Robert De Niro Quit These Two Movies Mid-Filming: ‘It Was the Worst Experience’
Robert De Niro has had one of the most impressive careers in Hollywood, but even he has walked away from projects that didn’t feel right. The first time it happened was in the 1970s. At that time, De Niro was already a big name, having starred in The Godfather Part II and worked with Martin Scorsese on hits like Mean Streets and Taxi Driver.
He was cast in a comedy called Bogart Slept Here, directed by Mike Nichols, known for The Graduate. But soon after filming began, it was clear that De Niro wasn’t right for the role. The actor quickly felt tension on set and realized the project wouldn’t work.
De Niro is known for sticking with difficult or risky roles, but he decided this one wasn’t possible to pull off. Speaking at the Tribeca Film Festival, he admitted, “I blame myself. I didn’t know certain things. It was a certain type of comedy – [scriptwriter] Neil Simon – that had the timing that would be a certain way… it just wasn’t working.”
He added, “I shot for about two weeks. It was the worst. You know, I’ve had maybe three times in my life that I’ve ever had that experience with a director.” The role eventually went to Richard Dreyfuss in The Goodbye Girl.
Years later, De Niro left another film, this time Edge of Darkness, which starred Mel Gibson. Gibson had been involved in controversy at the time, and this apparently created tension on set. De Niro was replaced by Ray Winstone. The movie didn’t perform well at the box office and was less successful than the TV series it was based on.
Despite these setbacks, De Niro remains very active in Hollywood. In early 2026, he starred in the Netflix series Zero Day, playing a former U.S. President investigating a major cyberattack. This marked his first lead role in a regular television series.
Looking ahead, he has several big projects for 2026. One is the crime thriller The Whisper Man, based on the bestseller by Alex North, with Michael Keaton, Michelle Monaghan, and Adam Scott in the cast, produced by the Russo brothers. He will also return to comedy with Focker In-Law, a sequel to the Fockers movies, alongside Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. Ariana Grande will make a surprise appearance.
De Niro also recently played two mob bosses in The Alto Knights. While the movie received mixed reviews, it reaffirmed his reputation as a leading figure in gangster films. Whether in comedy, crime thrillers, or TV dramas, De Niro continues to be a major force in Hollywood.
It seems clear that walking away from projects that didn’t feel right was the right choice for him, even at the height of his fame. In my opinion, it takes courage for any actor to admit when something isn’t working. De Niro’s career shows that sometimes it’s better to step back than force a role.
What do you think? Do you agree with De Niro’s decision to leave movies that didn’t feel right? Share your thoughts in the comments.
