Why Andrew Garfield Called ‘Lions for Lambs’ a ‘Ridiculous First Movie to Do’
Andrew Garfield is experiencing an incredible career high after his buzzworthy appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home and his role in the musical film Tick, Tick…Boom! Garfield has been in the acting business since the early 2000s. And he’s worked hard to prove his versatility, appearing in everything from dramas to superhero flicks. While he hasn’t always received this level of acclaim, that’s not why Andrew Garfield deemed his first movie appearance “ridiculous.”
Why did Andrew Garfield call his first movie role ‘ridiculous’?
In a late 2021 interview, Andrew Garfield discussed his first movie role in the 2007 drama Lions for Lambs. “[It was] a ridiculous first movie to do because Robert Redford was directing and starring (in the film),” he told Wired during the Autocomplete Interview. “Next on the call sheet was Meryl Streep. And then, after Meryl Streep was Thomas Cruise. Then after that, it was this little child called Andrew Garfield, who had never made a film before. And that’s ridiculous.”
Though Garfield likely felt overwhelmed by the sheer star power of his castmates, he was responsible for some riveting scenes in Lions for Lambs. Garfield portrayed a privileged young college student named Todd Hayes. He was in his early 20s when the movie came out.
The actor’s most significant scene comes when Todd explains to his professor why he believes political science is dead. Although Garfield was new to the movie world, he still made an impact with the pivotal scene.
‘Lions for Lambs’ did not receive glowing reviews from critics
Even though Lions for Lambs had a star-studded cast, it didn’t do well at the box office. In fact, the war drama, which takes aim at the way the government handles war and political divides, was reportedly a failure when released. Many called out the cliché message of Lions for Lambs. The film is widely considered one of Tom Cruise’s least-successful projects.
Even though Lions for Lambs was a box-office disappointment, it clearly didn’t hurt Garfield’s career. He soon landed roles in movies such as Boy A and The Social Network.
What has Garfield said about struggling early in his career?
By 2010, Garfield was a star on the rise, winning roles in high-profile movies. However, he faced a great deal of rejection early on.
In a January 2022 interview, Garfield admitted he didn’t land one coveted gig due to his looks. “I was so desperate,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “I auditioned for Prince Caspian in [the 2008 sequel to] The Chronicles of Narnia, and I thought, ‘This could be it, this could be it.’ And that handsome, brilliant actor Ben Barnes ended up getting the role.”
Garfield recalled that his agent told him afterward, “it‘s because they don’t think you’re handsome enough, Andrew.” Garfield tried not to be discouraged. And even though he went through a short spell of taking on odd jobs to make ends meet, he did eventually make it big. These days, he’s one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.
