10 actors who turned down successful roles in legendary films

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Can you imagine the dark-skinned Neo from The Matrix? Or Michael Carleone, played by a non-Italian? Would Leonardo DiCaprio fit into Star Wars? The films we are familiar with could have looked completely different from what we are used to seeing them, if at one time some of the actors had not abandoned the roles they were offered.

John Travolta as Forrest Gump ("Forrest Gump")

John Travolta had to choose between a role in Pulp Fiction and Forrest Gump. It is difficult to say why the actor decided to abandon the main role in favor of a secondary one, perhaps because the hero Vincent Vega seemed to him just closer. Either way, both roles were eventually nominated for an Oscar, but only Hanks got the gold statuette.

Hugh Jackman as Agent James Bond (Casino Royale)

Of course, the role of agent 007 would be successful, there is no doubt about it. But on the other hand, all the actors who previously played in this spy action movie will forever remain in the memory of the audience as "James Bond." Hugh Jackman chose a different look for himself and played the role of Wolverine in X-Men that year.

Sean Connery as Gandalf (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy)

Sean Connery was the main contender for the role of the wizard from The Lord of the Rings, but the actor turned down the role because he "didn't understand the script." Instead, Gandalf was played by Ian McKellen, who received two Oscar nominations for the role.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars)

Despite all the drama of the story of Anakin Skywalker, Leonardo DiCaprio, this role seemed somewhat flat and not serious enough. Perhaps the actor was thinking ahead and wanted to choose an exclusively potentially Oscar-winning character, but one way or another, he refused to participate in the filming of the movie "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones" and starred instead in "Gangs of New York."

Meg Ryan as Vivian (Pretty Woman)

In addition to Meg Ryan, Winona Ryder and Daryl Hannah also turned down the role of Vivian. None of them liked the idea that a prostitute could "get into the world," thanks to a rich man. Such a film was clearly fraught with dissatisfaction with the feminist movement, it is better not to risk it. But Julia Roberts decided that the risk was justified - and she was right.

Al Pacino as Han Solo (Star Wars)

Upon learning that he was being offered the role of some kind of intergalactic smuggler, Al Pacino did not even bother to read the script. And for Harrison Ford, who by that time was considered a failure actor (he even seriously gave up cinema for the sake of a carpenter's career), it was the road to fame. As a result, Harrison Ford became one of the highest paid film actors of the late 20th century.

Will Smith as Neo (The Matrix Trilogy)

Too tricky, too tricky - thought Will Smith and decided to give up his role in the movie "The Matrix" in favor of filming "Wild, Wild West". Later, the actor confessed in an interview that he regretted this refusal - the film came out really great.

Gwyneth Paltrow as Rose (Titanic)

Despite the fact that James Cameron really wanted Gwyneth Paltrow to play Rose, the actress found this role too melodramatic. At the same time, Kate Winslet literally begged to be included in this film - and in the end, this role earned her her first Oscar nomination.

Jack Nicholson as Michael Corleone (The Godfather)

Jack Nicholson quite deliberately refused this role, not even for a second doubting its success. The actor was sure that Michael Corleone should be played by a real Italian, so in the end the role went to Al Pacino, despite the fact that the bosses of the film studio considered him not tall enough for this character.

Russell Crowe as Wolverine (X-Men)

Not that Russell Crowe himself turned down the role of Wolverine, he just asked for so much money that the filmmakers preferred to give the performance of this character to a little-known Australian actor at that time - Hugh Jackman. For Hugh, it was a real winning ticket that gave him the green light to Hollywood stardom.

In one of our reviews you can find 20 celebrity childhood photos, including those mentioned in this article.