/indigomusic/media/media_files/2025/06/25/michael-cera-2025-06-25-17-28-19.png)
Michael Cera has revealed that he once turned down an opportunity to be involved in the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ franchise, explaining that the decision was driven by his desire to stay in control of his public image and limit his exposure at the time.
Speaking on The Louis Theroux Podcast, the actor was asked whether he had intentionally avoided joining large franchises. He clarified that it wasn’t a blanket resistance but admitted he did shy away from one major opportunity linked to the ‘Harry Potter’ universe.
“I think I turned one down once,” he said, referring to ‘Fantastic Beasts’. He added that he wasn’t sure if it was a formal offer, but he chose not to pursue it due to the likely long-term commitment and his then-growing discomfort with fame. “I did sort of make a conscientious choice to limit my exposure a little bit,” he explained. “I had a big fear of doing things that would make me too famous.”
Cera, known for his breakout roles in ‘Superbad’, ‘Juno’, and Arrested Development, said the idea of becoming a household name through children’s films made him uneasy in the earlier part of his career. He didn’t specify which role he may have been considered for in the 2016 film ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’, which stars Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander and later expanded into a trilogy.
/filters:format(webp)/indigomusic/media/media_files/2025/06/25/fantastic-beasts-2025-06-25-17-26-35.jpg)
Looking back, Cera acknowledged that his view on fame has since evolved. “I think that’s changed a little. I’ve outgrown that particular feeling,” he said. He also shared that if a compelling franchise role came along now, he wouldn’t immediately dismiss it. “I don’t think on the grounds of it being a franchise I would storm out of the office or anything.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Cera reflected on how fame affected him in his late teens. He admitted he wasn’t comfortable with attention and struggled to set personal boundaries, often feeling overwhelmed by being recognised in public. Living in Los Angeles during that period only intensified things, he said, describing the city as an environment where he felt particularly exposed.
Michael Cera on Fame, Boundaries, and Early Fame Shock
“I was 19 and suddenly way more recognisable from one day to the next, and it kind of shocked me,” he recalled. While he appreciated meeting fans, he said some encounters crossed personal lines. “You’re being photographed and you’re self-conscious. I liked my life better before that.”
Today, Cera seems more at ease with visibility, though his past choices reflect a cautious approach to fame—one that shaped the trajectory of his career.
