# In 2006, Josh Hartnett made a movie he was proud of. Nearly 20 years later, he wishes people actually watched it

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-2006-josh-hartnett-made-a-movie-he-was-proud-of-nearly-20-years-later-he-wishes-people-actually-watched-it/
- Published: 2026-10-29T02:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-29T03:09:00+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/in-2006-josh-hartnett-made-a-movie-he-was-proud-of-nearly-20-years-later-he-wishes-people-actually-watched-it/
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Film

## Key points

- Hartnett remains proud of 2006’s The Black Dahlia.
- The film underperformed despite its prominent cast.
- He later returned to major roles in television and film.

## Summary

Josh Hartnett has said he is proud of The Black Dahlia, the 2006 crime thriller he hoped audiences would receive more warmly. Directed by Brian De Palma after David Fincher was attached, the film underperformed despite its high-profile cast, and its reception marked a disappointment for Hartnett and a setback for De Palma’s career.

The film is a 1940s Los Angeles mystery inspired by the unsolved murder of aspiring actor Elizabeth Short, with Hartnett playing detective Dwight “Bucky” Bleichert. Hartnett said people who saw it enjoyed it, though it was less successful than hoped. After a period away from the mainstream, he returned to prominence through Penny Dreadful and later appeared in Oppenheimer and Trap.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.