Some roles in movies are too good to be turned down; however, in some cases, we have seen some of the most iconic roles rejected by top actors. When creating a new character, a specific actor is typically in mind to play the role, meaning that some characters are intended to be played by only certain people. But it has been known for actors to reject certain roles, so today, PlayStar, the home of NJ online slots, will be looking at five actors who turned down iconic movie roles.
Will Smith
Will Smith is one of the biggest faces in Hollywood, taking on some massive roles as well as being a part of some of the biggest productions in the industry. Not only does Smith have one of the most successful acting careers, but he also ventured into music at the start of his career, making his Fresh Prince character iconic.
Since the beginning of his career in the 1980s, Will Smith has picked up four Grammy awards as well as an Oscar for his appearance in King Richard. The role that Smith turned down, however, may be one he regrets. Will Smith was offered the role of Neo in The Matrix, but actually turned down the opportunity to feature in Wild Wild West. It is rumoured that he turned the role down as he did not understand the script and found the whole concept of the film strange, leaving Keanu Reeves to take on the role, helping to make the film a massive global success.
Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise is another industry giant who has featured in a wide variety of films that have become fan favourites around the world. Cruise has built a reputation for his daring roles in films, opting for more adventurous characters. Despite winning a whole host of Academy Awards, Cruise has never managed to pick up an Oscar, but what if he had accepted the role of Iron Man in the 2008 film? The character of Iron Man initially had Tom Cruise as the number one choice for the casting, but he didn’t end up taking the role. A whole host of issues came up for Cruise, with price being considered too high by Marvel, as well as booking availability and even issues with the creative aspects of the film. Robert Downey Jr was then cast in the 2008 film, helping to relaunch his career.
John Travolta
In the 1970s, an actor named John Travolta burst onto the scene, landing roles in some of the biggest films like Grease and on Broadway in Over Here! Travolta has become synonymous with big roles over his 50+ year career, still acting, going into his 70s. Despite all of the massive roles John Travolta has played, he may have missed out on potentially one of the biggest roles in his career. For the production of Forrest Gump, John Travolta was offered the lead role, one he turned down to take a place in Pulp Fiction. Unfortunately for Travolta, the role of Forest Gump was offered to Tom Hanks, who took on the role and made the film iconic, even picking up an Oscar for his performance. The film has become huge in the industry and is still appreciated to this day.
Eric Stoltz
Director and actor Eric Stoltz is a massive name in the film industry, being a key part in front and behind the camera on many productions. Stoltz has been active in the industry since the 80s, with his 40-year long career taking him into his 60s while he still lands roles on set. One of the biggest roles he almost starred in was in Back to the Future, as the lead role of Marty McFly. Stoltz had landed the role and began filming for five weeks, featuring in a variety of scenes; however, it was mutually decided that he was not a good fit for the role. His method of acting and serious tone were far too strong for the directors and the humorous tone they required for the film, leading to an agreement upon his dismissal. Michael J. Fox was then offered the role, which he accepted and played an iconic part. Scenes with Stoltz can still be seen, but Fox’s addition to the role changed how the character was perceived, possibly helping to alter the outcome of the film.
Dougray Scott
Dougray Scott has featured in plenty of high profile films, including Hitman and Taken 3, with plenty more recognizable roles throughout his 40-year career. His time in the Mission Impossible franchise is iconic, with some big scenes that will have him remembered for the role in years to come. However, being involved in Mission Impossible 2 resulted in the actor not landing a role as Wolverine in X Men. During the filming of the film, Scott injured himself, resulting in his not being able to be cast in the X Men film. Hugh Jackman was then offered the position after a recommendation from a fellow Australian, Russel Crowe. Since then, Jackman has played the role of Wolverine, becoming a huge part of the character’s global success.
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