Jared Harris Starred inMorbiusBecause 'You Need to Make Money': 'I've Got a Mortgage to Pay'

Mar. 15, 2025

Jared Harris on Oct. 12, 2023.Photo:Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Jared Harris at the Newport Beach Film Festival Opening Night at Fashion Island on October 12, 2023 in Newport Beach, California.

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Jared Harrisis explaining an actor’s thought process behind why they take on certain projects.

While speaking with the U.K.‘sinewspaperrecently about his upcoming filmReawakening, Harris examined much of his acting career — and also fielded a question about why he took a role in Sony’s 2022 Marvel movieMorbius, which starredJared Letoin the title role.

“Sure, yeah,” Harris, 63, told the outlet when asked about taking on the project. “I have got a mortgage to pay, you know. Sometimes you say yes to things because you need to make money.”

Jared Harris in 2022’s Morbius.Sony Pictures Releasing/Marvel Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection

MORBIUS, from left: Jared Harris, Jared Leto as Dr. Michael Morbius, 2022.

Sony Pictures Releasing/Marvel Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection

The movie famously flopped at thebox officewhen it was finally released in April 2022 afterseveral delaysrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic; Sony originally intended to releaseMorbiusin July 2020. It also holds a notably low approval rating from critics onRotten Tomatoes, where only 15% of 287 critic reviews reported enjoying the movie, while 71% of audience members who loggedMorbiusgave it a positive review.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I have observed that those types of films do well if you have a sense of humor," Harris toldiwhen asked about his experience makingMorbius. “You can’t treat it as though it’s Shakespeare. So yeah, that movie could have done with a more mischievous sense of humor.”

Jared Harris on Jan. 30, 2020.Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty

Jared Harris arrives at the Casting Society Of America’s Artios Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 30, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California.

Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty

“But you just have to roll with it. What else are you gonna do?” he said at the time. “It’s a film, at the end of the day, we’re not saving lives. For whatever reason, it didn’t quite work out and… It is what it is.”

Morbiusis now available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.Reawakeningdoes not have a U.S. release date yet.

source: people.com