Shaquille O’Neal wanted to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Marvel reportedly had one problem: audiences would only see Shaq.
The retired NBA superstar says he had hoped to land a role in an Avengers film, but the people behind the franchise felt he was too famous to disappear into a character.
According to Shaq, they believed moviegoers would look at him on screen and immediately think, “That’s Shaq.”
He did not reveal which Marvel character he wanted to play, but the rejection has sparked plenty of jokes online, especially because Shaq already has superhero history.
The 7-foot-1 basketball legend played DC Comics hero Steel in the 1997 film of the same name.
So while Shaq conquered the NBA and Hollywood, the Avengers apparently proved to be one team he could not join.