Shaquille O’Neal Says His Marvel Dream Is Over

Shaquille O’Neal has revealed that his long-running dream of appearing in a Marvel “Avengers” movie is officially over.

The NBA legend, 54, told Variety that he has tried for years to land a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the studio turned him down. O’Neal said Hollywood executives have told him that his recognizable appearance could make it difficult for audiences to see him as a character rather than simply “Shaq.”

“I would love to do more action roles,” O’Neal said. “But we were told by top Hollywood executives that I’m too big.”

According to O’Neal, the concern is that viewers would immediately recognize him if he appeared on screen. That, he said, could make it difficult for him to convincingly play characters such as a doctor or other roles unrelated to his real-life persona.

O’Neal has already experienced the superhero world. He played the title character in the 1997 DC film “Steel,” but said he has been hoping to join Marvel for years. He first publicly talked about wanting to appear in an “Avengers” movie in 2018.

Although he will not appear in December’s “Avengers: Doomsday” or other “Avengers” films, O’Neal continues to pursue acting opportunities. He recently made a cameo in “Scary Movie” and is set to appear in “Grown Ups 3.”

Now, O’Neal has another Hollywood goal: making a movie with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

“I want to do a movie with The Rock so I can beat him up,” O’Neal said.

When asked whether he could actually take down the former WWE star, O’Neal did not hesitate.

“Oh, easy! Barbecue chicken,” he joked.

Outside Hollywood, O’Neal is also focused on his new “Dunkman” league, a professional dunking competition featuring athletes from around the world. The league’s finals, with a $500,000 grand prize, are scheduled to air on TNT on Aug. 25.