Wow we wrote that at the exact same time hahaJohn Travolta was offered the part of Forrest Gump, but took Pulp Fiction role instead.
Spielberg wanted the shark to be the star, so he was very much against casting big names. The studio wanted Charlton Heston to play Brody, but he was too big of a name for the role in Spielberg’s mind. Heston actually took that really personally and refused to work with Spielberg in any capacity after that.That's really interesting.
I think either Lee Marvin or McQueen would have been great as Quint but Shaw was great too.
I could actually see Redford and Newman as they worked so well together in the 70s but it could have made it too much of a "buddy" film? Still, such a great movie as is.
I think Denzel actually turned down the Brad Pitt’s role. And he’s said it’s one of his biggest regrets in his careerMichelle Pfiffer turned down Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs because it was too violent.
Sean Connery passed on Gandalf
Drew Berrymore was originally cast as Sidney in Scream but thought she should play the first iconic victim because she was a big name and killing her off would be huge.
Will Smith turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix
Marilyn Monroe turned down the role of Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's
Tom Hanks turned down the title role of Jerry McGuire to do That Thing You Do
Leo DiCaprio turned down Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights
Denzel turned down the role that ultimately went to Morgan Freeman in Se7en.
Josh Hartnett turned down the role of Batman in Nolan's Batman Begins (big mistake and he knows it)
EDIT: I totally read this thread wrong haha sorry
He did turn down the Mills character, you’re right. Would have been a huge mistake to cast him alongside Freeman in that role, IMO. Pitt played that part with a perfect cocky naïveté that I’m not sure Denzel could have pulled off, and that was the character “flaw” that created the amazing payoff.I think Denzel actually turned down the Brad Pitt’s role. And he’s said it’s one of his biggest regrets in his career
Tom Hanks turned down the title role of Jerry McGuire to do That Thing You Do
Chis Farley as Shrek
Pretty sure I heard if Smith turned down the Genie role in the Disney Aladin remake, the person they had lined up to do it was.... Jack freaking Black. I hate those remakes I'm forced to watch because of my kids but sign me up for some Jack Black.Will Smith was offered the role of Neo in the matrix
This sent me down a rabbit hole. Steven Spielberg apparently was the first to get the movie rights for Shrek in 1991, and he envisioned Bill Murray as Shrek and Steve Martin as Donkey.
DreamWorks was considering Nicholas Cage as Shrek, but he turned it down because he didn’t want to play a giant green ogre. “Maybe I should have done it, looking back” he said in 2013.
Janeane Garofalo was originally cast as Princess Fiona, but was replaced by Cameron Diaz.
Jack Nicholson as Michael Corleone???? Whoa. Glad that didn’t happen.I love Jack Nicholson, but I couldn't imagine him playing Michael Corleone in The Godfather instead of Al Pacino. He was offered the role and turned it down.
Apparently Henry Winkler was offered the role of Danny Zuko in Grease and turned it down. That would've been pretty weird.
The Fonz could have pulled it off. We are just so used to John killing it we fail to remember the Fonz during that time period of being a cool Mofo. We just know nerdy grown up WinklerI love Jack Nicholson, but I couldn't imagine him playing Michael Corleone in The Godfather instead of Al Pacino. He was offered the role and turned it down.
Apparently Henry Winkler was offered the role of Danny Zuko in Grease and turned it down. That would've been pretty weird.
I loved the Fonz, which was a role Winkler loosely tested out in the movie The Lords of Flatbush. Winkler was definitely at the heights of Fonzie popularity at the time Grease was filming, so it makes sense that they offered him. My biggest struggle is picturing him doing all of the singing (can he sing?), and the fact that he would've been around 32 years old playing a HS student at the time of filming, lol.The Fonz could have pulled it off. We are just so used to John killing it we fail to remember the Fonz during that time period of being a cool Mofo. We just know nerdy grown up Winkler
Boy, do I have news for you about the rest of the cast of Grease.I loved the Fonz, which was a role Winkler loosely tested out in the movie The Lords of Flatbush. Winkler was definitely at the heights of Fonzie popularity at the time Grease was filming, so it makes sense that they offered him. My biggest struggle is picturing him doing all of the singing (can he sing?), and the fact that he would've been around 32 years old playing a HS student at the time of filming, lol.
They didn't care about age when casting that movie. Stockard Channing was 33, ONJ was 29, and Michael Tucci was 29. So I don't think his age would have mattered. Not sure about him singing but I think he used to do Broadway also. The songs were not really that difficult either. I think he could have pulled it off. It ended up right with Travolta though. He did it perfect.I loved the Fonz, which was a role Winkler loosely tested out in the movie The Lords of Flatbush. Winkler was definitely at the heights of Fonzie popularity at the time Grease was filming, so it makes sense that they offered him. My biggest struggle is picturing him doing all of the singing (can he sing?), and the fact that he would've been around 32 years old playing a HS student at the time of filming, lol.
I knew Stockard Channing was really old for the role but not some of those others. ONJ did not look nearly 30 IMO.They didn't care about age when casting that movie. Stockard Channing was 33, ONJ was 29, and Michael Tucci was 29. So I don't think his age would have mattered. Not sure about him singing but I think he used to do Broadway also. The songs were not really that difficult either. I think he could have pulled it off. It ended up right with Travolta though. He did it perfect.