Joaquin Phoenix: Franchises aren't my thing

Joaquin Phoenix has become less of a snob about picking films.

The American actor has a wide range of parts under his belt, impressing in movies such as Her, Walk the Line and The Master. He has a reputation for fully embracing his movie alter egos on the big screen and would rather a smaller, character-driven project than a blockbuster - although he doesn't totally shun the idea anymore.

"Sure. When I was younger I was probably a bit of a snob about that. But they've gotten better. I've flirted with several of those films, having meetings and getting close, but ultimately it never felt like they'd be really fulfilling," Joaquin explained to British magazine Time Out when asked if he'd consider a franchise like Star Wars.

For Joaquin, it would feel as though he was abandoning his instincts for such a part and having been "spoiled" with jobs in the past, he has no plans to compromise.

However the star does enjoy watching these features and respects those who are involved.

"Did you see the rebooted Star Trek' That kid Chris Pine who plays Kirk is f**king genius. I just don't know if I want to have the experience of being in them," Joaquin mused. "I've read some of those scripts and 75 per cent is a description of some asteroid going through space."

His current project is Woody Allen's Irrational Man, in which he plays a tormented philosophy professor opposite Emma Stone. Since it wrapped last summer, Joaquin's career has taken a quiet turn, but he doesn't feel obliged to fill his spare time.

"I don't do much of anything. I have a pretty simple, boring life," he shrugged. "Stupid little hobbies aren't worth talking about! When I'm not working, not preparing for anything, I love having to think about nothing at all."