Actors turn down movie roles. Unknown accepts the role and becomes a star?!
Question: Any good examples? who turned what down and who got the part?
ps Elvis was offered the lead in West Side Story and turned it down as not being right for his image (Richard Beymer never did much after WSS). Elvis in that part? no thanks
Answers: Any good examples? who turned what down and who got the part?
ps Elvis was offered the lead in West Side Story and turned it down as not being right for his image (Richard Beymer never did much after WSS). Elvis in that part? no thanks
Just heard this one recently....the writers of "Every Which way but Loose" gave the script to Clint Eastwood, hoping he would talk his friend, Burt Reynolds, into taking the role.
Clint decided to do it himself, and it worked out quite well!
Guess Burt never got the chance to even look at the script!
Burt probably would have done a good enough job, but go Clint!!! Love him!
This may not really fit your question, since Clint is definitely not an unknown, but I found it interesting anyway.
Orlando Bloom didn't want to be in Pirates.....until he found out that Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush was in it!....now look at him!
lol ...OB again!
Merry Christmas x
It is well rumored that Sylvester Stallone turned down "Beverly Hills Cop" to make "Rhinestone" so the part obviously went to Eddie Murphy. He was already popular with SNL but I think it helped launch his movie career.
Also, another actor (Stuart Townsend?) was offered the role of Aragorn in "Lord of the Rings" but turned it down for some reason. I think it was definitely a boost to Viggo Mortensen's career.
Die Hard
i dont remember how long the list was, but Bruce wasnt first pick
he was a unknown small time tv actor at the time and got offered it.
suddendly he's a star.
George Raft turned down "High Sierra (1941)," "The Maltese Falcon (1941)," and "Casablanca (1942)." The roles all went to Humphrey Bogart, who had been in movies since the early 30's without making much impact. Bogart became a legend and Raft faded into obscurity.