Sandra Bullock Explains Why She Initially Turned Down ‘The Lost City’

Actress Sandra Bullock initially turned down her role in 2022’s “The Lost City.”

The latest Paramount comedy film movie boasts a star-studded cast of Danielle Radcliffe, Channing Tatum, and Brad Pitt; it was directed by Aaron Nee and Adam Nee. The synopsis reads:

“Reclusive author Loretta Sage writes about exotic places in her popular adventure novels that feature a handsome cover model named Alan. While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta gets kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire who hopes she can lead him to an ancient city's lost treasure from her latest story. Determined to prove he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her.”

However, Bullock didn’t want to be attached to the project when she was first approached with it.

When she was first approached with the action-adventure romantic comedy, Bullock quickly turned it down. However, she revealed that her mind was stuck on the script and she approached Paramount with a counter-offer. She wanted to reverse the roles and make the leading lady more heroic and bold, whereas her male companion would be more “feminine” and sensitive. That was clearly not a problem for Channing Tatum.

“There weren’t any obstacles for the female character. And the male character we’ve seen before,” Bullock told The Hollywood Reporter.

“I like that I’m not 25,” she continued. “And I love that there’s a man in it willing to be many aspects of himself that weren’t traditionally shown in films like this because they had to be the action hero. And Chan was so game. Let’s just do it.”

Bullock and producer Liza Chasin are pleased to see the movie cross the $100 million dollar mark at the domestic box office, especially considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Bullock said that she knew Chasin would be a perfect partner for her to produce the film.

“I just wanted a partner,” Bullock said, especially considering that she’s produced over twenty movies. “I was so tired of doing everything myself. [I thought], ‘Where are the producers who are listed on the call sheet?’”

Bullock revealed that she insisted on the movie being released in theaters, although her last two movies, “Bird Box” and “The Unforgiveable” were released on Netflix and currently sit on the streamer’s top 10 list of the all-time most-watched English-language films in their first twenty-eight days.

“Yes, streaming was blossoming, but there was no doubt in our mind that this was theatrical. We were filming it for theatrical. It was all about scope and scale,” Bullock explained.

Chasin added, “When you’re finally able to get back to the movies, what greater gift than to go see the kind of movie you haven’t seen in a long time in a theater.”

During the SXSW film festival in Austin, THR noted that Bullock said that she wanted to take a break from acting to focus on her two children.

“I don’t want to be beholden to anyone’s schedule other than my own,” Bullock explained. “I’m so burnt out. I’m so tired, and I’m so not capable of making healthy, smart decisions and I know it.” When asked how long her acting break will last, she replied, “I really don’t know.”

“Work has always been steady for me, and I’ve been so lucky. I realized it possibly was becoming my crutch,” she added. “It was like opening up a fridge all the time and looking for something that was never in the fridge. I said to myself, ‘Stop looking for it here because it doesn’t exist here. You already have it; establish it, find it and be OK not having work to validate you.’”

However, Chasin is still hoping that she and Bullock might team up for another adventure. “Sandy and I are going to do something together. It might just be baking cookies,” she joked. “We don’t know what it is yet — it might be a movie — but it is going to be great.”

Fans are hoping that leaves the door open for a “The Lost City” sequel!