MORE ACTORS WHO PASSED ON ICONIC ROLES

TOM SELLECK

The Role: Indiana Jones

Tom Selleck didn’t exactly turn down the role. He was very

interested in playing the role. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas

both picked Selleck for the role but a deal couldn’t be reached with

Universal Studios whom Selleck was set to do another film with.

The role eventually went to Harrison Ford (whom George Lucas was initially

reluctant to cast) and gave him another major role after Star Wars.

The franchise has a total worldwide earning amounting to $1,978,055,564.

DOUGRAY SCOTT

The Role: Wolverine

Although Hugh Jackman is now exclusively associated with

Wolverine, the role was initially meant to be portrayed by another actor,

Dougray Scott. Scott was handpicked by Tom Cruise to play the villain

in Mission Impossible. The 2nd instalment of MI overran filming of X-Men

by two months and Scott was forced to drop out of production which cost

him a major Wolverine franchise.

JACK NICHOLSON

The Role: Michael Carleone

When Jack Nicholson was approached to play Michael Corleone, he

knew that The Godfather would be a great movie. However, at that time,

he felt that “Indians should play characters written for Indians”. In the

same thread, Nicholson felt that the role of Corleone should be played by

an Italian so he passed up on playing the iconic role. Michael Corleone,

played by Al Pacino, was cited by the American Film Institute as the 11th

most iconic villain in film history.

JOHN TRAVOLTA

The Role: Forrest Gump

John Travolta passed up on playing Forrest Gump…huge mistake.

In 1994, the film became the highest grossing movie in North America.

Tom Hanks was acclaimed for his portrayal of the role, giving him an award

for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role at the Oscars.

Travolta has since admitted to regretting the decision he made.

SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR

The Role: Cher Horowitz

Sarah Michelle Gellar turned down the opportunity to star in the

1995 sleeper hit, Clueless. The character, Cher Horowitz, the rich spoiled

yet sweet girl became so endearing to fans that it brought the then-unknown

Alicia Silverstone worldwide recognition.

BETTE MIDLER

The Role: Deloris Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence

The producers of Sister Act agreed that Bette Midler was best suited for

the role. Later on, Midler declined to play the role expressing concerns

about her fans not wanting her to play the role of a nun. The part was

eventually given to Whoopi Goldberg. The film was widely successful,

spawning one sequel and a Broadway musical.

REESE WITHERSPOON

The Role: Sidney Prescott

Thinking that it was just another B-Horror movie, Reese Witherspoon

refused to audition for the role of Sidney Prescott in Wes Craven’s

critically acclaimed slasher film Scream. The role was played by

Neve Campbell instead.

JAKE GYLLENHAAL

The Role: Jake Sully

Had Jake Gyllenhaal proceeded to play the role of Jake Sully in

James Cameron’s Avatar he would now be holding the honour of

starring in the highest grossing film of all time. For those who are

none the wiser, Avatar has a reported box office gross earning

amounting to $2,782,275,172. Whew!