SHAZAM! Star Djimon Hounsou Bemoans Being "Underpaid" And Says He's "Struggling To Make A Living"

SHAZAM! Star Djimon Hounsou Bemoans Being "Underpaid" And Says He's "Struggling To Make A Living"

Shazam! and Guardians of the Galaxy star Djimon Hounsou has said he's "still struggling financially to make a living" in Hollywood and argues that he's underpaid, despite booking major movie roles...

By JoshWilding - Jan 12, 2025 01:01 PM EST
Filed Under: Shazam

Djimon Hounsou is one of the most prolific actors working in Hollywood today. In the comic book movie realm alone, he's starred in Constantine, Guardians of the Galaxy, Aquaman, Captain Marvel, Shazam!, Black Adam, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods

He also received "Best Supporting Actor" Oscar nominations for his roles in Blood Diamond and In America. Despite finding that level of success, the actor recently looked back on his career in an interview with CNN and revealed he's "struggling financially to make a living." 

"I am still struggling trying to make a living," Hounsou admitted. "After 30 years...maybe the first 10 years was trying to acclimate myself to the industry, to establish myself. But I’ve been in this business making films now for over two decades and with two Oscar nominations and been in many blockbuster films, and yet, I’m still struggling financially to make a living. I’m definitely underpaid."

"That’s a sign for you that systemic racism is not something you can deal with lightly," he said of why he believes he's not being paid the same amount as his co-stars. "It’s so deeply inserted in so many things we do across the board. You don’t overcome it. You just sort of have to cope with it and survive the best way you can."

Hounsou didn't share specifics about how little he's been paid compared to other actors. There was also no clarification about how or why he's struggling after starring in the likes of Gran Turismo, Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire, Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver, and A Quiet Place: Day One over the past two years.

Regardless, this echoes what the actor said in 2023 when he talked about feeling "tremendously cheated" by his Hollywood pay. "I’ve come up in the business with some people who are absolutely well off and have very little of my accolades. So I feel cheated in terms of finances and in terms of the workload as well," Hounsou said at the time. 

"I’ve gone to studios for meetings and they’re like: 'Wow, we felt like you just got off the boat and then went back [after 'Amistad']. We didn’t know you were here as a true actor.' When you hear things like that, you can see that some people’s vision of you, or what you represent, is very limiting. But it is what it is. It’s up to me to redeem that."

"I still have to prove why I need to get paid," he added. "They always come at me with a complete low ball: 'We only have this much for the role, but we love you so much and we really think you can bring so much' Film after film, it’s a struggle. I have yet to meet the film that paid me fairly."

Hounsou's upcoming projects include Beneath the Storm, The Zealot, and The Monster.

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JstaKIDfrmBKLYN
JstaKIDfrmBKLYN - 1/12/2025, 1:20 PM
I'm sympathetic, but he needs a better agent.
jst5
jst5 - 1/12/2025, 1:21 PM
@JstaKIDfrmBKLYN - Bingo....
UncleHarm1
UncleHarm1 - 1/12/2025, 3:41 PM
@JstaKIDfrmBKLYN - He was so great in Gran Turismo, despite it being just an ok movie. Foreal he needs an agent who can get him bigger roles like that, he's always just a henchman or something.
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 1/12/2025, 3:49 PM
@JstaKIDfrmBKLYN - He's above blaming race. There are tons of insanely rich and successful black actors for decades now. Let's not even go into music, sports and even streamers. I think he's severely underused in Hollywood but I don't think it has anything to do with race. But then again I'm not him, so I can't speak with authority on his experience obviously. But I think blaming race in 2025 is ridiculous
bcom
bcom - 1/12/2025, 7:44 PM
@JstaKIDfrmBKLYN - That's what jumped into my mind while reading this article. The guy is an established name in Hollywood and although I'm sure there's many other factors in play, it sounds like he's being undercut.
JobinJ
JobinJ - 1/12/2025, 1:23 PM
Oh its racism. Sure. Sure buddy.

Always racism. Just shut up.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 1/12/2025, 1:24 PM
Honestly , dudes a great actor but I do always see him in moreso minor roles or supporting at best so it seems unfortunate that Hollywood doesn’t really use an actor of his talent to his utmost abilities usually.

