Some actors rejected movie roles and later regretted it because of how successful the movie turned out to be. Have you ever imagined a Halle Berry in the bus as “Annie” rather than Sandra Bullock in Speed or a Will Smith with the dark shades as “Neo” in The Matrix? No right.
In the world of cinema, the decision to accept or reject a movie role can have a profound impact on an actor’s career. While some actors have an impeccable knack for selecting successful projects, there are instances where they turn down roles that later become iconic and highly acclaimed.
For the sake of imagination and also to garner knowledge on what goes on behind the scenes of some of the iconic films present today, it pays to know actors who rejected movie roles and later regretted it.
10 actors who rejected movie roles and later regretted it
1. Will Smith – The Matrix
Will Smith joins the growing list of actors who rejected movie roles. In one of the most famous instances of role rejection, Will Smith passed on the opportunity to play “Neo” in The Matrix.
The role ultimately went to Keanu Reeves, and the film became a groundbreaking science fiction phenomenon, leaving Smith with a sense of regret.
In his own words, the King Richard star said that he would have messed things up for the movie.
Smith said: “If I had done it because I’m black, then Morpheus wouldn’t have been black because they were looking at Val Kilmer. So, I probably would have messed The Matrix up.
“I didn’t get it when I read it. It’s a hard movie to pitch. You know: ‘Everybody lives inside a computer. It was only when I saw it that I got it. They came in and made a pitch for The Matrix. As it turns out, they’re geniuses. But there’s a fine line in a pitch meeting between genius and what I experienced in the meeting.”
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2. Julia Roberts – The Blind Side
Julia Roberts passed on the role of “Leigh Anne Tuohy” in The Blind Side, a role that earned Sandra Bullock an Academy Award.
Roberts later expressed regret, recognising the impact the film had and the accolades Bullock received. An insider revealed that “Julia Roberts can’t help but feel upset that she had the chance to be in The Blind Side, and turned it down”.
Robert’s decision to decline the role that later earned Bullock an Oscar was not the only missed opportunity. In another instance, Robert’s refusal to reduce her salary led to her being replaced by Bullock again in The Proposal.
While Bullock agreed to the pay cut, she ended up becoming the highest-paid actress in Hollywood thanks to backend bonuses. In 2009 alone, Bullock earned a staggering $56 million, while Roberts’ earnings amounted to $20 million.
3. Emily Blunt – Black Widow
Emily Blunt turned down the role of Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a character that eventually became a fan favourite portrayed by Scarlett Johansson.
Blunt later stated that it breaks her heart every time, considering the fact that she passed on the role for a movie she did not want to do.
Blunt also acknowledged the significance of the character and the franchise’s immense success. The Devil Wears Prada star, who is one of the actors who rejected movie roles, said: “I actually do want to clean up the story.
“I was contracted to do ‘Gulliver’s Travels.’ I didn’t want to do ‘Gulliver’s Travels, a bit of heartbreaker.
“I take such pride in the decisions that I make, and they mean so much to me, the films that I do. I care very deeply, very, very much, about the choices I make. That’s all I have, the choices that I make.”
4. Jake Gyllenhaal – Avatar
Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the actors who rejected movie roles as he passed on the opportunity to play the lead role in James Cameron’s Avatar, which went on to become the highest-grossing film of all time. Gyllenhaal later admitted that he regretted not being a part of the groundbreaking project.
“When James and I discussed the project, I wasn’t ready.
“In this business, if you don’t listen to yourself, you’re going to meet serious trouble”, he said.
The Far From Home star further stated that at the time he felt the character in Prince of Persia appealed to him more than the role he was to play in Avatar.
But considering how well Avatar did, Gyllenhaal also revealed that he has learnt to choose his roles wisely.
“I think I learned a lot from that movie in that I spend a lot of time trying to be very thoughtful about the roles that I pick and why I’m picking them.
“And you’re bound to slip up and be like, ‘That wasn’t right for me,’ or ‘That didn’t fit perfectly.’ There have been several roles like that. And then several roles that do”, he said.
5. John Travolta – Forrest Gump
John Travolta was initially offered the role of “Forrest Gump” but declined, which cleared the way for Tom Hanks to deliver an Oscar-winning performance.
Many have stated that Travolta is one of the actors who rejected movie roles and regretted it. Although the Saturday Night Fever star rejected the role of “Forest Gump” for the role of “Vincent Vega” in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction.
“If I didn’t do something Tom Hanks did, then I did something else that was equally interesting or fun, […] But I feel good about some I gave up because other careers were created”, Travolta said.
