Hollywood is in shock. One of the most outspoken, controversial and veteran actors – James Woods – has turned down a $500 million contract from one of the world’s leading entertainment giants: Disney. What shocked many was not the huge number of rejections, but Woods’ strong statement: “I don’t need Disney ‘woke’. I choose dignity, not dirty money.”

James Woods, who is known not only for his acting talent but also for his conservative stance and outspoken statements on social media, shocked Hollywood when he flatly refused Disney’s offer to participate in a long-term series. According to a close source, this is a 10-year “mega contract” that includes film projects, a TV series on the Disney+ platform, and many global promotional campaigns – all worth more than half a billion dollars.

“Disney wants me to be the face of their ‘image restoration.’ They think they can use money to whitewash themselves after a series of failures in their culture of wokeness. But I am not a tool to help them ‘pretend to be woke’ and continue to destroy American culture,” Woods shared in an exclusive interview with an independent media outlet.

In his usual sharp tone, James Woods did not hesitate to criticize Disney for pursuing what he called “modern hypocrisy” that is causing the film industry to fall into crisis.

“They think adding an LGBTQ+ character to every movie is innovative. They think changing the gender and race of classic characters is progressive. No, that’s lazy and destructive. I’m not playing a role in their morality play,” Woods said.

The actor also criticized the way Disney imposed its political views on audiences, instead of letting art speak for itself.

“Audiences are not stupid. They don’t go to the theater to be lectured. They want to be entertained. But Disney forgot that a long time ago,” he emphasized.

Immediately after this news spread, social media erupted in fierce debate. While a large segment of the public – especially traditionalists – hailed Woods as “the last man of principle”, supporters of the “woke” culture criticized him as “old-fashioned”, “old-fashioned” and “inciting”.

One Twitter user wrote:

“James Woods doesn’t need $500 million, but he needs attention. This is just a stunt to get views.”

While another user shared:
“He is a rare voice who dares to stand up to the giant propaganda machine. At 77, James Woods is still a relentless fighter.”

The incident underscores the deep divide within Hollywood between the ultra-liberals and the conservative, traditionalists. While stars like Mark Ruffalo, Natalie Portman and Pedro Pascal have openly supported “woke” campaigns in cinema, James Woods, along with a few others like Tim Allen, Mel Gibson and Jon Voight, have chosen the opposite path.

An anonymous director in the industry said:

“Hollywood is like an underground battlefield now. If you don’t bow to the right political trend, you’re removed from every big project. James Woods is famous enough to say ‘No’ to that. But not everyone can do it.”

Many people have asked: Does turning down a lucrative contract mean Woods is ending his career? The actor doesn’t seem worried.

“I actually left Hollywood a long time ago. I only do roles that are meaningful to me. I don’t need more money. I need the peace of mind that I’m not participating in the destruction of American culture,” he said.

Woods, who has been nominated for an Oscar and won many other prestigious awards, said he is focusing on producing independent films and alternative media projects – where there is no censorship and imposition by large corporations.

The public rejection from a big name like James Woods is another blow to Disney, which has been dealing with a slew of problems in recent years: from falling box office revenue, a series of “woke” movies that have failed miserably, to a loss of trust from a large segment of its traditional audience.

The latest report shows that a series of Disney’s “diversification” projects such as The Marvels, Wish, Lightyear and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny have all suffered heavy losses or failed to meet expectations.

An industry analyst commented:

“Disney is desperate. They thought James Woods could be their ticket to regaining their credibility with the conservative public. But they were wrong – not everyone is willing to sell their soul to a corporation that has rejected its own audience.”

The story of James Woods is not just about a movie star turning down a billion-dollar contract. It is a symbol of the simmering but fierce culture war in America: between free speech and censorship, between traditional values ​​and radicalism, between genuine art and political propaganda.

At a time when every word can get you “cancel”, James Woods’s daring to speak out – even at the cost of $500 million – is something that many people admire.

Turning down a $500 million contract was not only a bold move, but also a message to the entire entertainment industry: not everyone can be bought.

James Woods, with all his stubbornness and honesty, wrote a new chapter – not only for his personal career, but also for the cultural story of modern America.