12 Movie Stars Who Turned Down Iconic Roles And Later Regretted It

Will Smith could've been Neo? Holy smokes, can you even imagine how that could have changed the course of his career and Keanu's?

Damjan

• Published in Film & TV
• March 8, 2022

Our lives reflect the choices we’ve made. Famous actors became famous because they chose their roles wisely.

Every one of them had a role that made their career and made them famous. But they had to choose.

Actors turn down roles for all sorts of reasons. There are so many interesting scripts, and they can’t work on all of them at the same time.

That’s why they have to choose. But sometimes, they decline roles because they don’t like the script or don’t understand the part.

Whatever the reason may be, they almost always regret it later, when the movie proves to be a hit, or wins a couple of Oscars. Even famous actors make bad choices when it comes to parts.

Did you know that Al Pacino could've played Han Solo? Or that Sean Connery could've been Gandalf from the Lord Of The Rings?

How different those movies would have been if these actors brought their energy into them? Would it have made them better or worse?

Well, some bad choices were definitely made, and they didn't play those iconic roles. Do you wish to find out what other famous actors made some bad choices?

We've compiled a list of 12 actors who turned down roles in some classic films:

1. Sean Connery could've been Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings

Connery claimed he didn't understand the script and was uninterested in Tolkien's work. He was offered $10 million for each film in the trilogy, as well as 15% of the box receipts for all three films, but he declined.

2. Tom Cruise could've been Edward in Edward Scissorhands

Because filmmaker Tim Burton refused to give the picture a happy ending, Tom Cruise turned down the part of Edward Scissorhands.

3. Will Smith could've been Neo in The Matrix

Because of his roles in prior films such as "Men in Black" and "Independence Day," Will Smith was picked to play Neo. However, the actor said that he didn't grasp the plot of the film and that he didn't think he was smart enough to portray the part adequately.

4. Gwyneth Paltrow could've been Rose in Titanic

Gwyneth Paltrow was originally cast for the part of Rose by James Cameron, but she turned it down after reading the script because the picture looked too sentimental. In addition, she was working on other projects at the time that intrigued her more than "Titanic," giving Kate Winslet the opportunity to shine.

5. Matt Damon could've been Jake Sully in Avatar

Damon was approached about playing Jake Sully, but he had to turn down the opportunity due to other obligations. The actor claims that he is still furious about passing on the part.

6. Demi Moore could've been Kit in Pretty Woman

Demi Moore politely declined the role of Kit Deluca, Vivian's best friend, without explanation. Laura San Giacomo eventually proved to be the ideal choice for the part.

7. Michelle Pfeiffer turned down the role of Clarice in Silence of the Lambs

Because the director didn't like Jodie Foster's Boston accent, he cast Michelle Pfeiffer in the part of Clarice. However, due of the violence in the novel on which the film was based, the actress declined to be a part of it.

Foster went on to win an Oscar for Best Actress as a result of her work in this picture.

8. Al Pacino could've been Han Solo in Star Wars

Because he didn't understand the whole story based on the first story script, the actor refused to work on it. It was difficult for him to portray a starring character without knowing the plot.

However, he thought playing Han Solo was a smart choice. Many other actors turned down that role for the same reason.

9. Jack Nicholson could've been Michael Corleone in The Godfather

Nicholson was initially interested in playing Michael Corleone but ultimately turned down the role because he felt he was too old for the part and that it should be portrayed by an Italian actor.

10. John Travolta could've played Forrest Gump

The actor passed up the job of Forrest Gump in order to star in another legendary film in cinema history, Pulp Fiction. Both films had multiple Oscar nominations, but Tarantino took home only one for Best Original Script, while Forrest Gump took home six, including Best Actor for Tom Hanks.

Travolta later stated that he made a mistake by declining the part.

11. Mel Gibson could've played Maximus in Gladiator

Ridley Scott, the filmmaker, wanted Gibson to play Maximus, but Gibson declined because he thought he was too old for the part. Russell Crowe was eventually cast in the role, and his outstanding performance earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor.

12. Emily Browning could've played Bella in Twilight

Because she didn't want to commit to a trilogy at the time, Emily Browning refused to audition for the role of Bella. Stephenie Meyer, the book's author, thought Emily would make an excellent Bella. Meyer wasn't sure it was a smart idea when Kristen Stewart was cast in the role.

Which of these performers would you have preferred to see in the parts they were passed over for? Do you believe these films would have won or lost if they had been involved?

It is hard to say. But one thing is certain; they would have been completely different because every actor brings his own energy to the role.

Damjan