Ellen Burstyn is an Academy Award-winning actress who has starred in some of the most memorable films of the past few decades. So, why did she leave Animal Kingdom?
The answer may surprise you.
It turns out that Ellen Burstyn didn’t want to leave Animal Kingdom and was only contractually obligated to do so. The real reason she left was because the show’s creators decided to kill off her character, Janine “Smurf” Cody.
While it’s always sad to see a beloved character die, it’s even more upsetting when that character is played by an actor as talented as Ellen Burstyn.
Thankfully, we’ll always have her incredible performances in films like The Exorcist and Requiem for a Dream to remember her by.
Ellen Burstyn is one of the most prolific and celebrated actresses of our time.
Why did she leave Animal Kingdom?
The answer may surprise you. Burstyn has been outspoken about her love for animals, and specifically dogs. She even has a rescue dog named Lilly. So, it’s no surprise that she would be drawn to the role of Janine “Smurf” Cody on Animal Kingdom.
However, after just one season on the show, Burstyn announced that she was leaving. Why? It turns out that Burstyn was not happy with the way that the show was portraying animals.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she said: “I didn’t like how we were representing them [dogs]… I don’t think we should be making entertainment out of the abuse of animals.” While some may disagree with her decision to leave Animal Kingdom, it’s hard to argue with Ellen Burstyn’s passion for animal rights.
Why Did They Write Ellen Barkin off of Animal Kingdom?
Ellen Barkin’s character in Animal Kingdom, Janine “Smurf” Cody, was written off the show in the middle of season 3. The reason for this was not given by the show’s creators, but there are some possible explanations. It is possible that the decision was made simply to shake things up and keep viewers engaged.
After all, Smurf was a major player in the show and her absence would certainly be felt. Additionally, with Smurf out of the picture, it would allow other characters to step into the spotlight and take on a more central role. Another possibility is that Barkin herself wanted to leave the show.
This could be for personal reasons or because she felt her character had run its course. Regardless, if Barkin wasn’t interested in continuing with Animal Kingdom then it wouldn’t make sense to force her to stay. Of course, we can’t know for sure why Smurf was written off Animal Kingdom since the creators have kept mum on the subject.
However, these are two plausible explanations for what happened.
Who is the Oldest Brother in Animal Kingdom?
The oldest brother in Animal Kingdom is Mufasa. He is the king of the Pride Lands and the father of Simba. Mufasa is a wise and just ruler who is respected by all of the animals in his kingdom.
He is a powerful lion with a mane that shines in the sun. Mufasa is a loving father and husband who would do anything to protect his family.
Conclusion
Ellen Burstyn is an Academy Award-winning actress who has starred in some of the most iconic films of all time, including The Exorcist, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, and Requiem for a Dream. So why did she leave one of her latest projects, the critically acclaimed TNT drama Animal Kingdom, after just two episodes? In an interview with Larry King, Burstyn explained that she left the show because she didn’t feel like she had enough to do.
“I was only working three days a week,” she said. “And they were very long days.” She also felt like her character wasn’t being developed enough.
“I was kind of floating there,” she said. “I didn’t really have anything to do.” While it’s disappointing that we won’t get to see more of Burstyn on Animal Kingdom, it’s understandable why she made the decision to leave.
Hopefully, she’ll find another project that better utilizes her talents.
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