Sharlto Copley replaced by Timothy Olyphant in I Am Number Four

Last Updated on July 23, 2021

Variety is reporting that Sharlto Copley has left DreamWorks’ sci-fi adventure I AM NUMBER FOUR due to scheduling conflicts with this A-TEAM press tour; the DISTRICT 9 actor has been replaced by Timothy Olyphant, who will take the role as an alien mentor to the title character.

When the hell has press obligations stopped an actor from taking another role? Things like these are always considered by an actor, the studio and the agents involved. It’s not like Copley is Bradley Cooper and must be present for all A-TEAM press; he’s still a newbie at this Hollywood game.

Which might be a key to the real story. FilmDrunk.com claims to have the inside scoop on what really went down. Read on!


The real story, and I promise I’m not making this up, is that Sharlto Copley wanted wear a prosthetic nose and fake ears like Spock and look like an alien in the movie, while director DJ Caruso was adamant that the aliens were supposed to look just like regular humans, hence why they’re able to fit in. This was apparently such a sticking point that neither would budge, and Copley left the project.

Hopefully Copley isn’t getting too big for his britches already. I understand an actor wanting to be committed to a role, but c’mon… This is a DJ Caruso movie produced by Michael Bay. You’re not playing Hamlet, fella.

In any event, Copley is out, Olyphant is in. Alex Pettyfer, Teresa Palmer, Kevin Durand and Dianna Agron also star in the film, which revolves around a group of nine earthbound aliens who escaped their planet just before it’s annihilated by a rival species. Hiding out on Earth, disguised as a human teenager, the title character discovers that he is being hunted by the enemy that destroyed his planet.


Dianna Agron

Source: Variety, FilmDrunk

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Eric Walkuski is a longtime writer, critic, and reporter for JoBlo.com. He's been a contributor for over 15 years, having written dozens of reviews and hundreds of news articles for the site. In addition, he's conducted almost 100 interviews as JoBlo's New York correspondent.