The Military Workshop
1st Lieutenant
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2005
- Messages
- 4,778
Hi Guys,
With Oscars coming thought it time for a movie thread.
Heard this subject being discussed on radio and had seen recent Tarantino interview where he mentioned Michael Madsen missing out on Pulp Fiction.
So here is a list of actors and roles they declined or missed. Anybody know any more.
Brett
Al Pacino
Turned down Richard Gere's role in Pretty Woman, saying the film was poorly written. Also, he wasn't interested in playing Han Solo, so he turned down Star Wars too.
Will Smith
The Wachowskis' first choice for the role of Neo in The Matrix. Will Smith found the script too hard to follow, but did later remark he found Keanu Reeves perfect for the role.
Mel Gibson
Was offered the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Tim Burton's 1989 adaptation. Mel Gibson thought the film would be a flop. ”
John Travolta Turned down the lead roles in Forrest Gump, Days Of Heaven and American Gigolo
Michelle Pfiffer
Turned down the role of Clarice Starling in Jonathan Demme's landmark adaptation of The Silence Of The Lambs, finding the film too violent, dark and disturbing. The role was played by Jodie Foster and arguably remains her best-remembered performance.
Denzel Washington
Turned down a part in David Fincher's Se7en, due to the film being too dark. He reportedly regretted his decision later on.
Bruce Willis
Turned down the chance to play a ghost husband opposite his then off-screen wife Demi Moore in, well, Ghost
Kim BasingerTurned down the role of Catherine Tramell in Paul Verhoeven's thriller Basic Instinct. If she hadn't, Sharon Stone might have never gotten her break
Sean Connery
Turned down the role of Gandalf in Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lord Of The Rings, due to him not "getting" fantasy. He cited the film's success as his reason to do his critically-panned final film, The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Sandra BullockLeft the role of Maggie Fitzgerald in Clint Eastwood's sports drama Million Dollar baby due to production delays. Replacing actress Hilary Swank won her second Oscar for the role, and Sandra Bullock starred in Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous. ”
Jeremy Irons
Jonathan Demme wanted him to play Hanibal Lecter in his celebrated adaptation of The Silence of The Lambs, but Jeremy Irons found the script to be too violent. The part instead became the defining role of Anthony Hopkins' career.
Warren Beatty
If Warren Beatty had accepted to play the part of Michael Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's gangster classic The Godfather, Al Pacino, whose first film role it became, might have never had a career in film.
Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts could have won her second Oscar if she hadn't turned down the part that eventually went to Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side, in order to do Valentine's Day. However, Roberts couldn't really say no to Valentine's Day director Garry Marshall, who gave her her big break in Pretty Woman, could she?
Tom Selleck
This actually isn't a case of an actor turning down a role, as Selleck was very interested, rather than one of an acotr not being allowed to play a part. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas both wanted Selleck to play Indiana Jones, but a deal couldn't be negotiated with Universal Studios, with whom Selleck had just signed to star in Magnum, P.I. Had Selleck been allowed to play the part, Harrison Ford, who George Lucas was reluctant to cast and who thus wouldn't have had another strong popular role following Star Wars, might just have gone the way of Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. As for Tom Selleck, he eventually starred in his own Indiana Jones-type film, the little-known, hard-to-find, but absolutely-worth-the-watch High Road To China. Interestingly the same situation came very close to happening with Michael J. Fox and his Back To The Future role, but a deal was eventually reached between studios
Halle Berry
Halle Berry turned down the role of bus driver Annie Porter opposite Keanu Reeves in the hit thriller Speed. The role went to Sandra Bullock and instantly cemented her status as one of America's most popular actresses. In the meantime, while Halle Berry did get fairly regular work, she had to wait another six years for her ball to really get rolling.
Edward NortonRelatively early on in his career, Norton turned down the titular role in Steven Spielberg's landmark war film Saving Private Ryan. The role eventually went to Matt Damon, an actor who back then had gotten noticed in more independent films and who was propelled into the big time thanks to this part,
Michael Madsen
Madsen and director Quentin Tarantino have collaborated numerous times. Twice strictly speaking, buth thrice if you count Kill Bill as 2 films and five times if you count Sin City and Hell Ride. As such it should come as no surprise that Tarantino had a role ready for Madsen in what remains his most famous film, Pulp Fiction. However Madsen was stuck with rehearsals for the western Wyatt Earp, and regularly expresses regret at not having played the part that was eventually renamed Vincent Vega, rewritten as a brother to Madsen's character Vic Vega from Reservoir Dogs, and given to John Travolta who, if Madsen had not been available, might never have enjoyed a much-needed carrer resurrection. ”
Jake Gyllenhaal
Hollywood experienced a Sam Worthington boom starting in 2009 with Terminator Salvation, Avatar and Clash Of The Titans, however the Australian actor may never have gotten his American dream if Jake Gyllenhaal hadn't turned down the Jake Sully role in Avatar.
Henry Winkler
Turned down the male lead in Grease, which famously went to John Travolta
Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks might be one of the most loved actors of this day and age but he could have added another feather to his cap had he not turned down the lead role in Field Of Dreams, now instead regarded as one of Kevin Costner's finest films.
