One of Tom Cruise‘s most famous movie roles almost belonged to Tom Hanks. Long before ‘Jerry Maguire‘ became a box-office hit and a career-defining success for Cruise, writer-director Cameron Crowe had written the lead character specifically for Hanks.
The actor even met with Crowe about the project before turning it down with a response that has since become a fascinating piece of Hollywood history.
Tom Hanks Was Cameron Crowe’s First Choice For ‘Jerry Maguire’
The 1996 movie ‘Jerry Maguire’ was Cameron Crowe’s sports romantic comedy-drama film following the titular sports agent on his journey through a crisis of conscience. Today, it’s impossible to imagine anyone other than Tom Cruise in the role, but Crowe revealed that he originally wrote the script for someone else.
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Speaking to NBC Sports, Crowe recalled, “It was originally written with Tom Hanks in mind.” And fortunately for Crowe, Hanks also seemed enthusiastic about the script.
Crowe remembered their memorable meeting. “Tom Hanks was so complimentary and so great and said, ‘I’d love to do this, but I’m doing ‘That Thing You Do!’, and I should be doing that instead of this movie. But good luck.’”
Despite missing out on his dream casting, Cameron Crowe was left genuinely impressed by Hanks’s warmth and professionalism. The role eventually went to Tom Cruise, who starred alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. in what would become one of the defining films of the decade.
Why Hanks Stepped Aside And Cruise Stepped In
The reason Tom Hanks had to decline ‘Jerry Maguire’ despite liking the work was simple. He was already committed to his passion project. At the time, he was preparing for ‘That Thing You Do!’, which marked his directorial debut. It only seems right that he stepped away to focus his energy on making this movie.
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Looking back, however, that one decision created one of Hollywood’s greatest “what if” scenarios. ‘That Thing You Do!’ earned its fair share of respect. Most importantly, it demonstrated Hanks’ talent behind the camera.
But ‘Jerry Maguire’ became a cultural phenomenon. It was a massive box-office success, earned multiple Academy Award nominations, and gave audiences several iconic moments that are still quoted today. The movie won Cuba Gooding Jr. an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, all thanks to his unforgettable performance.
But the biggest hit was undoubtedly Tom Cruise. He was already a rising star at the time, but Cruise used ‘Jerry Maguire’ to solidify his star status. The role allowed him to prove he was far more than just an action star. But we can also imagine what a version of ‘Jerry Maguire’ with Tom Hanks would have looked like.
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