11 Characters No One Wanted To Play That Later Became Iconic
However, many actors sometimes regret their decisions not to take the roles they were offered because the movies turned out to become iconic. Now we can say that if the movies weren't wrong, these actors would be wrong. Looking at the success of the characters they declined, some actors wish they could go back in time to undo their decisions.
Today, we have compiled a list of 11 big stars who turned down certain roles that later became iconic. Let’s scroll down and check them out!
#1 Paul Sheldon (Misery, 1990)
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Surprisingly, the offer for the role first belongs to a bunch of stars like Warren Beatty, Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Richard Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, Mel Gibson, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, William Hurt (twice), Kevin Kline, Al Pacino, Robert Redford, Denzel Washington, and Bruce Willis. All of them turned it down and as a fun fact, years later, Willis actually played this role in a Broadway play.
#2 Green Goblin (Spider-Man, 2002)
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But director Sam Raimi met Defoe several times and was sure the actor would be a last puzzle for the movie.
#3 Hannibal Lectеr (The Silence of the Lambs, 1991)
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But Anthony Hopkins didn’t hesitate to grasp his opportunity and played Lecter so well, that brought him an Oscar for it. Hopkins achieved a lot of other awards and nominations for his brilliant acting, and Hannibal Lecter was named the greatest villain in American cinema.
#4 General Zod (Man of Steel, 2013)
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#5 Edward Lewis (Pretty Woman, 1990)
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#6 Captain John Miller (Saving Private Ryan, 1998)
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#7 God (Bruce Almighty, 2003)
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#8 Walter White (Breaking Bad, 2008-2013)
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But the producers ignored the idea, and they offered the role to both actors John Cusack and Matthew Broderick. But the studio bosses finally agreed to cast Cranston in the role of Walter White as the two actors turned down the offer.
#9 Stuart “Stu” Shepard (Phone Booth, 2002)
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Still, this role was also offered to Mark Wahlberg, Nicolas Cage, Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson, and Jim Carrey. Only that Carrey agreed at first but later declined.
#10 Alonzo Harris (Training Day, 2001)
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Initially, the role of Alonzo was offered to Bruce Willis, Gary Sinise, and Tom Sizemore, but they all passed.
#11 Maximus (Gladiator, 2000)
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The film might be not that successful if Maximus had been portrayed by a different actor. It could have been Antonio Banderas, Hugh Jackman, or Mel Gibson, who said no because he thought he was too old for the part - he was a bit over 40 at the time.