Actor Mads Mikkelsen shares an amusing story about mistaking producer Jerry Bruckheimer for a camera man on two separate occasions. Mikkelsen began working regularly as an actor in the late '90s, though he didn't achieve mainstream success until the 2006 Bond film Casino Royale. Since then, the actor has starred in a number of noteworthy projects, including Doctor Strange, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and the NBC series Hannibal. Mikkelsen made headlines last month after he was cast as Gellert Grindelwald in Warner Bros.' Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 3. He'll replace Johnny Depp, who was asked to leave the movie shortly after filming began.
One of Mikkelsen's first big films was 2004's King Arthur. In it, he played Tristan, one of King Arthur's men. The film also starred Clive Owen as Arthur and Keira Knightley as Guinevere. King Arthur received mixed reviews and grossed $203.6 million at the global box office. Bruckheimer, well known for action films, produced the movie. However, despite Bruckheimer's prolific career, it seems Mikkelsen struggled to put the face to the name on the set of King Arthur.
A clip from a 2018 Hunchback Media documentary featuring Mikkelsen went viral on Twitter earlier this month. In it, the actor recalls introducing himself to Bruckheimer, assuming the producer was a camera man. Co-star Ray Winstone pointed out Mikkelsen's mistake, saying "Mads, you'll never work again. It was Jerry Bruckheimer, the boss." However, Mikkelsen promptly forgot the incident, doing the same thing again two weeks later on set. The actor then revealed "I never heard from him again. I think Ray Winstone was right."
Though Mikkelsen acknowledges both encounters with Bruckheimer were embarrassing, he also seems to have a good attitude about his experience on King Arthur, looking back on both incidents with humor. Mikkelsen's story is refreshing, as most actors would try to hide the anecdote rather than openly sharing it in an interview. It helps Mikkelsen has gone on to have a prolific career. It's clear his experience with Bruckheimer had no impact on his work in Hollywood.
It's also understandable Mikkelsen forgot Bruckheimer specifically. Though the producer's name is well-known, especially by those working in the industry, his face is less in the public eye than performers. In the clip, Mikkelsen also explains Bruckheimer was carrying a camera both times he introduced himself to him, making it that much easier to mistake him for a cameraman. Hopefully, Bruckheimer doesn't hold his encounters with Mads Mikkelsen against the actor, especially since they took place so long ago.
Source: Hunchback Media