Table of contents:
- 1. Sean Connery
- 2. Will Smith
- 3. Michelle Pfeiffer
- 4. Al Pacino
- 5. Kim Basinger
- 6. Jack Nicholson
- 7. John Travolta
- 8. Reese Witherspoon
- 9. Sandra Bullock
- 10. Mel Gibson
- 11. Kate Winslet
- 12. Julia Roberts
- 13. Bruce Willis
- 14. Sigourney Weaver
- 15. Jim Carrey
Video: 15 famous actors who gave up their iconic roles
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
The history of cinematography is replete with cases when actors found themselves "at arm's length" from roles that later became cult. But for one reason or another, they refused to shoot. However, who knows, they could have made these roles as bright and successful.
1. Sean Connery
Citing the fact that he "does not fantasize", Sean Connery refused to play Gandalf in the film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings by Peter Jackson. The role, which was ultimately cast to Ian McKellen, earned the actor a Best Supporting Actor in Cinema award from the Writers Guild of America and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
2. Will Smith
Will Smith was originally offered the role of Neo in The Matrix. He turned it down because the concept was too complex, and the actor did not believe that the film would perform well at the box office. Well, now everyone knows what a sensation the "Matrix" made.
3. Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer was offered the role of Clarice Starling in the Jonathan Demme adaptation of The Silence of the Lambs. She refused because she found the film too violent and disturbing. The role was cast on Jodie Foster, and she won her second Academy Award for Best Actress.
4. Al Pacino
Al Pacino was invited to play Han Solo in Star Wars, to which the actor replied that he was not at all interested in this role. Then Harrison Ford came to replace him, and it turned out that the franchise became one of the most successful fantasy epics in history, making Ford a superstar.
5. Kim Basinger
Kim Basinger turned down the role of Catherine Tramell in Paul Verhoeven's thriller Basic Instinct, and the role was given to Sharon Stone. The film became one of the highest grossing films in 1992, adding $ 352 million to the wallet and bringing worldwide fame (as well as 2 MTV Movie Awards) to the actress.
6. Jack Nicholson
When Jack Nicholson was asked to play Michael Corleone, he already knew The Godfather would be a great movie. However, he stated that "Indians should play characters written for Indians." Translated into "normal" language, Nicholson believed that the role of Corleone should be played by an Italian, and therefore missed the opportunity to "become the face" of a cult character. The American Film Institute has named Al Pacino's Michael Corleone as one of the most iconic villains in film history.
7. John Travolta
John Travolta refused to play Forrest Gump … and that was his huge mistake. In 1994, the film became the highest grossing film in North America. Tom Hanks won an Oscar for Best Actor (and the film won 6 Oscars in total). Travolta later admitted that he regretted his decision.
8. Reese Witherspoon
Believing it would be another second-rate horror movie, Reese Witherspoon turned down her audition for the role of Sydney Prescott in Wes Craven's Scream. Instead, Neve Campbell played the role.
9. Sandra Bullock
When the filming of "Million Dollar Baby" began with delays, Sandra Bullock packed her things and left. Unfortunately for her, the film was not only a commercial success, it also received widespread critical acclaim. And actress Hilary Swank, who was hired to replace Bullock, won her second Academy Award for Best Actress.
10. Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson was first offered the role of Bruce Wayne / Batman in the 1989 Tim Burton adaptation. Thinking that the film would fail, Gibson turned down the role. Like all Tim Burton films, "Batman" was criticized for being "too dark."But that did not stop the film from achieving a huge box office success of $ 411 million.
11. Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet was offered the role of Viola de Lesseps in the 1998 British romantic comedy-drama film Shakespeare in Love. If she agreed, she would have won the Oscar for Best Actress much earlier in her career (she only won it in 2009). In 98, Gwyneth Paltrow did it instead of Kate.
12. Julia Roberts
Today, outstanding roles are rare, and it is even more difficult to get an Oscar. Julia Roberts could have won her second Best Actress award if she'd accepted the role of Lee Ann Tuohy in the 2009 film The Blind Side. But Roberts turned down the role to star in Valentine's Day, a Harry Marshall film that gave her the iconic role of Vivian in Pretty Woman.
13. Bruce Willis
When Bruce Willis turned down the role of Sam Wheat in the 1990 romantic fantasy film Ghost, he missed out on the opportunity to co-star with his then-wife Demi Moore and star in the highest-grossing 1990 film. The film brought the creators $ 505 million.
14. Sigourney Weaver
When Sigourney Weaver turned down the role of Sarah Tobias in the 1988 film The Accused, Jodie Foster starred instead. This earned her the first of two Best Actress Oscars.
15. Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey turned down the role of Edward Scissorhands and it was eventually handed over to Johnny Depp. So began Depp's long-term collaboration with director Tim Burton, which played a major role in the actor's popularity.
Recommended:
Why 10 famous actors hate their iconic roles that viewers love
Actors are known to become famous for their talent and the roles they have played. A successful role in a successful film can raise an actor to the heights of fame, and therefore the images embodied on the screen in cult films are usually loved, and the memories of them are filled with warmth. Surprisingly, some artists literally hate their iconic roles
The most unexpected roles of famous actors who are used to seeing in completely different roles
The acting profession is to skillfully transform into different roles, which are sometimes radically different from each other. But, unfortunately, sometimes one image is attached to the artist, which accompanies him from film to film. Directors invite actors to exactly those roles that correspond to their usual roles
Unknown roles of famous actors: Who gave his voice to the heroes of Soviet cartoons, while remaining unrecognized
The filmography of these wonderful actors is known to everyone, but the audience knows much less about their participation in the creation of cartoons. Even the most venerable actors of Soviet cinema agreed to voice cartoon characters, and they took this occupation no less seriously than filming in feature films. And this despite the fact that they themselves remained behind the scenes, and their voices sometimes changed beyond recognition
10 emperors of Byzantium who gave up their lives ingeniously, but not on their own
The Byzantine Empire, which, however, considered itself simply Roman, existed for many hundreds of years. Its emperors usually passed away in one of four ways: from diseases caused by excesses, from poisoning, from the fact that their heads were cut off, or torn to pieces by the crowd. But there were exceptions - some died, let's say, in a more intricate way
6 famous male actors and their female roles that brought them fame and success
It is known that in ancient times only men took part in theatrical performances, who had to play both male and female roles. However, even today, some actors have the experience of reincarnation. After filming, celebrities admit that it was difficult for them to play women, but interesting. The audience is watching with interest the wonderful transformation, noting how bizarre the actors look in an unusual role for themselves