The Great Actor Migration

I've noticed a lot of established feature film actors appearing in television shows lately.  This is a little unusual given that Hollywood films are usually considered the top tier of prestige and status, not to mention paychecks.  For most of Hollywood history, many actors would become famous or at least established on television before transitioning to the big screen.  Very rarely would they go the other way around.  Here are some examples of big screen actors who have appeared as regular cast members on prime time television shows in the last couple years:



Steve Buscemi 
Notable Roles: The Big Lebowski, Armageddon, and Big Fish  
Now appears on HBO's Boardwalk Empire

Clare Daines 
Notable Roles: Romeo and Juliet, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, and Stardust.  
Now appears on Showtime's Homeland

Jason Schwartzman 
Notable Roles: Rushmore, I Heart Huckabees, and Marie Antoinette 
Now appears on HBO's Bored to Death

William H. Macy 
Notable Roles: Fargo, Magnolia, and Pleasantville
Now appears on Showtime's Shameless

Zooey Deschannel 
Notable Roles: Elf, Failure to Launch, and Yes Man  
Now appears on Fox's New Girl

Kat Dennings 
Notable Roles: Charlie Bartlett, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and Thor
Now appears on CBS's 2 Broke Girls

Michael Clarke Duncan
Notable Roles: The Green Mile, Daredevil, and Sin City 
Now appears on Fox's The Finder

Dustin Hoffman 
Notable Roles: The Graduate, Sphere, and Meet the Fokkers  
Now appears on HBO's Luck (cancelled)

Jeremy Irons
Notable Roles: Die Hard With a Vengeance, Lolita, and The Man in the Iron Mask
Now appears on Showtime's The Borgias



Like I said, these are just a few examples, and it begs the question, why is this happening?  Here are some thoughts. 

It's a Recession: Everyone is feeling the pinch of the economy right now, even Hollywood.  This means that there are lower paychecks and slightly fewer tent-pole projects available.  It also means that executive producers are more selective; wanting established, and more importantly, bankable talent for their features.  For this reason, many actors may be more willing to take regular employment with a TV show, regardless of any pay cut. 

Creative Material: I've mentioned before that Hollywood producers are taking very few risks on untested ideas, and thus remakes, sequels, prequels, and adaptations are all the rage now.  Television producers, on the other hand, are under different priorities.  They have to bring an audience in week after week for hopefully many years.  That means they make a greater effort and the material is more original (though still not remake free).  This could be attractive to actors looking to play new and different roles or expand their audience.  

The Sopranos: Many of the shows I listed air on paid channels like HBO and Showtime.  The successes of shows like The Sopranos have given these channels a greater popularity.  They are also a great halfway point between film and television.  The larger budget means the pay is comparable, and the lower episode number means a lesser time commitment.  At the same time, the actors get some regular work and good material.

What's Next Then
I'm uncertain which of these factors is the most dominant, although it could vary with the actor.  I do know that with the rise of Internet media and online television, it's getting progressively harder for studios to fill theater seats.  If that decline continues, then it stands to reason that more talent will flock to other media sources.  On the other hand, if it's only a phase from the recession, then it's more likely this trend will pass and these performers will return to the big screen.  Time will tell.