Josh Hartnett Makes Very Rare Social Media Appearance — and Says He’ll ‘Ghost’ Again for Another 10 Years

• Josh Hartnett made an appearance on social media to promote his upcoming movie Fight or Flight, on Wednesday, April 23
• The actor is notoriously private and does not have active accounts on any social media platform
• He has previously spoken about leaving Hollywood to live a quieter life in the countryside of England, saying that he “just never really vibed with L.A.”

Josh Hartnett made a very rare appearance on social media, but he doesn’t want fans to get used to seeing him while scrolling.

The 46-year-old Trap star is notoriously private and does not have an active presence on any social media platform. However, he’s been making cameos on the official Instagram account for his upcoming action movie, Fight or Flight.

In a post shared on Wednesday, April 23, Hartnett jokingly acknowledged that he isn’t up to date on the latest social media trends and made it clear that he is already planning on “ghosting” the apps again after his brief cameo.

In the video, the Oppenheimer star filmed himself from below. Only part of his face appeared in the frame as the sound of typing played as though he was writing a text message.

“Me promoting my film before ghosting social media for another 10 years,” text on the screen read.

Hartnett offered an explanation for his unusual appearance on social media in the accompanying caption: “When your team insists on a social media content day to promote your new film, Fight or Flight (in theaters May 9), but you don’t get any of these viral trends.”

Fans rushed to the comments section to encourage Hartnett not to disappear again and to celebrate his video.

“please josh you need to come back (actually come back),” one fan pleaded. Another wrote, “i never thought i will see this.”

A third commenter joked that “2035 shaking in its boots right now” at the thought of Hartnett returning again in a decade.

The actor joked that he approved of his new movie being a thriller and a drama. However, he pretended to be hesitant to approve of it being an action movie. Hartnett was sold when told that the movie would bring “action on an airplane.”

A third post used TikTok’s “U Know What Hell Yeah” meme format to reveal Hartnett’s excited response to being offered a role in Fight or Flight.

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Hartnett famously keeps his personal life out of the spotlight and chooses not to live in Hollywood. Instead, he, his wife Tasmin Egerton live in the Hampshire countryside in England with their four children.

In 2024, he explained his decision to leave L.A. behind for a quieter life, telling PEOPLE that he “just never really vibed” with the city.

“Hollywood is more than a place; it’s like a state of mind. If you’re around people who are constantly talking about the movie business, your life is going to be pretty much one note. And I’ve never wanted that,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to be around … people generally doing lots of other things that would bring my mind off of my work and force me to grow in different directions.”

Although he and his wife have found success as actors, the star said that they tried to “keep [their kids] away” from the Hollywood lifestyle so that they can “have normal upbringings.”

He added that he “wouldn’t encourage” his children to follow in his footsteps.

“Not to make it too simplified, but I do think the industry is really tough on girls, and I don’t want that for my kids. I also think the industry is tough on actors. We’re always waiting for people to say it’s okay for us to do our job,” he explained.

Fight or Flight premieres in theaters on May 9.