It really does see like people only see him in a certain way even if he’s proven with limited material or not that he’s got more to him then that.
KurtCrawler
KurtCrawler - 1/12/2025, 1:33 PM
Buddy i don't struggle financially and I'm guessing you make 20x what i make in a year.
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 1/13/2025, 5:58 AM
@KurtCrawler - I know right? I make just about $27 / hour and while its not where I SHOULD be, im living extremely comfortably. This [frick]er has made at least a million dollars in the past 5 years. Which by my math would take me almost 20 years to touch (before taxes). So Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa somewhere else.
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 1/12/2025, 1:34 PM
He can start working
Conquistador
Conquistador - 1/12/2025, 1:34 PM
Get a better agent...

Saying that... I'm sure he's going to be Tyler Perry's next golden boy.

I say this as a black man and a fan..

But also, I don't know shit... I have never worked in that industry. I'm just sick of hearing it's always about racism.

I know it exist, but I'm either sick to hear it's still a problem or sick to find out that people can't find a way overcome it without constantly complaining about...

I've not made up my mind yet on which side I sit.
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 1/13/2025, 5:59 AM
@Conquistador - It doesnt matter what industry its in. Its always about racism. and always will be.
Even if they do some bullshit ass reparations dumb shit (you know because money can wipe away the tears) it will still be about racism and how every one who isnt white gets hate.
gtfo.
Matchesz
Matchesz - 1/12/2025, 1:35 PM
Blood Diamond should have set him up for life, he should have also been in Black Panther
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 1/12/2025, 1:44 PM
@Matchesz - He was already in Guardians...
Conquistador
Conquistador - 1/12/2025, 1:53 PM
@Matchesz - I rewatched this movie recently. It's actually quite overrated.

Subject matter is no joke, but it's really not all that great of a movie.
YonnyLayna
YonnyLayna - 1/12/2025, 4:30 PM
@MosquitoFarmer - Was wasted same as Glen Close.
TREE24K
TREE24K - 1/12/2025, 1:36 PM
Pay him. He's awesome.
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 1/12/2025, 2:17 PM
@TREE24K - My man😝
Deadinside
Deadinside - 1/13/2025, 2:57 PM
@TREE24K - Pay me, for I, too, am awesome...! ☮️😁
kazuma
kazuma - 1/12/2025, 1:40 PM
If he's still struggling then it's a him problem. Either live within your means, or hire a new agent.
Kozmik
Kozmik - 1/12/2025, 3:21 PM
@kazuma - Yes and No? Sure, he might need new representation. Still doesn't invalidate anything he said.
kazuma
kazuma - 1/12/2025, 6:26 PM
@Kozmik - If's he's been in the industry for as long as he has, then his agent is a problem.
It has nothing to do with him being black.
BillyBatson1000
BillyBatson1000 - 1/12/2025, 1:42 PM
The MCU is filled with British and Australian actors, all ethnicities, cos they're getting paid a fraction of their American counterparts. It's an accepted thing. And I hope that level of commercial exposure opens new doors for ALL of them.
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 1/12/2025, 2:17 PM
@BillyBatson1000 - Well said🙌
DarthAlgar
DarthAlgar - 1/12/2025, 1:43 PM
He's always been in mostly unknown films and flops.

Get a new agent.
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 1/12/2025, 2:17 PM
@DarthAlgar - No, he's done some big movies. Check him out. But I agree, his reps have a role to play, however, there is only so much they can do in a place where only a few black actors get good or well-paid roles.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 1/12/2025, 5:09 PM
@THEKENDOMAN - Darth Algar said mostly, not only.
Find out how many well known Djimon was in versus how many little known movie he was in.
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 1/13/2025, 1:24 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - I see what you're talking about but that's not what we are talking about. There is a bigger issue here that has been going on since the birth of Hollywood.
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 1/12/2025, 1:46 PM
That's heartbreaking to here also Skip to 1:24


User Comment Image
BillyBatson1000
BillyBatson1000 - 1/12/2025, 1:54 PM
@HashTagSwagg - "But $20m is chump change these days ..."
Forthas
Forthas - 1/12/2025, 1:52 PM
THIS...is the reason I criticize people like James Gunn who hires people for prominent roles because they are related to him or are his friends! People should be hired based on merit and past accomplishment, not their relationship to the boss.
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 1/12/2025, 2:39 PM
@Forthas - God forbid one hires people they have a guaranteed great work rapoire with, the selfish jerks.
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