Susan Powter: The Fitness Guru Who Said No to Kevin Costner’s ‘Waterworld’

If you hail from the 1990s era, the name Susan Powter might ring a bell. She was a prominent fitness expert known for her short, spiky blonde hair and gained fame through her weight-loss infomercials, where her phrase “Stop the insanity” became a cultural craze. Although she currently works as an Uber Eats driver in Las Vegas, during that time, she was one of the world’s most recognized figures. Interestingly, it is said that Kevin Costner approached her to star in his box office disappointment, Waterworld.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Powter, who once had such prominence that she hosted her own talk show, recounts receiving a call from Costner during the peak of her fame. The conversation took place while she was getting a beauty treatment in L.A., and according to her account, Costner graciously accepted her decline.

Originally, he was planning to star in that film. The character he mentioned was portrayed as a wild warrior, bordering on madness. Our discussion was insightful and thought-provoking. I expressed my gratitude by saying, “I truly value your consideration of me for this role.” But remember, it’s just a movie; I don’t intend to be rude. Oh dear, it’s a film project we were discussing, specifically the part I might play. I made it clear that the character simply doesn’t reflect who I am as a person. Despite my strong emotions, I’m not angry; there’s a significant distinction.

In her own words, Powter shared that refusing the role in ‘Waterworld’ strained her relationship with her manager, who was extremely disappointed as they wanted the film. Despite ‘Waterworld’ becoming one of the most infamous flops of the 90s due to its problematic production and disappointing box office performance, Powter maintains a warm regard for Costner and remains unaffected by the movie’s negative reputation. In essence, she said, “I had a pleasant chat with a genuinely good person, and he comprehended my stance.” She was not in any way influenced by ‘Waterworld’s’ poor standing.

Was ‘Waterworld’ Really That Bad?

The high-priced production of Waterworld, once known as the costliest film at its time, primarily faced criticism due to its financial struggles rather than its storyline. With its production budget and marketing costs combined, it was estimated to have cost approximately $235 million. However, it managed to gross only $264 million globally. Despite this, it didn’t become profitable until much later, with earnings coming from sources such as home video sales, television rights, novels, video games, and comic books.

To put it simply, contrary to what you may recall, Waterworld isn’t as awful as you might think. It was quite enjoyable for its genre and boasted impressive set designs, plenty of action, and a wealth of innovative concepts, though these could have been developed more effectively. Despite not being one of Costner’s best performances, it manages to keep afloat with the entertainment it offers, making its 135-minute length worthwhile. If you fancy revisiting this ’90s classic, you can now stream it on Netflix.

Read More

2025-02-07 21:02