Actors who turned down big roles

Will Smith turned down the chance to play Neo in The Matrix and instead went on to make Wild Wild West.

Quote :

“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."

Matt Damon turned down the chance to play Jake in Avatar and Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight due to scheduling conflicts.

Jach Nicholson turned down the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather.

Quote :

"I knew 'The Godfather' was going to be a great film, but at that time I believed Indians should play roles written for Indians and Italians should do the same."

Johnny Depp turned down the chance to play Ferris in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Leonardo DiCaprio declined to play Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights.

Quote :

'Boogie Nights' is a movie I loved and I wish I would’ve done...I’m a huge fan of [director] Paul Thomas Anderson, but the first time I met him for that role I hadn’t really seen much of his previous work. Now I love that movie."

Molly Ringwald turned down both Ghost and Pretty Woman.

Kevin Costner opted to turn down the opportunity to play Andy Dufresesne in The Shawshank Redemption so could make Waterworld.

Emily Blunt sadly had to turn down the chance to play The Black Widow in Iron Man 2 due to scheduling conflicts.

Sir Sean Connery turned down the roles of Gandalf in Lord Of The Rings and Morpheus in The Matrix.

And of course famously Tom Selleck was almost Indianna Jones but scheduling conflicts with Magnum P.I stopped that.

As much as I love Sir Sean I just can't imagine anyone else playing the role of Gandalf, Sir Ian Mackellen is Gandalf !

Could not picture Costner playing Andy at all. Costner does not come off like somebody who would be a fish in prison. Tim Robbins does.

Quote :

In a recent interview with Total Film, we learn why: He doesn’t get it. Apparently, J.J. Abrams offered Wahlberg the role of Captain Kirk’s dad (a part that eventually went to Chris Hemsworth) in his first Star Trek movie, but Wahlberg turned it down. His reasoning: "I tried to read the script, but I couldn't understand the words or dialogue or anything, and I said, I couldn't do this."

AND YET HE UNDERSTOOD THE HAPPENING ????

Who was originally suppose to play Han Solo? Can't remember, I just remember it wasn't Harrison Ford.

http://www.toptenz.net/10-actors-who-passed-on-movie-roles.php

Al Pacino turned down the role of Han Solo, so did Burt Reynolds.

Will Smith is really trying to make a career out of turning down roles.

Quote :

“Django wasn’t the lead, so it was like, I need to be the lead. The other character was the lead!”

Smith went on to add that he raised his concerns with Tarantino. “I was like, ‘No, Quentin, please, I need to kill the bad guy!’”

Despite not wanting to star in the film, Smith called the finished film, “Brilliant… Just not for me.”

Will Smith sucks. The more good movies he's kept away from the better

bobbitt15 wrote:

Will Smith sucks. The more good movies he's kept away from the better

I thought he did very well in Pursuit of Happiness, iRobot and Ali.

OU wrote:

bobbitt15 wrote:

Will Smith sucks. The more good movies he's kept away from the better

I thought he did very well in Pursuit of Happiness, iRobot and Ali.

I think I would know if Will Smith was IN me.

Seriously though he just came across as a selfish prick in that quote. Love or hate Tom Cruise at least he's willing to take risks as an actor with Collateral and Magnolia, Smith on the other hand has played it safe ever since Six Degrees Of Separation. I mean look at his future schedule Bad Boys 3, Hancock 2 and I, Robot 2 smh.

Ali* wrote:

Seriously though he just came across as a selfish prick in that quote. Love or hate Tom Cruise at least he's willing to take risks as an actor with Collateral and Magnolia, Smith on the other hand has played it safe ever since Six Degrees Of Separation. I mean look at his future schedule Bad Boys 3, Hancock 2 and I, Robot 2 smh.

WTF they are doing sequels to all of those? I really liked iRobot, no reason to make a new one. Hancock was OK, better then I thought it would be.

OU wrote:

Ali* wrote:

Seriously though he just came across as a selfish prick in that quote. Love or hate Tom Cruise at least he's willing to take risks as an actor with Collateral and Magnolia, Smith on the other hand has played it safe ever since Six Degrees Of Separation. I mean look at his future schedule Bad Boys 3, Hancock 2 and I, Robot 2 smh.

WTF they are going sequels to all of those? I really liked iRobot, no reason to make a new one. Hancock was OK, better then I thought it would be.

$$$$$$$

bobbitt15 wrote:

Will Smith sucks. The more good movies he's kept away from the better

He was one if my favorite growing up. Fresh prince, Indy day, mib, all classics.

Adam Sandler too.

I can't remember the last good movie I've seen either in. Funny People I guess.

some ego Will Smith has..but i wouldnt expect anything less. Will Smith's conceit has always been part of his charm.

"you trying to flex on me..don't be silly..gettin jiggy wit it"

You gotta respect an overly cocky black guy that white people absolutely adore. It must be the clean rap...

There was this kid on my street who adored Will Smith the rapper, he knew all the words to Will's songs.

Ali* wrote:

There was this kid on my street who adored Will Smith the rapper, he knew all the words to Will's songs.

Was his name Ali?

Ludo wrote:

Ali* wrote:

There was this kid on my street who adored Will Smith the rapper, he knew all the words to Will's songs.

Was his name Ali?

I bet his last name was MacDonald.