10 Weird Reasons Actors Turned Down Major Roles

People turn down a job for many different reasons. Maybe the offered salary is not worth the tasks being asked, or a better proposal appears before they accept this job. This can happen to anyone, including Hollywood actors. Sometimes roles are offered to some of the biggest actors but they end up refusing for one reason. Some dislike the roles or are not eager for the plot of the film while some have conflicting schedules. Those reasons sound pretty valid and fair. However, are all reasonable?
In reality, many actors rejected movie roles for bizarre reasons and some of them regretted doing so later when the movie became a hit. Did you know that if Liam Neeson agreed to play James Bond, his fiancée would not marry him? Believe it or not, it is true.
Here are actors who passed on hit movies for surprising reasons.

#1 Bruce Willis passed on “Ghost”

Source: Buena Vista Pictures / Paramount Pictures

Bruce Willis admitted that he really regretted when he missed playing the lead character Sam Wheat in “Ghost”. He didn’t believe the concept of a romantic relationship between a ghost and a person could work well.

#2 Russell Crowe passed on “X-Men”

Source: DreamWorks Pictures / 20th Century Fox

In an Australian radio show, Russell Crowe explained why he turned down the role of Wolverine in “X-Men”. His character in “Maximus” was associated with wolf imagery and the actor felt redundant if he took on this role.

#3 Jack Nicholson passed on “The Godfather”

Source: Columbia Pictures / Paramount Pictures

“The Godfather” is considered the best movie of all time. Many might not know that at first the leading role in the movie was Pacino, but Jack Nicholson. The actor ended up turning down the role because he felt that he couldn’t be an Italian person.

#4 Eddie Murphy passed on “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”

Source: Paramount Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Eddie Murphy rejected the chance to appear in the live-action “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, which featured Bob Hoskins as private detective Eddie Valiant. He wasn’t sure it would work to have real actors alongside the animation. For him, it was nonsense but now he felt like an idiot whenever he saw it.

#5 Liam Neeson passed on “James Bond”

Source: John Russo

Liam Neeson revealed that he refused to play James Bond on the big screen because of his wife, Natasha Richardson. The actress was not on board with the idea so she didn’t want her husband to star in the movie. Natasha Richardson said to him that if he portrayed James Bond, she would not marry him. The ultimatum made Neeson not look further at the opportunity to portray the secret agent.

#6 Christina Applegate passed on “Legally Blonde”

Source: officialchristina_applegate

Christina Applegate got sent a script for “Legally Blonde” but rejected to play Elle Woods. The actress didn’t want to be typecast as a ditzy blonde. The role went to Reese Witherspoon and the character became iconic. Now, Christina Applegate sometimes talks to herself “What a stupid move that was, right?”.

#7 Henry Winkler passed on “Grease”

Source: wikipedia

Henry Winkler turned down the part of Danny because he thought it was too similar to The Fonz in the movie "Happy Days". The character that made him a megastar.

#8 AI Pacino passed on “Star Wars”

Source: fandom

Pacino could play Han Solo, but the actor didn’t get the script at the time. He shared that he didn’t understand the inner workings of Lucas’ cosmic universe. The creatures, the costumes, and the characters’ names were so strange.

#9 Gwyneth Paltrow passed on “Titanic”

Source: gwynethpaltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow didn’t reveal the reason she turned down the role in “Titanic” because her mother said it was “not ladylike”. She couldn’t change the past.

#10 Nicolas Cage passed on “The Wrestler”

Source: nicolascagefans

Nicolas Cage turned down over a dozen roles, including Randy "The Ram" Robinson in “The Wrestler”. He said that he couldn’t have enough time to achieve the look of the wrestler who was on steroids.