Brad Pitt has played some unforgettable characters over the years, but his career could have taken some very different turns if he hadn’t said no to these roles.
And while as fans we might wonder “what if”, each decision pushed Pitt toward the roles that later made his career a successful one.
1. Jason Bourne in ‘The Bourne Identity’
Pitt was in the running to lead ‘The Bourne Identity‘, but he couldn’t make it work because he was already committed to Tony Scott’s Spy Game. Director Doug Liman was finalizing his list when Pitt’s schedule ruled him out.
But that opened the door for Matt Damon, who at the time was mostly known for emotional, character-driven roles like ‘Good Will Hunting‘. Over the years, Damon’s unique take on the role went on to set the standard for realistic spy thrillers.
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2. Jim Swigert in ‘Apollo 13’
Apollo 13 became popular for its cast, and if stars had aligned, we would have seen Pitt there as well. Ron Howard considered Pitt for the role of astronaut Jim Swigert in Apollo 13, but Pitt chose to take Se7en instead.
In a 1995 interview with The Morning Call, he stated that the decision was his own, and Se7en went on to become one of his most successful films. Kevin Bacon later stepped into the role Pitt passed on.
3. Big Daddy in ‘Kick Ass’
Matthew Vaughn wanted Pitt to play Big Daddy in Kick-Ass and hoped he would produce the movie as well. They had worked together on Snatch, and Vaughn wanted to reunite. But Pitt was deep into Inglourious Basterds and couldn’t take the role.
Eventually, Nicolas Cage stepped in and delivered one of the film’s most memorable performances. Vaughn later said Cage was probably the perfect fit anyway. However, Pitt still produced the movie behind the scenes.
4. Russell Hammond in ‘Almost Famous’
Pitt came very close to playing Russell Hammond, the charming guitarist in Almost Famous. He had known writer-director Cameron Crowe since auditioning for Say Anything, and he was deeply involved in developing the film.
Crowe later shared on the Origins podcast that Pitt told him he loved the idea of the character but didn’t feel enough of him existed on the page. Pitt also felt uneasy about the age gap between Russell and Kate Hudson’s Penny Lane. He stepped away and took Snatch instead.
5. Cable in ‘Deadpool 2’
Before Josh Brolin suited up as Cable, Pitt was one of the top choices. Even though Brad Pitt wanted this role from his heart, his schedule didn’t line up. In fact, Director David Leitch said they had an excellent meeting and that Pitt was clearly a fan of the character.
Leitch also said Pitt would’ve made an amazing Cable if timing had worked out. Even so, Pitt still appeared in the movie as the Vanisher, giving fans one of the funniest blink-and-you-miss-it cameos in the entire franchise.
6. Neo in ‘The Matrix’
Pitt revealed at the 2019 Santa Barbara International Film Festival that he once turned down the role of Neo. He told the crowd he never felt the part belonged to him and joked that he “took the red pill” when he passed.
Pitt’s decision cleared the path for Keanu Reeves, who turned Neo into a sci-fi icon. Pitt, meanwhile, jumped straight into Fight Club, which arrived only months after The Matrix and became a cult favorite of its own.
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7. Tommy Williams in ‘The Shawshank Redemption’
Pitt was briefly lined up to play Tommy Williams in The Shawshank Redemption. Even though the role was a small one, it was an important role in the whole story. His rising popularity would’ve brought a different kind of energy to the character.
But when Interview with the Vampire began filming in New Orleans, Pitt left Shawshank to join that film instead. Gil Bellows ended up taking the role. Years later, Pitt said he didn’t regret leaving, explaining that he felt the role belonged to someone else.
8. Tom Creo in ‘The Fountain’
Pitt originally signed on to star in Darren Aronofsky’s ambitious sci-fi drama The Fountain. But as the project dragged on, creative differences grew. Eventually, Pitt exited and chose to make Troy instead.
Aronofsky later said that the film had already spent $18 million in development before Pitt left. He said the studio wasn’t forcing another star on him; he and Pitt had simply drifted apart creatively. Hugh Jackman eventually took over, and it later gained a loyal fanbase.
9. Stephen Collins in ‘State of Play’
Pitt spent more than a year attached to State of Play as Congressman Stephen Collins. But just before filming began, he walked away because he didn’t agree with the final version of the script and the changes Universal made.
Instead, he focused on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which earned him an Oscar nomination. Ben Affleck took over the role Pitt left behind, starring alongside Russell Crowe.
10. Will Freeman in ‘About a Boy’
Pitt was considered for the lead role of Will Freeman in About a Boy, based on Nick Hornby’s novel. The character is selfish and immature, often using single mothers for attention. The story didn’t appeal much to Pitt.
He turned it down, and the part went to Hugh Grant, whose awkward, lovable style fit perfectly. Pitt chose to film The Mexican instead, which let him experiment with a quirky, genre-blending story.
