It is crazy to think how different these movies could have been. Al Pacino as Han Solo, Halle Berry in ‘Speed‘, or Madonna in ‘The Matrix‘ would have changed everything.
Some actors later regretted saying no, while others were totally fine with their choice. In the end, one star’s no became another star’s huge break. Which one surprised you the most?
1. Michael Keaton Did Not Understand ‘Groundhog Day’
Sometimes a future classic just does not click on the first read. Michael Keaton was approached to star in ‘Groundhog Day‘, but he turned it down because he “didn’t get it.”
Bill Murray took over, and even Keaton later admitted the movie found the right star. He told EW, “This guy sounds like the kind of wry, sardonic, glib young man I’ve played and it ended up being so great. But you can’t do it better than Bill Murray did it.” Hard to argue with him there. Murray’s performance became one of his most famous.
Related: Matt Damon Reveals Why He Walked Away From Harvard Just Two Weeks Before Finishing
2. Matt Damon Gave Up A $250 Million ‘Avatar’ Deal
Damon was originally tapped to star in ‘Avatar‘, and James Cameron reportedly offered him 10% of the movie’s profits. That deal could have earned Damon around $250 million.
He still said no, and Sam Worthington eventually took the role. More than a decade later, Damon admitted the decision still looks pretty painful in hindsight. He called it “the dumbest thing an actor ever did in the history of acting.”
3. Madonna Still Regrets Passing On ‘The Matrix‘
Yes, Madonna could have appeared in ‘The Matrix‘. The music superstar revealed that she was offered a role in the groundbreaking sci-fi movie but turned it down, and the decision still bothers her a little.
“Can you believe that? That’s like one of the best movies ever made,” she told Jimmy Fallon. “A teeny-tiny part of me regrets just that one moment in my life.” She never publicly revealed which role it was, though.
4. Kate McKinnon Left The Elizabeth Holmes Role In ‘The Dropout’
McKinnon was originally set to play Elizabeth Holmes in ‘The Dropout‘, but she left the series after being cast as Carole Baskin in Peacock’s limited series ‘Joe vs. Carole‘.
That opened the door for Amanda Seyfried, and she absolutely ran with it. Seyfried played the disgraced Theranos founder and earned huge praise for her performance. The role eventually brought her an Emmy Award.
In case you missed it: The Cult 1993 Action Movie Jackie Chan Rejected Before It Became A Classic
5. Jackie Chan Passed On ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’
Chan was offered the starring role in ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once‘, and directing duo The Daniels even traveled to China hoping to sign him. He passed.
The filmmakers then rewrote the role for Michelle Yeoh, who went on to win an Academy Award. Yeoh later shared Jackie’s funny reaction: “Jackie actually texted me,” she said.
6. Henry Winkler Rejected Danny Zuko In ‘Grease’
Winkler had the chance to play Danny Zuko in ‘Grease’, but he turned it down because he feared getting typecast after playing a similar cool-guy role on ‘Happy Days‘.
Years later, he had a very different view of the decision. “I am a damn fool,” he told CNN’s Chris Wallace. “And only realized years afterwards. I thought, I’ve played the Fonz, I don’t want to do it again.” John Travolta took the role instead, and ‘Grease‘ became a pop culture giant.
7. Halle Berry Said No To The Lead Role In ‘Speed’
Can you imagine ‘Speed‘ without Sandra Bullock? Halle Berry actually had the chance to take the role that later helped push Bullock into major stardom, but she turned it down after reading an earlier version of the script.
Berry later told ET, “I stupidly said no. But in my defence, when I read the script the bus didn’t leave the parking lot. I was like no, no, no, no.” To be fair, a movie called ‘Speed’ where the bus barely moves does sound like a tough sell. Bullock took the role, and the rest is history.
8. Amy Schumer Walked Away From ‘Barbie’
Amy Schumer was once attached to ‘Barbie‘ too. She eventually left the project because of “creative differences,” making her another major star who nearly entered Barbie Land.
“The studio definitely didn’t want to do it the way I wanted to do it. The only way I was interested in doing it,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “The idea that that’s just what every woman must want, right there, I should have gone, ‘You’ve got the wrong gal.’”
9. Cate Blanchett Dropped Out Of ‘Being The Ricardos’
Funny how one casting exit can completely change a movie. Cate Blanchett was originally expected to play Lucille Ball in ‘Being the Ricardos‘, but she dropped out, leaving Nicole Kidman to take the role.
Kidman went on to earn an Oscar nomination for her performance, and Blanchett had no hard feelings about how things turned out. “It became the movie it needed to be,” she said.
10. Al Pacino Turned Down Han Solo In ‘Star Wars’
Pacino was actually the first choice to play Han Solo in the ‘Star Wars‘ franchise, but he passed because he simply did not understand the script.
“It was at that time in my career where I was offered everything,” he told MTV. “I was in ‘The Godfather.’ They didn’t care if I was right or wrong for the role, if I could act or not act.” Harrison Ford eventually took the role and turned Han Solo into a movie icon.
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