6. Madonna – The Matrix
Released in 1999, The Matrix is a science-fiction action film that left an indelible mark on popular culture.
Written and directed by the Wachowskis, the movie proved to be a resounding success, earning a staggering $467.2 million at the box office against its $63 million budget.
The film’s popularity led to the creation of two equally successful sequels: The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, both released in 2003.
Interestingly, the role of “Trinity”, a key character in The Matrix, was initially offered to the iconic “Queen of Pop,” Madonna. However, she decided to turn down the role, deeming the script as one of the worst she had encountered.
In hindsight, Madonna regrets passing up the opportunity to be a part of such a groundbreaking film. She now praises The Matrix as one of the greatest movies ever made and carries the weight of her decision, having yet to forgive herself for declining the role. Today, Madonna is one of the actors who rejected movie roles and regretted it later.
“I turned down the role in The Matrix, can you believe that? I wanted to kill myself. That’s one of the best movies ever made.
“A teeny-tiny part of me regrets just that one moment in my life”, the Prayer singer said.
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7. Hugh Jackman – James Bond
Hugh Jackman, best known for his portrayal of “The Wolverine”, turned down the opportunity to play “James Bond”, a role that could have added another iconic character to his repertoire. This act made him one of the actors who rejected movie roles and later regretted it.
The X-men star said: “I had a look at it. I was like, ‘If I’m doing that and Wolverine, I’ll have no time to do anything else”.
Unlike other actors who rejected movie roles, Jackman regrets his actions but still hopes to play the legendary “James Bond” someday.
He said: “I will just wait. The thing about Daniel [Craig] is that he’s, what, 62 now, isn’t he? He’s falling apart at the seams.
“So I just keep telling him, ‘I’m ready, whenever you want to let him go’. The good thing is I also have a British passport.”
8. Gwyneth Paltrow – Titanic
Today, it seems absurd that someone would turn down the epic role of “Rose” in one of the most legendary love stories ever in the movie Titanic. But as absurd as it might seem, Shakespeare in Love actress Gwyneth Paltrow did turn down the role of “Rose” in Titanic.
Paltrow said: “I know that the story is that I turned it down. I think I was really in contention for it—I was one of the last two. I look back at the choices I’ve made and think, ‘Why the hell did I say yes to that? And no to that?’
And you know, you look at the big picture and think: There’s a universal lesson here. What good is it to hold on to roles?”
Considering how well Kate Winslet embodied and played the role of “Rose”, fans find it hard to imagine another female actress doing justice to the role as much as Winslet did.
9. Halle Berry – Speed
Sandra Bullock, who played the role of “Annie” in the iconic movie, Speed, was not the first actress that was approached for the role.
After the movie’s release, Halle Berry revealed that she was offered the role before Bullock, but she ‘stupidly’ turned it down.
Berry said: “I was offered Speed before Sandra Bullock, I stupidly said no. But in my defence, when I read the script the bus didn’t leave the parking lot.”
“I see the movie and I’m like, aarrgh.”
The 1994 movie became the highest-grossing film of that year, grossing $350.4 million on a $30–37 million budget. Some of the movie’s actors also bagged various awards for their roles.
Today, Berry makes the list of actors who rejected movie roles and regretted it.
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10. Eddie Murphy: Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Eddie Murphy has built a distinguished career, starring in several iconic franchises such as Beverly Hills Cop and Shrek.
However, there is one career decision he openly regrets—turning down the opportunity to be a part of the acclaimed film, Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).
This film, known for its innovative blend of live-action and animation, became a resounding success worldwide. It garnered critical acclaim for its captivating storyline and unique visual effects. With a budget of $70 million, Who Framed Roger Rabbit went on to gross an impressive $351.5 million at the box office.
The producers originally had Murphy in mind for the lead role but due to circumstances, the role went to Bob Hoskins. The film’s exceptional execution and groundbreaking techniques earned it three Academy Awards, recognising its remarkable visual and sound effects.
While Murphy has achieved remarkable success in his career, he openly admits his regret in passing on the opportunity to be a part of such an influential and successful film.
He said: “Yes because I did Beverly Hills Cop. It wasn’t like I turned it down, in as much as I wasn’t available because I did this other movie. The only movie that I have turned down that became a big hit was ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’…I was going to be the Bob Hoskins dude.
“I was like, what? Animation and people sound like bullshit to me. Now every time I see it, I feel like an idiot.”