With Oscars coming thought it time for a movie thread.
Heard this subject being discussed on radio and had seen recent Tarantino interview where he mentioned Michael Madsen missing out on Pulp Fiction.
So here is a list of actors and roles they declined or missed. Anybody know any more.
Brett
Al Pacino
Turned down Richard Gere's role in Pretty Woman, saying the film was poorly written. Also, he wasn't interested in playing Han Solo, so he turned down Star Wars too.
Will Smith
The Wachowskis' first choice for the role of Neo in The Matrix. Will Smith found the script too hard to follow, but did later remark he found Keanu Reeves perfect for the role.
Mel Gibson
Was offered the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Tim Burton's 1989 adaptation. Mel Gibson thought the film would be a flop. ”
John Travolta Turned down the lead roles in Forrest Gump, Days Of Heaven and American Gigolo
Michelle Pfiffer
Turned down the role of Clarice Starling in Jonathan Demme's landmark adaptation of The Silence Of The Lambs, finding the film too violent, dark and disturbing. The role was played by Jodie Foster and arguably remains her best-remembered performance.
Denzel Washington
Turned down a part in David Fincher's Se7en, due to the film being too dark. He reportedly regretted his decision later on.
Bruce Willis
Turned down the chance to play a ghost husband opposite his then off-screen wife Demi Moore in, well, Ghost
Kim BasingerTurned down the role of Catherine Tramell in Paul Verhoeven's thriller Basic Instinct. If she hadn't, Sharon Stone might have never gotten her break
Sean Connery
Turned down the role of Gandalf in Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lord Of The Rings, due to him not "getting" fantasy. He cited the film's success as his reason to do his critically-panned final film, The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Sandra BullockLeft the role of Maggie Fitzgerald in Clint Eastwood's sports drama Million Dollar baby due to production delays. Replacing actress Hilary Swank won her second Oscar for the role, and Sandra Bullock starred in Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous. ”
Jeremy Irons
Jonathan Demme wanted him to play Hanibal Lecter in his celebrated adaptation of The Silence of The Lambs, but Jeremy Irons found the script to be too violent. The part instead became the defining role of Anthony Hopkins' career.
Warren Beatty
If Warren Beatty had accepted to play the part of Michael Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's gangster classic The Godfather, Al Pacino, whose first film role it became, might have never had a career in film.
Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts could have won her second Oscar if she hadn't turned down the part that eventually went to Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side, in order to do Valentine's Day. However, Roberts couldn't really say no to Valentine's Day director Garry Marshall, who gave her her big break in Pretty Woman, could she?
Tom Selleck
This actually isn't a case of an actor turning down a role, as Selleck was very interested, rather than one of an acotr not being allowed to play a part. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas both wanted Selleck to play Indiana Jones, but a deal couldn't be negotiated with Universal Studios, with whom Selleck had just signed to star in Magnum, P.I. Had Selleck been allowed to play the part, Harrison Ford, who George Lucas was reluctant to cast and who thus wouldn't have had another strong popular role following Star Wars, might just have gone the way of Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. As for Tom Selleck, he eventually starred in his own Indiana Jones-type film, the little-known, hard-to-find, but absolutely-worth-the-watch High Road To China. Interestingly the same situation came very close to happening with Michael J. Fox and his Back To The Future role, but a deal was eventually reached between studios
Halle Berry
Halle Berry turned down the role of bus driver Annie Porter opposite Keanu Reeves in the hit thriller Speed. The role went to Sandra Bullock and instantly cemented her status as one of America's most popular actresses. In the meantime, while Halle Berry did get fairly regular work, she had to wait another six years for her ball to really get rolling.
Edward NortonRelatively early on in his career, Norton turned down the titular role in Steven Spielberg's landmark war film Saving Private Ryan. The role eventually went to Matt Damon, an actor who back then had gotten noticed in more independent films and who was propelled into the big time thanks to this part,
Michael Madsen
Madsen and director Quentin Tarantino have collaborated numerous times. Twice strictly speaking, buth thrice if you count Kill Bill as 2 films and five times if you count Sin City and Hell Ride. As such it should come as no surprise that Tarantino had a role ready for Madsen in what remains his most famous film, Pulp Fiction. However Madsen was stuck with rehearsals for the western Wyatt Earp, and regularly expresses regret at not having played the part that was eventually renamed Vincent Vega, rewritten as a brother to Madsen's character Vic Vega from Reservoir Dogs, and given to John Travolta who, if Madsen had not been available, might never have enjoyed a much-needed carrer resurrection. ”
Jake Gyllenhaal
Hollywood experienced a Sam Worthington boom starting in 2009 with Terminator Salvation, Avatar and Clash Of The Titans, however the Australian actor may never have gotten his American dream if Jake Gyllenhaal hadn't turned down the Jake Sully role in Avatar.
Henry Winkler
Turned down the male lead in Grease, which famously went to John Travolta
Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks might be one of the most loved actors of this day and age but he could have added another feather to his cap had he not turned down the lead role in Field Of Dreams, now instead regarded as one of Kevin Costner's finest films.
