10 Actors Who Passed on Movie Roles

[Blowfeld]

Sometimes we can’t imagine another actor or actress in the starring role of our favorite films. Believe it or not, many of the most famous and beloved roles in some of the biggest movies belonged to another actor before they had to drop out or pass on the role. Some of these missed opportunities seem like good ideas, while others will make you cringe. Camera, Lights, List!


10. Will Smith – Neo, The Matrix

Will Smith passed on the role of Neo as did Ewan McGregor. Will Smith said, “You know, The Matrix is a difficult concept to pitch. In the pitch, I just didn’t see it. I watched Keanu’s performance – and very rarely do I say this – but I would have messed it up. I would have absolutely messed up The Matrix. At that point I wasn’t smart enough as an actor to let the movie be. Whereas Keanu was smart enough to just let it be. Let the movie and the director tell the story, and don’t try and perform every moment.” Will Smith went on to star in I, Robot.

9. W.C. Fields – Wizard, The Wizard of Oz

The part of the Wizard was written for W.C. Fields and it seems that it was perfect role, a traveling con man. He turned down the role for the most famous of reasons…money. He was only offered $75,000 by MGM but he wanted $100,000. Other sources say he turned it down to write You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man. The role went to Frank Morgan.


8. Cary Grant – James Bond

The producers of the James Bond films originally approached Cary Grant about playing the role of Britain’s 007 agent. Cary declined the role because he didn’t want to be tied to a film series. The role went to Sean Connery starting with Dr. No in 1962. Fleming wasn’t entirely happy with the choice. “He’s not exactly what I had in mind,” said Fleming.

7. Bette Davis – Scarlett O’Hara, Gone with the Wind

Bette Davis turned down the role of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind. The role went to Vivien Leigh. Davis decided to pass on the role when she thought Errol Flynn would by playing the part of Rhett. She had refused to work with him earlier.

6. Sean Connery – Gandalf, Lord of the Ring Trilogy

Amazingly, Sean Connery turned down the role of Gandalf from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy. His reason for passing on the role was due to the length of time for filming – 18 months. Sir Ian McKellan won the role and everyone couldn’t be happier. Mr. Connery said he had never read Tolkein and when he read the script he referred to the hobbits as bobbits.

5. Daryl Hannah – Vivian, Pretty Woman

Daryl Hannah turned down the role of the hooker, Vivian, because she felt it was demeaning to women. Strangely, she later appeared in Dancing at the Blue Iguana in the role of a stripper. Even more unbelievable, Molly Ringwald also passed on the role of Vivian. Vivian’s role was soon nabbed by Julia Roberts.

4. Kevin Costner – Bill, Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2

Mr. Costner turned down the role of Bill in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Kill Bill: Vol. 2. He opted instead to direct Open Range in yet another poor career choice…cough, cough Water World.

3. John Cusack – John Bender, The Breakfast Club

I think John Cusack is one of the finest actors of my generation and I’m very disappointed that he didn’t get to be part of The Breakfast Club. Of course, he was a mainstay in the teenage angst movies of the 80s, so I’m happy. He was originally the actor chosen to play John Bender. Unfortunately he was unable to fit it into his schedule and Judd Nelson ended up in the role.

2. Bruce Willis – Sam Wheat, Ghost

Bruce Willis turned down the role of Sam Wheat in Ghost “because he didn’t think the plot would work and that playing a ghost would be detrimental to his career”. Ironically, he played a ghost in The Sixth Sense and he would have played opposite his now ex-wife, Demi Moore.

1. Al Pacino – Han Solo, Star Wars

Al Pacino, Nick Nolte and Christopher Walken were all considered for the role of Han Solo. Even harder to imagine, supposedly Burt Reynolds turned down the role. Harrison Ford took the part and the rest is box office history.

This story can be found at 10 Actors Who Passed on Movie Roles

[Kristatos]

I hope there isn't anyone left here who hasn't seen The Sixth Sense.

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

I hope there isn't anyone left here who hasn't seen The Sixth Sense.

The twist is that he is actually a Russian spy. (£100 for anyone who gets that gag).

[Omega]

10 for 10 those actors would have sucked in those movies. Will Smith at least has the honesty to admit it. Connery would have been painfully bad as Gandalf the gay.

[Kristatos]

10 for 10 those actors would have sucked in those movies. Will Smith at least has the honesty to admit it. Connery would have been painfully bad as Gandalf the gay.

Christopher Lee wanted the role of Gandalf, but had to settle for Saruman. Shame, it would have been interesting to see Lee play a "good" role. Casting him as the villain seems too...obvious.

Keanu as perfect for Neo. Like Ah-nuld in The Terminator, the role actually used his limitations as an actor and turned them into strengths. I still haven't forgiven him for his attempt at a British accent in Dracula, though. He makes Dick van Dyke look like the cast of Spinal Tap.

[007]

I hope there isn't anyone left here who hasn't seen The Sixth Sense.

The twist is that he is actually a Russian spy. (£100 for anyone who gets that gag).

I get that joke. Please private me and I'll tell you how to forward the £100.

