Hollywood Stars Who Turned Down Iconic Roles In Blockbuster Movies
Matt Damon: Jack Sully in ‘Avatar’
Matt Damon once admitted that one of his biggest “what ifs” was turning down Avatar. James Cameron offered him the lead role of Jake Sully back in 2007, with the sweetener of 10 percent of the film’s gross. Damon passed, and the part went to Sam Worthington instead. When Avatar became the highest-grossing movie ever, that decision cost him around $200 million. Damon has laughed it off over the years, saying his kids are still eating just fine, but he’s also admitted the tough part was missing out on the chance to work with Cameron.
Al Pacino: Han Solo in ‘Star Wars’
Al Pacino was already on his way to becoming a legend after The Godfather, but he could have taken a very different route in 1977. George Lucas offered him the role of Han Solo in Star Wars, a part that eventually went to Harrison Ford and changed his career forever. Pacino passed, saying later that he didn’t really understand the script. That same year, he also turned down the lead in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which went to Richard Dreyfuss.
Jodie Foster: Princess Leia in 'Star Wars'
Jodie Foster could have gone from Taxi Driver straight into a galaxy far, far away. After her breakthrough in 1976, the teenage actress was offered the role of Princess Leia in Star Wars. As she later shared on The Tonight Show, she couldn’t take it because she was already tied to another Disney project at the time. That scheduling clash opened the door for Carrie Fisher, who stepped in and became forever linked with the role of Leia Organa.
Brad Pitt: Jack Swigert in ‘Apollo 13’
Brad Pitt was already a rising star in the ’90s with roles in Thelma & Louise and Legends of the Fall, but he made a big call when he passed on Apollo 13. He was offered a role in the space drama but chose to do Se7en instead. The decision paid off in its own way; Se7en became a gritty cult classic and even won the MTV Movie Award for Best Movie, beating Apollo 13 that same year.
Jack Nicholson: Michael Corleone In 'The Godfather'
It’s hard to picture anyone but Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in The Godfather, but Jack Nicholson was actually offered the role first. At the time, Nicholson was already a rising star, but he decided to pass on the part. Years later, he explained that he felt “Italians should play Italians,” and turned it down out of respect. The role then went to Pacino, whose performance became one of the most iconic in film history.
Madonna: Trinity in ‘The Matrix’
Madonna once revealed that she was actually offered the role of Trinity in The Matrix and turned it down. Hard to believe, right? In a 2021 interview with Jimmy Fallon, the pop legend admitted it’s one of the very few decisions she genuinely regrets. The role ultimately went to Carrie-Anne Moss, who delivered a career-defining performance and became forever linked to the iconic cyberpunk film. Madonna, meanwhile, admitted she kicks herself for saying no: “That’s, like, one of the best movies ever made.”
Leonardo DiCaprio: Dirk Diggler in ‘Boogie Nights’
Imagine Leonardo DiCaprio as Dirk Diggler; it almost came to pass. Back in the mid-’90s, DiCaprio was fresh off Romeo + Juliet and had a choice that could’ve changed Hollywood history. He met with Paul Thomas Anderson about starring in Boogie Nights, but ultimately passed because Anderson was still a relatively unknown filmmaker at the time. Instead, Leo chose Titanic. Mark Wahlberg swooped in, and Boogie Nights became his breakout moment. Years later, DiCaprio admitted that he loved the film and sometimes wonders what might have been.
Gwyneth Paltrow: Rollergirl In ‘Boogie Nights’
Before Heather Graham roller-skated her way into cult movie history, the role of Rollergirl in Boogie Nights was actually offered to Gwyneth Paltrow. At the time, Paltrow was still carving her path in Hollywood and admitted years later that she turned it down out of concern for her family. In an interview, she revealed she worried the explicit role, which required nudity and simulated sex scenes, would “kill” her conservative grandfather.
Sean Connery: James Bond in ‘Live and Let Die’
Sean Connery may have defined James Bond for a generation, but even he wasn’t willing to keep wearing the tux forever. After seven outings as 007, Connery stepped away and passed on Live and Let Die in 1973. That opened the door for Roger Moore, who gave the role his own cheeky spin and went on to become a fan favourite.
Mel Gibson: Terminator in ‘The Terminator’
Mel Gibson had plenty of big roles in the ’80s, but he almost added another one to his list. Before Arnold Schwarzenegger became the face of The Terminator, the role was first offered to Gibson. He passed, and Schwarzenegger turned it into one of the most famous action characters ever. Gibson’s career didn’t slow down, though.
Christina Applegate: Elle Woods in ‘Legally Blonde’
Christina Applegate could have been the one bending and snapping on screen, but she turned down the chance to play Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. At the time, Applegate worried the role felt too close to her Married… with Children character and didn’t want to repeat herself. She later admitted it was a decision she regretted, calling it a “stupid move,” but also gave credit to Reese Witherspoon for making the role iconic.
Michael Keaton: Phil Connors in ‘Groundhog Day’
Michael Keaton was first offered the lead in Groundhog Day before Bill Murray made it famous. Keaton read the script in the early ’90s but admitted later that he just “didn’t get it.” He thought the weatherman character felt too much like parts he had already played and decided to pass. The role then went to Murray, who turned the film into one of the most beloved comedies of all time. Looking back, Keaton has said Murray was perfect for it and that no one could have done it better.
