Charlie Hunnam Opens Up About a Role He “Couldn’t Care Less” About

Charlie Hunnam has built a strong career in both TV and film, but there’s one movie he admits he didn’t care for at all.

Speaking with Variety about his new Netflix series, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, where he plays the infamous serial killer, Hunnam reflected on his acting choices over the years.

He revealed that his role in Pacific Rim was a project he had no emotional connection to.

“I couldn’t care less about giant robots fighting giant monsters. I read the script, and I had no emotional experience with it at all,” Hunnam said about the 2013 action film directed by Guillermo del Toro. Despite his lack of interest, he accepted the role because he wanted to work with del Toro. “I thought it was a great opportunity to work with a director that I really like,” he added.

Pacific Rim is set in a future where humanity battles colossal sea monsters called Kaiju using gigantic robots known as Jaegers.

Hunnam played Raleigh Becket, a washed-up Jaeger pilot who comes out of retirement to fight the monsters alongside rookie pilot Mako Mori. The film also stars Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, and Ron Perlman.

Critics gave the film mostly positive reviews. Rotten Tomatoes shows a 72% approval rating, and Metacritic gave it a 65 out of 100, signaling “generally favorable reviews.” Audiences also responded well, with CinemaScore reporting an average grade of A−.

Roger Ebert praised the movie, calling it a “crazed grab bag of a movie that does everything to keep us laughing except hit us over the head with a rubber chicken. Mostly, it succeeds.” Gene Siskel also enjoyed the film, saying it was “bound to rank with the funniest of the year.”

The Daily Telegraph highlighted del Toro’s affection for the genre, noting that watching the film felt like rediscovering a favorite childhood cartoon.

However, not all reviews were positive. Some critics found the story weak or the drama unconvincing. The New Yorker called it “long, loud, dark, and very wet,” while Slant Magazine compared it to a video game, describing it as “a stylish but programmatic ride toward an inevitable final boss battle.”

Despite mixed reviews, Hunnam sees the experience as worthwhile for the chance to work with a director he admires, even if the subject matter wasn’t his passion.

It’s interesting to see an actor of Hunnam’s caliber be so honest about a role he didn’t enjoy. It reminds us that even big Hollywood projects don’t always connect with the actors themselves. What do you think about actors taking roles for the experience rather than passion? Share your thoughts in the comments.