Actors Who Withdrew from Movies Because of Political Reasons

Sometimes the biggest stories around a film happen off-screen—when actors step back for political or ethical reasons. Below are notable cases where male actors withdrew from a role, pulled their participation from a festival, or moved a production because of objections tied to representation, human rights, or public policy. Each entry outlines the concrete action they took and the immediate, verifiable context around it.

Ed Skrein

In 2017, Ed Skrein exited the ‘Hellboy’ reboot after learning that Major Ben Daimio is a Japanese-American character in the source comics. He announced he would step down so the role could be “cast appropriately,” prompting producers to support the decision and later cast Daniel Dae Kim. Skrein framed the move around accurate representation and avoiding whitewashing in a high-profile franchise. The swap was confirmed within weeks, and Kim ultimately took the part.

Terry Crews

Terry Crews declined to return for ‘Expendables 4’ after alleging that a producer pressured him to drop his sexual-assault case against a Hollywood agent as a condition of participation. Crews detailed the incident in public testimony and interviews, describing it as retaliation for speaking out. He made clear he would not appear in the sequel under those circumstances. Subsequent coverage and franchise updates reflected his absence from the cast.

Aamir Khan

In 2018, Aamir Khan announced he was “stepping away” from the music-mogul biopic ‘Mogul’ after the director faced sexual-misconduct allegations, citing a zero-tolerance stance. Within days, the director was removed from the project. Khan later rejoined as a producer after the director’s exit, but his initial withdrawal was explicitly tied to the allegations and the broader #MeToo reckoning in Indian cinema.

Salim Daw

Also part of the ‘Let It Be Morning’ ensemble, Salim Daw joined fellow cast members in boycotting Cannes events for the film on the same grounds. The group published a letter explaining their stance and confirmed they would not attend festival activities. Their withdrawal targeted the festival’s official labeling rather than the production itself. The episode became central to coverage of the movie’s festival run.

Mani Haghighi

In January 2023, Iranian actor-filmmaker Mani Haghighi—together with other credited performers—publicly withdrew participation in Iran’s state-sponsored Fajr Film Festival. Their statement cited the government’s crackdown on nationwide protests and expressed shame at having their names associated with the event. The withdrawal covered their own film’s screening and was positioned as an explicit political boycott.

Ali Mosaffa

That same Fajr cycle, veteran Iranian actor Ali Mosaffa was named among the signatories who refused festival participation. The collective action—spanning multiple actors—was framed as a response to state repression and the use of cultural events for official image-making. Coverage emphasized that the boycott could carry career risks inside Iran’s industry.

Share the cases you think should be added—what other male actors have stepped back from films for political reasons?