11 Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Roles For Mediocre Ones And Deeply Regretted It
All actors hope the films they star in will become popular, so the audience can remember their faces and names. Unfortunately, it's impossible to predict which movie will be successful and which may end up a disaster. That’s why many of them wish they could have a second chance after refusing an iconic character for a less impressive role.
Scroll down to know more about these stories, some of which may make you totally startled! These are the Actors who turned down iconic roles.
When talking about the actress Reese Witherspoon, the image of the blonde Ellen Woods will probably pop up in your mind. Surprisingly, the hit comedy Legally Blonde used to give the role of Ellen Woods to Christina Applegate.
Nonetheless, Applegate avoided the role due to the fear of being typecast after her performance in Married with Children. Therefore, she went to Just Visiting, a bland remake of a French movie.
You may find the name David Schwimmer unfamiliar, but you must know about his role as Ross on the incredible TV series Friends. Though the series seemed to open a bright future for the actor, he ruined his career with some unwise judgment.
He turned down the role of Agent J in Men in Black, which took Will Smith’s career to new heights. Ironically, Schwimmer participated in the romantic comedy Pallbearer and won a Razzi for Worst New Star.
Even a talented actor and filmmaker like Matt Damon may make bad decisions sometimes. For example, he chose Downsizing, which ended up flopping, instead of Manchester by the Sea. His role was then given to Casey Affleck, and Casey won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.
While Rush Hour is a big name you must hear of at least once, Holy Man may never come across your mind. The latter is probably one of the worst Movies in the career of Eddie Murphy.
By the time the actor was in a rut of lackluster movies, he had a chance to shine with the role of James Carter in Rush Hour. Unfortunately, he turned the offer down to go with Holy Man.
In hindsight, Brook Shields must feel terrible for following her mother’s advice. She was told to decline the role of Elvira in the legendary gangster film Scarface to go with the adventure film Sahara, and the result was horrible.
The role of Elvira went to Michele Pfeiffer and turned her into a famous star. By contrast, Shields became the first actress to come home with a Razzie for Worst Supporting Actor.
It would be ironic when the actor came to the audition with the hope to play the role of a good character and turned out to be an antagonist. It was exactly the case with Iwan Rheon.
The actor intended to star as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, but the film producers saw his potential as Ramsay Bolton, a manipulative and callous man. Though it was not Rheon’s wish, he agreed with that decision: “I think they made the right choice. It would’ve been a very different Jon Snow if I played him.”
Will Smith was renowned for multiple hits before 1999. so he was a potential actor for playing Neo in The Matrix.
Unfortunately, Smith was hesitant about the special effects used for the character, so he turned down the offer and went to Wild Wild West. His bad choice was proven with two Razzies: Worst Screen Couple and Worst Original Song.
Waterworld has been considered one of the greatest mistakes in the film industry so far. An enormous budget had been turned into a disaster, without a doubt.
With such a huge investment, Keven Costner must think he would go big with this movie, so he turned down the role of Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption. He ended up going home instead of going big in the case of Waterworld, whereas the film he declined became a legend.
Brad Pitt is not a strange name for Hollywood fans. He is known for some of the most popular films such as Se7en and 12 Monkeys. Little did you know that he might have starred as Jason Bourne in The Bourne Series, but he turned the offer down to be a CIA agent in Spy Game. Though Spy Game isn’t terrible, the actor’s career could’ve been brighter if he had been in the series.
The Silence of the Lambs, adapted from Thomas Harris's novel was a hit earning 7 nominations at the Academy Awards in 1995. The performance as Clarice Starling had given Jodie Foster the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role, which might be bittersweet for Michelle Pfeiffer.
Pfeiffer was offered the role of Clarice in the first place, but she turned it down due to the “dark” content of the movie.
All fans of the fantastic fiction series Harry Potter could never forget the impressive performance of the late Alan Rickman as Severus Snape. In fact, the film producer offered this role to Tim Burton at first. Tim Burton believed he could handle both the role in Harry Potter and Planet of the Apes, but he actually dedicated himself to the latter. Sadly, Planet of the Apes failed hard, in contrast to Harry Potter’s spectacular success.
Do you feel shocked after knowing these unbelievable facts? If you know of any other similar cases, please share them in the comment section below!
Scroll down to know more about these stories, some of which may make you totally startled! These are the Actors who turned down iconic roles.
#1 Christina Applegate – Just Visiting Over Legally Blonde
Source: Hollywood_Pictures
When talking about the actress Reese Witherspoon, the image of the blonde Ellen Woods will probably pop up in your mind. Surprisingly, the hit comedy Legally Blonde used to give the role of Ellen Woods to Christina Applegate.
