Here is an interesting list of actors who turned down starring roles in what became blockbuster mega-hits. It took every ounce of imagination I could muster to picture some of them. But it’s fun to imagine John Denver instead of Richard Gere. In a major movie.

Doris Day was the first choice to play Mrs. Robinson in the enormously popular “The Graduate.” Ann Bancroft played the part to perfection.

James Caan almost signed up to star in “Superman” but changed his mind when he saw “that silly Superman suit”. Christopher Reeves didn’t find it so silly.

Johnny Depp was signed to star in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” but backed out leaving Matthew Broderick in the right place at the right time.

Michelle Pfeiffer lost out twice; she was the director’s choice to star in “Basic Instinct” that showed what second choice Sharon Stone was made of. Next she backed out of the role of Vivian in “Pretty Woman” that made Julia Roberts happy.

Tom Selleck almost became Indiana Jones in the “Raiders Of the Lost Ark”. Harrison Ford was faster with a pen than Selleck and won the coveted role.

John Travolta as Forrest Gump? It almost happened and won replacement Tom Hanks an Oscar. Travolta to this date has never explained why he turned down the role. (Personally, I feel that the movie hit too close to home; Travolta had a mentally challenged child and perhaps the emotions generated were too much).

Here’s where you’ll need your imagination. Do you believe that John Denver was signed to play the lead in “An Officer and A Gentleman”? Try as I might, I can’t picture that. The film seemed custom made for Richard Gere.

Molly Ringwald is a two-time looser too. She also turned down the part if Vivian in “Pretty Woman” and, to add insult to injury, she also gave up the part of Molly in the mega-hit “Ghost” that then went to Demi Moore.

Keanu Reeves turned down Charley Sheen’s leading role in “Platoon”, a major career mis –step

Warren Beatty I think sets the record for bad movie decisions. He turned down leading roles in “Wall Street”, “The Sting” and “Misery”

Melanie Griffith turned down the role of “Thelma” in “Thelma and Louise.” Incidentally, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jodie Foster were originally cast as Thelma and Louise but had to drop out as pre-production dragged on.

Julia Roberts turned down the role of Mary Corleone in “Godfather III,” (it went to Diane Keaton), the role of Annie in “Sleepless in Seattle,”(played to perfection by Meg Ryan), the lead role of “Shakespeare in Love” (Gwyneth Paltrow) and the role of Lucy in “While You Were Sleeping.” (a hit for Sandra Bullock) She must still be kicking herself.

Tom Hanks turned down the role of Ray Kinsella in “Field of Dreams,” Andy Dufresne in “The Shawshank Redemption” and the lead role in “Jerry Maguire.” Every other role he touches turns to gold so these few questionable decisions did not affect his career.

Tom Hanks would have played Andy Dufresne well, but Tim Robbins (in my opinion) would have done far better than Hanks.

"Those guys are shooting at us...whoa!"

"I am an A-R-M-Y agent!"


hahah

Re: Indiana Jones. It is not true that Harrison Ford was "quicker with the pen". Harrison wasn't even asked to audition originally. The guys who DID audition were: Tim Matheson, John Shea, Peter Coyote and Tom Selleck. Out of those, the studio chose Tom, but he was contractually obligated to "Magnum PI" until after they would begin filming, so they couldn't have him. George Lucas initially didn't want Harrison Ford (as it might "appear" to look like he was his only "go to guy" since he was in all the Star Wars movies), but under pressure from Spielberg and one of the other producers, he acquiesced. Incidentally, Sean Young tried out for the part of Marion, but didn't make the cut and Debra Winger turned down the part altogether.