It seems that the histrion vagabond in our favourite movies are perfect for the part , but they ’re often not the director ’s first choice . Most celebs have turned down more office than they ’ve have , some with regrets but many with thanks to their lucky stars .
See the next Thomas Nelson Page to see the first star who turned down a memorable role .
1. Will Smith
Actor Will Smith started as the MC of the rosehip - hops duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince , winning the first ever Grammy in the Rap class in 1988 . Smith was nearing failure in 1990 when he was hired to asterisk in the sitcomThe Fresh Prince of Bel - Air , which became a immense success . His movies includeIndependence Day(1996),Men in Black(1997 ) , andAli(2001 ) . He was also offered the lead role inThe Matrix(1999 ) . Despite the film ’s phenomenal success , Smith afterwards said that he did n’t repent turning down the role because Keanu Reeves " was smart as a whip as Neo . " Smith also originally passed onMen in Black , but his wife win over him to reconsider .
2. Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow is one of those actors who seems to know which roles to take and which 1 to move around down . She ’s received praise for her use inEmma(1996 ) andThe Royal Tenenbaums(2001 ) , and she won a Best ActressOscarforShakespeare in Love(1998 ) . But she ’s turned down her bonny part , admit Rollergirl inBoogie Nights(1997 ) , which go to Heather Graham ; Emma Peel inThe Avengers(1998 ) , which went to Uma Thurman ; and Rachel inThe Ring(2002 ) , which went to Naomi Watts . Paltrow may have inherited her good eye for roles from her late father , cinema director Bruce Paltrow , and her female parent , actor Blythe Danner .
3. Sean Connery
A whizz with a vocation as long as Sean Connery ’s is bound to make both sound and spoiled decisions . The good ones include roles inIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade(1989),The Hunt for Red October(1990 ) , seven James Bond movies , and his Academy Award - get ahead function inThe Untouchables(1987 ) . But one questionable decision was turning down the 007 persona inLive and Let Die(1973 ) , which became a great life history move for his switch , Roger Moore . Connery by and by turned down the role of Gandalf in theLord of theRingstrilogy , which went to Ian McKellen , and the function of Morpheus inTheMatrixfilms , which went to Laurence Fishburne – two decisions that he later admitted regret .
4. Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson has had a smash hit career as an actor , star in both the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon series , and as a director , winning an Academy Award forBraveheart(1995 ) , in which he also starred . Gibson turned down the lead role inThe Terminator(1984 ) , which went to Arnold Schwarzenegger instead . Gibson was also offered the lead in the firstBatmanmovie ( 1989 ) ( which rifle to Michael Keaton ) , but he was already committed toLethal Weapon 2(1989 ) . later on , he turned down the part of scoundrel Two Face inBatman Forever(1995 ) , which went to Tommy Lee Jones .
5. Bill Murray
Bill Murray catch his starting onSaturday Night Live , which lead to juicy roles in clowning such asCaddyshack(1980 ) andGhostbusters(1984 ) , and subsequently to serious use in films such asLost in Translation(2003 ) , for which he received anOscarnomination . Murray was opt for the role of Donald " Boon " Schoenstein inAnimal House(1978 ) , but passed to abide by a old commitment . Murray probably made a sassy conclusion when he turned down the lead inBad Santa(2003 ) ( which went to Billy Bob Thornton ) because of a scheduling difference withLost in Translation .
6. Al Pacino
Al Pacino rise to fame playing Michael Corleone inThe Godfathermovies and has since star in many great movies , includingScarface(1983),Donnie Brasco(1997 ) , andScent of a Woman(1992 ) , for which he gain an Oscar . But can you guess Big Al as Han Solo inStar Wars(1977 ) , the role that started the career of Harrison Ford ? Pacino also turned down the lead role inClose Encounters of the Third Kind(1977 ) , which , instead , went to Richard Dreyfuss . But the actor Pacino has had the most close encounters with is Dustin Hoffman . Pacino turned down star role inMidnight Cowboy(1969),Marathon Man(1976 ) , andKramer vs. Kramer(1979 ) , all of which went to Hoffman .
7. Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroestarred in many majuscule movies in her short vocation , includingGentlemen opt Blondes(1953),How to tie a Millionaire(1953 ) , andThe Seven Year Itch(1955 ) . But the blonde thunderbolt pass on the lead inGoodbye Charlie(1964 ) , a comedy direct by Vincente Minnelli , in which a mobster go bad and gets reincarnated as a woman . Debbie Reynolds took the part rather . Monroe also refused a star role in the WesternHeller in Pink Tights(1960 ) because she believed the role was debile . Sophia Loren take the part , wearing a blonde wig .
8. Rock Hudson
Rock Hudson , a favorite conduce man of the fifties and 1960s , star in films such asCome September(1961),Send Me No Flowers(1964 ) , andPillowTalk(1959 ) , the first of several films with Doris Day . He signed on to play the spark advance inBen Hur(1959 ) , but when contract negotiations fall apart down , the part went to Charlton Heston , a move that would raise to be Hudson ’s only life history regret .
9. Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt has had hunky roles in many photographic film includingOcean ’s Eleven(2001),Legends of the Fall(1994 ) , andThelma & Louise(1991 ) . But he turned down a function inApollo 13(1995 ) to make the movieSe7en(1995 ) , which gain an MTV Movie Award for Best Movie , beating outApollo 13 . ButApollo 13received nine Academy Award nominating speech and come through two Oscars , leavingSe7enin the dust .
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
Helen Davies , Marjorie Dorfman , Mary Fons , Deborah Hawkins , Martin Hintz , Linnea Lundgren , David Priess , Julia Clark Robinson , Paul Seaburn , Heidi Stevens , and Steve Theunissen