Nonetheless, Applegate avoided the role due to the fear of being typecast after her performance in Married with Children. Therefore, she went to Just Visiting, a bland remake of a French movie.
#2 David Schwimmer – The Pallbearer Over Men In Black
Source: Miramax Films
You may find the name David Schwimmer unfamiliar, but you must know about his role as Ross on the incredible TV series Friends. Though the series seemed to open a bright future for the actor, he ruined his career with some unwise judgment.
He turned down the role of Agent J in Men in Black, which took Will Smith’s career to new heights. Ironically, Schwimmer participated in the romantic comedy Pallbearer and won a Razzi for Worst New Star.
#3 Matt Damon – Downsizing Over Manchester By The Sea
Source: Paramount Pictures
Even a talented actor and filmmaker like Matt Damon may make bad decisions sometimes. For example, he chose Downsizing, which ended up flopping, instead of Manchester by the Sea. His role was then given to Casey Affleck, and Casey won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.
#4 Eddie Murphy – Holy Man Over Rush Hour
Source: Touchstone Pictures
While Rush Hour is a big name you must hear of at least once, Holy Man may never come across your mind. The latter is probably one of the worst Movies in the career of Eddie Murphy.
By the time the actor was in a rut of lackluster movies, he had a chance to shine with the role of James Carter in Rush Hour. Unfortunately, he turned the offer down to go with Holy Man.
#5 Brooke Sheilds – Sahara Over Scarface
Source: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
In hindsight, Brook Shields must feel terrible for following her mother’s advice. She was told to decline the role of Elvira in the legendary gangster film Scarface to go with the adventure film Sahara, and the result was horrible.
The role of Elvira went to Michele Pfeiffer and turned her into a famous star. By contrast, Shields became the first actress to come home with a Razzie for Worst Supporting Actor.
#6 Iwan Rheon Played A Very Different Role In Game Of Thrones
Source: HBO
It would be ironic when the actor came to the audition with the hope to play the role of a good character and turned out to be an antagonist. It was exactly the case with Iwan Rheon.
The actor intended to star as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, but the film producers saw his potential as Ramsay Bolton, a manipulative and callous man. Though it was not Rheon’s wish, he agreed with that decision: “I think they made the right choice. It would’ve been a very different Jon Snow if I played him.”
#7 Will Smith – Wild Wild West Over The Matrix
Source: Warner Bros
Will Smith was renowned for multiple hits before 1999. so he was a potential actor for playing Neo in The Matrix.
Unfortunately, Smith was hesitant about the special effects used for the character, so he turned down the offer and went to Wild Wild West. His bad choice was proven with two Razzies: Worst Screen Couple and Worst Original Song.
#8 Kevin Costner – Waterworld Over Shawshank Redemption
Source: Universal Studios
Waterworld has been considered one of the greatest mistakes in the film industry so far. An enormous budget had been turned into a disaster, without a doubt.
With such a huge investment, Keven Costner must think he would go big with this movie, so he turned down the role of Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption. He ended up going home instead of going big in the case of Waterworld, whereas the film he declined became a legend.
#9 Brad Pitt – Spy Game Over The Bourne Series
Source: Universal Studios
Brad Pitt is not a strange name for Hollywood fans. He is known for some of the most popular films such as Se7en and 12 Monkeys. Little did you know that he might have starred as Jason Bourne in The Bourne Series, but he turned the offer down to be a CIA agent in Spy Game. Though Spy Game isn’t terrible, the actor’s career could’ve been brighter if he had been in the series.
#10 Michelle Pfeiffer: Coolio Music Video Over The Silence of the Lambs
Source: Rosa Productions
The Silence of the Lambs, adapted from Thomas Harris's novel was a hit earning 7 nominations at the Academy Awards in 1995. The performance as Clarice Starling had given Jodie Foster the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role, which might be bittersweet for Michelle Pfeiffer.
Pfeiffer was offered the role of Clarice in the first place, but she turned it down due to the “dark” content of the movie.
#11 Tim Roth – Planet Of The Apes Over Harry Potter
Source: 20th Century Fox
All fans of the fantastic fiction series Harry Potter could never forget the impressive performance of the late Alan Rickman as Severus Snape. In fact, the film producer offered this role to Tim Burton at first. Tim Burton believed he could handle both the role in Harry Potter and Planet of the Apes, but he actually dedicated himself to the latter. Sadly, Planet of the Apes failed hard, in contrast to Harry Potter’s spectacular success.
Do you feel shocked after knowing these unbelievable facts? If you know of any other similar cases, please share them in the comment section below!
Share this article
Advertisement