with Access Hollywood in April 2022, Carey said, “If the angels bring me some sort of script that’s written in gold ink that says it’s going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I’m taking a break.”
That break was short-lived. Less than two years later, Variety confirmed in February that Carrey was returning from retirement to star in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.”
Carrey stars as Dr. Robotnik and his grandfather, Gerald Robotnik, in the film, which hits theaters on December 20.
Speaking to the Associated Press at the London premiere of “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” on Tuesday, Carrey said, “I came back to this universe because, first and foremost, I get to play a genius, which is a stretch. And I just bought a lot of stuff, and I really need the money.”
Carrey’s salary for the previous two films is unknown, but “Sonic the Hedgehog” and its sequel were unexpected box-office successes, which is unusual for video-game adaptations. The first film grossed $319 million, while the sequel earned $405 million in ticket sales.
Carrey also listed his 30-year-old Los Angeles home for sale in February 2023. The mansion was originally listed for $29 million, but after almost two years on the market, the price has been reduced to $19.75 million.
Hugh Grant, Nicolas Cage, Amanda Seyfried, and Harrison Ford are all A-list celebrities who have admitted to taking on roles for financial reasons.
In his memoir “Sonny Boy,” published in October, Al Pacino wrote that he left movie acting in the mid-1980s because he felt “creatively drained,” but returned after running out of money.
“I looked up, and I had no money,” Pacino wrote. “I had about ninety grand in the back, and that was it.”
Pacino landed a role in the 1989 film “Sea of Love” after being encouraged by Diane Keaton, his co-star in “The Godfather” and then girlfriend.
Later in the memoir, Pacino revealed that he went bankrupt again in 2011 due to overspending.
“There’s almost nothing worse for a famous person — there’s being dead, and then there’s being broke,” the actor wrote.
Pacino sold a house, did commercials, and accepted a role in Adam Sandler’s 2011 film “Jack and Jill” to regain financial stability.