Actors who faced cancellations also faced the challenge of keeping their careers alive amid controversy. Still, some Hollywood names show that there are paths to a comeback. Below, we revisit cases of Alec Baldwin, Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Shia LaBeouf, and Robert Downey Jr. — examples of actors who returned after being canceled.
Art and Tragedy: The Alec Baldwin Case
In October 2021, during a rehearsal for the western Rust, Alec Baldwin fired a gun that, due to safety failures, contained live ammunition. The shot killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.
The accident led to high-profile criminal investigations. David Halls, the first assistant director, admitted negligence in checking the weapon and reached a plea deal. Meanwhile, armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced in 2024 to 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter.
The film, completed under the title Rust: A Lei do Oeste in Brazil, premiered on September 15, 2025, on digital platforms, treated by the team as a tribute to Hutchins.
Despite the crisis, Baldwin is gradually returning to acting in smaller projects, like Atrabilious (2025), along with appearances in productions such as Supercell and 97 Minutes. He is also preparing the reality show The Baldwins (2025) on TLC, about his family life.
Courtrooms, Falls, and Cannes: Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, with collaborations with Tim Burton and franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean. His image, however, crumbled after domestic violence allegations made by Amber Heard.
The actor lost major contracts, including the Fantastic Beasts franchise. In 2022, the live-streamed trial secured a partial victory for Depp, with damages awarded by the jury, although there was also criticism of his statements.
Jeanne du Barry, marked his return to the big leagues in 2023, in which he played Louis XV under the direction of filmmaker Maïwenn. The film is inspired by the life of Jeanne Bécu and tells the story of the woman who was born as the illegitimate daughter of a seamstress and became the last official mistress of Louis XV. Opening the Cannes Film Festival, it was applauded by audiences eager to see Depp back in the spotlight.
You can find Jeanne du Barry for rent or purchase. Check out on Filmelier’s website where to watch it.
Winona Ryder and Reinvention in Stranger Things
In the 1990s, Winona Ryder shone in titles like Edward Scissorhands (alongside Johnny Depp) and Beetlejuice. In 2001, she was arrested for shoplifting at a department store, an episode that sidelined her from significant roles.
The rebirth came in 2016 with Stranger Things, a Netflix series in which she plays Joyce Byers. The global success brought Ryder back into the spotlight, introducing her to a new generation.
Shia LaBeouf: Cancellation and Attempts at Reconstruction
Shia LaBeouf emerged as a Disney child star and led franchises like Transformers. His path, however, was marked by arrests, erratic episodes, and serious accusations — including the lawsuit filed by artist FKA Twigs, who accused him of physical and psychological abuse.
LaBeouf acknowledged his faults, apologized publicly, and began treatment. Still, major studios stopped hiring him. He moved on to act in independent productions, like Padre Pio (2022), screened in Venice.
The actor also joins the cast of Megalopolis, the highly anticipated project by Francis Ford Coppola, alongside Adam Driver and Dustin Hoffman.
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Robert Downey Jr.: From Rock Bottom to Glory with Oppenheimer
In the 1990s, Robert Downey Jr. accumulated arrests and drug problems, becoming persona non grata in Hollywood. The turnaround came in 2008 with Iron Man, the role of Tony Stark that launched his trajectory in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The peak, however, was in 2023, when he played Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan. The performance earned him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, crowning his artistic rehabilitation.
After concluding the Iron Man character in his franchises and the original Avengers franchise, Robert Downey Jr. is now expected to play the villain Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for 2027.
Convictions, Forgiveness, and the Empathy Machine
These five cases show that cancellation is not definitive in Hollywood. Actors may lose contracts, credibility, and standing, but they also find opportunities for a comeback, whether in blockbusters or independent productions.
“Movies are like a machine that generates empathy. It allows you to understand a little more about the hopes, aspirations, dreams, and fears of others.” — Roger Ebert
The public, critics, and film festivals, in different ways, decided to give new chances to Baldwin, Depp, Ryder, LaBeouf, and Downey Jr. — reminding us that in cinema, the line between downfall and glory remains thin.
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