Josh Hartnett: Batman in ‘Batman Begins’
Josh Hartnett has admitted that turning down Batman Begins was one of the biggest missteps of his career. Christopher Nolan had wanted him for the role of Batman, but Hartnett let fear guide his decision. He worried about being typecast and thought playing such a huge character might limit him as an actor. The part eventually went to Christian Bale, who not only made it his own but also became Nolan’s go-to leading man.
Michelle Pfeiffer: Clarice Starling in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’
Michelle Pfeiffer was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the early ’90s, and she had plenty of big offers on the table. One of them was Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs. Director Jonathan Demme, who had worked with her on Married to the Mob, wanted her for the role, but Pfeiffer turned it down. She later explained that the story felt too dark for her, especially the way evil seemed to win in the end. The part went to Jodie Foster, who won an Oscar and created one of the most famous characters in film history.
Bill Murray: Donald “Boon” Schoenstein in ‘Animal House’
Bill Murray’s rise from Saturday Night Live to movie stardom is packed with classics, but it almost included Animal House. He was originally chosen to play Donald “Boon” Schoenstein in the 1978 comedy, but had to pass because of a prior commitment. The role went to Peter Riegert, while Murray went on to land Caddyshack and Ghostbusters, films that cemented him as one of comedy’s biggest names.
Rock Hudson: Judah Ben-Hur in ‘Ben Hur’
Rock Hudson was one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars in the ’50s and ’60s, charming audiences in hits like Pillow Talk, Come September, and Send Me No Flowers. But when it came to Ben Hur in 1959, he missed out on what could have been the defining role of his career. Hudson had signed on to play the lead, but contract talks fell apart, and the part went to Charlton Heston.
Halle Berry: Annie in ‘Speed’
Halle Berry once admitted that she passed on the role of Speed, the same part that ultimately made Sandra Bullock a star. While promoting John Wick: Chapter 3 in 2019, Berry shared that she was originally offered the part of Annie but turned it down after reading a script where the bus never even left the parking lot. The film, of course, became a huge hit with Keanu Reeves behind the wheel and Bullock in the breakout role. Berry later joked that she regretted saying no once she saw how it all played out on screen.
Bruce Willis: Sam Wheat in ‘Ghost’
Bruce Willis could have starred in one of the biggest romances of the ’90s, but he passed on Ghost. At the time, he and Demi Moore were together and both received the script. Moore said yes, while Willis just didn’t see the appeal. He later admitted he didn’t understand how a love story could work when one of the leads was dead. The role of Sam Wheat went to Patrick Swayze, and the film became the highest-grossing movie of 1990, winning Oscars and eventually becoming a classic.
Eddie Murphy: Detective Eddie Valiant in ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’
Back in the ’80s, Eddie Murphy was offered the role of Detective Eddie Valiant in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, but he decided to pass. At the time, he didn’t believe a movie mixing cartoons and live action would work. Big mistake — the film went on to become a massive hit, and Murphy later admitted he regretted saying no. The role went to Bob Hoskins, who nailed it and helped make the movie a classic.
Tom Hanks: Jerry Maguire in 'Jerry Maguire'
Tom Hanks was riding high in the ’90s with back-to-back Oscar wins for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump when Cameron Crowe came to him with Jerry Maguire. The role of the struggling sports agent was his for the taking, but Hanks decided to pass. Looking back, he admitted the part ultimately found the right home, saying it couldn’t have been anyone but Tom Cruise.
Jean-Claude Van Damme: The Predator in 'Predator'
Jean-Claude Van Damme was originally meant to be the Predator in the 1987 sci-fi classic, but things didn’t quite work out. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he even filmed some scenes in the first version of the alien’s insect-like suit. Van Damme, however, wasn’t thrilled about the idea of being completely hidden under heavy makeup and costume, especially when he was trying to showcase his martial arts skills in Hollywood.
John Travolta: Forrest Gump in 'Forrest Gump'
John Travolta once had the chance to play Forrest Gump, but he turned it down, and he’s never looked back. In an interview with MTV News, Travolta admitted that he was offered the role but didn’t regret passing on it, especially after seeing how perfectly Tom Hanks brought the character to life. Hanks went on to win an Oscar, and Forrest Gump itself took home Best Picture.
Burt Reynolds: James Bond in 'Live And Let Die'
Burt Reynolds once came close to ordering his martinis shaken, not stirred. After Sean Connery stepped away from the James Bond role, Reynolds was approached to take over as 007 in Live and Let Die. But he turned it down, thinking audiences wouldn’t accept an American playing the suave British spy. Years later, he admitted he regretted the choice, calling it a “stupid thing to say” and insisting he could have done it and done it well.
John Lithgow: Seth Brundle In 'The Fly'
John Lithgow was first offered the role of Seth Brundle in David Cronenberg’s The Fly, but he decided to pass. Years later, he explained to IndieWire that he didn’t want to take on something “so grotesque.” The part eventually went to Jeff Goldblum, whose performance as a scientist slowly transforming into a human-fly hybrid became one of his most iconic roles.
Christopher Lee: Dr. Loomis In 'Halloween'
Christopher Lee was already a legend in horror thanks to his turns as Dracula and in The Wicker Man, but he nearly added Halloween to his resume, too. He was offered the role of Dr. Sam Loomis, the psychiatrist who becomes Michael Myers’s greatest foe. Lee turned it down, a decision he later admitted he regretted. The part went to Donald Pleasence, who brought just the right mix of authority and dread to the character, making him an essential part of the film’s legacy.