[JackWade CIA]

10 for 10 those actors would have sucked in those movies. Will Smith at least has the honesty to admit it. Connery would have been painfully bad as Gandalf the gay.

Christopher Lee wanted the role of Gandalf, but had to settle for Saruman. Shame, it would have been interesting to see Lee play a "good" role. Casting him as the villain seems too...obvious.

Keanu as perfect for Neo. Like Ah-nuld in The Terminator, the role actually used his limitations as an actor and turned them into strengths. I still haven't forgiven him for his attempt at a British accent in Dracula, though. He makes Dick van Dyke look like the cast of Spinal Tap.

Some roles just do not work without the right actor. Dr No without Connery, Raiders of the Lost Ark without Ford, Terminator without Arnold, the actors made the story work and ultimately were the most memorable aspect of the movie later propelling the sequels.

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

I hope there isn't anyone left here who hasn't seen The Sixth Sense.

The twist is that he is actually a Russian spy. (£100 for anyone who gets that gag).

I get that joke. Please private me and I'll tell you how to forward the £100.

I've posted the money to you in 2p pieces.

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

10 for 10 those actors would have sucked in those movies. Will Smith at least has the honesty to admit it. Connery would have been painfully bad as Gandalf the gay.

Christopher Lee wanted the role of Gandalf, but had to settle for Saruman. Shame, it would have been interesting to see Lee play a "good" role. Casting him as the villain seems too...obvious.

Keanu as perfect for Neo. Like Ah-nuld in The Terminator, the role actually used his limitations as an actor and turned them into strengths. I still haven't forgiven him for his attempt at a British accent in Dracula, though. He makes Dick van Dyke look like the cast of Spinal Tap.

Some roles just do not work without the right actor. Dr No without Connery, Raiders of the Lost Ark without Ford, Terminator without Arnold, the actors made the story work and ultimately were the most memorable aspect of the movie later propelling the sequels.

Raiders, Dr. No and Terminator may have worked with other actors. But they are so psycologically linked with those iconic roles that any other actor in them is unimaginable.

Who would have played The Terminator in place of Arnie? An unknown?

[Kristatos]

Who would have played The Terminator in place of Arnie? An unknown?

Not sure. I know that Arnie auditioned for the Michael Biehn role originally, so maybe Biehn would have played the Terminator. Luckily, Cameron had the good sense to reverse the roles.

[JackWade CIA]

Raiders, Dr. No and Terminator may have worked with other actors. But they are so psycologically linked with those iconic roles that any other actor in them is unimaginable.

Who would have played The Terminator in place of Arnie? An unknown?

I am not so certain they would have. True about them being so eternally link to those actors now that it might be impossible to separate them in our minds.

For Dr No Ian Flmeing wanted Carry Grant, I can't imagine Dr No becoming the success it had with Connery if it were a Grant film.
Terminator without Arnold I'd think they would go with a Dolph Lundgren. O.J. Simpson & Lance Henriksen were considered by Cameron for the terminator, Cameron thought O.J. would be unbelievable as a remorseless killer Henriksen might have worked he was good as Bishop in Aliens but there was something about Arnold that made the Terminator believable as unstoppable killing machine. I don't think there could have been a sequel without Arnold's teminator.

[Jedi007]

I've read somewhere that O.J. Simpson was considered for the Terminator role, but Cameron don't want him because he looks like someone who cannot kill his wife. I don't know if that's a joke or not.

[stockslivevan]

I hope there isn't anyone left here who hasn't seen The Sixth Sense.

I haven't seen it. Heck I didn't even read the Bruce Willis bit.

Al Pacino as Han Solo? Hmm, that would be interesting, to be honest.

[Dr. No]

Wait the guy busting our chops for not watching Inglorious bas***ds hasn't seen the 6th sense?

[FormerBondFan]

I've read somewhere that O.J. Simpson was considered for the Terminator role, but Cameron don't want him because he looks like someone who cannot kill his wife. I don't know if that's a joke or not.

OJ looks more like the Terminator now.

[Kristatos]

I've read somewhere that O.J. Simpson was considered for the Terminator role, but Cameron don't want him because he looks like someone who cannot kill his wife. I don't know if that's a joke or not.

It sounds like the sort of thing that would pop up on Snopes with a red ball next to it.

[Dr. No]

everybody thought OJ was a sweet guywho couldn't hurt a fly until he was reviled as double murderer in the early 90s

[katied]

everybody thought OJ was a sweet guywho couldn't hurt a fly until he was reviled as double murderer in the early 90s

Let's not forget the armed robbery(though that was more recently and didn't involve killing anyone.. )

[Blowfeld]

Always fascinating to hear about actors who didn't take big well known roles. Bonds that almost were and such. Some of them I just can't picture in the role.

Sean Connery as Gandalf? I don't know if he had the energy for the physical aspects of it.

[katied]

I can see Seannery as Gandalf.


Some of those roles are iconic(like Han Solo) I have to admit I have to laugh at the idea of Al "Hoo ha!" Pacino playing Han Solo