In the space of year or so Sam Worthington has become one of the most sought after male leads in Hollywood for, well, pretty much every male role going.

He trudged his way from relative obscurity to this position with only two films. The first was Terminator: Salvation, a reboot of the Cameron created Terminator franchise. Then, working with Cameron himself, he took on a role which has shot him into film history as Jake Sully in the record breaking Avatar.

You can’t argue with Hollywood on this one as it’s not hard to see why he is in demand. A rough, tough guy, but not without a heart or a softer side (plus he isn’t pumped on steroids as with action heroes of old). He’s also a fairly stylish guy, while being a big blue alien isn’t a look you can buy, the beaten long military jackets and boots of Terminator: Salvation have crept into general high street fashion.

His latest role however is as Perseus in the remake of Clash of the Titans. In terms of being the main male presence in Hollywood, this role will no doubt cement him in that position. But the story line seems a little familiar doesn’t it? He plays a man born of the Gods but raised with the humans, when Hades threatens to defeat Zeus and unleash Hell on earth he is forced unto the breach where he must embrace his destiny as the saviour.

Similarly, in his Terminator stint he was a robot lost among men, until he found his destiny in changing the fate of mankind by fighting alongside them, falling in love with an originally hostile female and becoming the saviour. Again, with Avatar, he is sent to destroy the natives. Instead he joins them, falls in love with Zoe Saldana’s hostile female character, fulfils his destiny as a saviour and changes the course of history.

It’s this which should raise eyebrows and concerns for him. His ability and appeal is not in question, but his acceptance of three roles on the trot with pretty much the same story is. They’re all just slightly tweaked versions of the same man…pitted against slightly tweaked opponents. It’s either a very clever, easy route into fame and fortune or a blind, misguided mistake, inadvertently leading him to glory.

Whichever way you choose to look at it, someone needs to take him to one side have a quiet, friendly word with him (and his agent for that matter) about not saturating this market and avoiding giving people a chance to become bored of him. The acting chops are there, he’s often the solid and reliable part of these films, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable for him to demand other roles.

If Mr Worthington wishes to continue in his rich vein of form then perhaps he should lend his talents to a more low profile feature. Maybe an independent film or perhaps a short break. The pitfall of this move would be for him to go too far and end up in a rom-com beside Jennifer Aniston. 

Nevertheless, he will no doubt be linked to big comic book roles throughout 2010, for Hollywood; she is a predictable creature. Let’s just hope he takes some time to ponder his next move wisely and avoids being swallowed up by the Kraken.

Image courtesy of Daemonsmovies.com