ACTORS WHO PASSED ON ICONIC ROLES

SEAN CONNERY

The Role: Gandalf

Citing that he $B!H(Bdidn$B!G(Bt get fantasy$B!I(B, Sean Connery passed up on

playing Gandalf in Peter Jackson$B!G(Bs adaptation of The Lord Of The Rings.

The role that was eventually given to Ian McKellen which earned the

actor an award (Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture) and an

Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Gandalf was

crowned the 28th greatest movie character of all time by

Empire Magazine.

DANA DELANY

The Role: Carrie Bradshaw

Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, is one of the

most popular female TV and movie characters of all time, at least in

the $B!H(Bchick flick$B!I(B genre. The role was originally offered to Dana Delany who

turned it down although she later claimed not to regret her decision.

MOLLY RINGWALD

The Role: Vivian Ward

Molly Ringwald was one of the most sought-after actresses in

Hollywood in the 80$B!l(Bs, thanks to the movies she started in like

Pretty In Pink and The Breakfast Club. However, the actress has been

plagued with obscurity ever since the 90s. Her fate might have turned

out differently had she accepted the role of Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman.

The movie was a massive commercial success earning $463,407,268 at

the box office. Julia Roberts who eventually played the character

received an Oscar nomination for the role and is now regarded as one

of the biggest movie stars in the world.

WILL SMITH

The Role: Neo

Will Smith was initially offered the role of Neo in The Matrix.

He turned it down on account of the concept being too complicated

and he didn$B!G(Bt see the film performing well at the box office.

Well, we all know how the movie fared.

HENRY WINKLER

The Role: Danny Zunko

Henry Winkler was approached to play Danny Zunko in the musical film

Grease. When he turned it down, John Travolta took on the role.

Grease earned $694,589,888 at the box office.

MICHELLE PFEIFFER

The Role: Clarice Sterling

Michelle Pfeiffer was offered the role of Clarice Sterling in Jonathan

Demme$B!G(Bs adaptation of The Silence Of The Lambs. She turned it down

because she found the movie to be too violent and disturbing.

Jodi Foster won the role and gave her a second Academy Award

for Best Actress.

AL PACINO

The Role: Han Solo

Al Pacino was offered the Role of Han Solo in Star Wars.

He said he wasn$B!G(Bt interested in playing the role. Harrison Ford took

over and the movie franchise went on to become one of the most

successful film series in history, establishing Ford$B!G(Bs superstar status.

KIM BASINGER

The Role: Catherine Tramell

Kim Basinger passed up on playing Catherine Tramell in Paul

Verhoeven$B!G(Bs thriller Basic Instinct. The role was subsequently

handed to Sharon Stone. The film became one of the highest grossing

films of 1992 earning $352,927,224 at box office. The role is highly

regarded as the one responsible for giving Sharon Stone her

much needed break.

JEREMY IRONS

The Role: Hannibal Lecter

Jeremy Irons was initially approached to play Hannibal Lecter in

Jonathan Demme$B!G(Bs adaptation of The Silence Of The Lambs.

Just like Michelle Pfeiffer when approached to play Clarice Sterling,

Irons cited the film$B!G(Bs violent content as his reason for turning down

the role. Anthony Hopkins took over the role which became one of the

most defining moments of the actor$B!G(Bs career.