Movies

Shocking Hollywood Rejections: Stars Who Passed on Iconic Roles!

BBG News

Some of the most unforgettable roles in Hollywood history almost went to very different stars.

Numerous actors, such as John Travolta refusing the role of Forrest Gump and Al Pacino declining Star Wars, have turned down legendary film parts.

Recently, long-hidden techniques about movie and TV character casting have come to light, stunning devoted followers and causing them to ponder the possibilities that could have arisen had they been known earlier.

This week, a personal wish list for casting, penned by Quentin Tarantino for his movie “Pulp Fiction,” was shared online, showcasing the drastically diverse appearance the famous 1994 film might have had.

The list from All The Right Movies, posted on X, reveals the now-legendary director’s primary, secondary, and potential cast members for his all-star lineup.

One of the most impactful movies ever made, earning a staggering $213.9 million worldwide against a production cost of just $8 million, has rightfully earned its place among cinema’s greats.

However, what’s interesting is that the original cast for Pulp Fiction almost included a different group of prominent Hollywood stars.

In the film’s thrilling opening scene, it was Tim Roth who portrayed the character known as Pumpkin, who was part of the weapon-wielding duo.

However, it wasn’t just him; Tarantino also considered Johnny Depp as a possible candidate. Additionally, Christian Slater, Gary Oldman, and Nicolas Cage were also potential options for the role.

It’s said that the character of Honey Bunny was tailored just for Amanda Plummer, however, if she wasn’t available, Patricia Arquette and Lili Taylor were ready to step in as alternates.

Initially, the character of Vincent Vega was meant to be played by Michael Madsen, but it was ultimately John Travolta who stole the spotlight in the performance.

Travolta, according to the document, was listed as a ‘strong, strong, strong second choice’. 

Alec Baldwin, Michael Keaton and Gary Oldman were also considered.

It’s even more surprising that Travolta declined the role of Forrest Gump initially, choosing instead to star in Pulp Fiction.

That role, of course, went to Tom Hanks – who won an Oscar and cemented his place in movie history.

And he’s far from the only one to make a now potentially regrettable decision.

In an interview, Al Pacino declined the opportunity to play Han Solo in Star Wars, expressing that he found the script confusing.

2014 saw Al Pacino stating, according to Men’s Health, that his career had reached a point where numerous opportunities were presented to him.

In simpler terms, ‘I played a part in “The Godfather”. Whether I was suitable for the role or not, whether I had acting skills or not, it didn’t seem to matter to them.’

Harrison Ford got the role instead and the rest is history.

Initially, the role of Neo in The Matrix was offered to Will Smith, but he declined because the proposal didn’t seem clear to him back then.

He made Wild Wild West instead – and has openly admitted he regrets the choice.

Initially, it was nearly decided that Robin Williams would portray the chilling character of Jack Torrance in The Shining, but ultimately, Jack Nicholson assumed the role instead.

It’s said that Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon each declined the opportunity to play in Brokeback Mountain, a role that ultimately catapulted Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal to notable career milestones instead.

John Lithgow declined the opportunity to portray The Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman, ultimately persuading the director against casting him for the role.

1973 saw Burt Reynolds turning down the opportunity to play James Bond in “Live and Let Die,” expressing his belief that the audience might find it hard to accept an American as 007.

Christina Applegate declined the role of Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde,” later acknowledging that she didn’t want to be limited to similar characters.

Reese Witherspoon took on the role instead and became a global star.

In a potentially costly refusal, Sean Connery declined the part of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings trilogy as he found the script hard to comprehend.

He was reportedly offered $10million per film – plus 15 percent of the box office. 

The role would have earned him nearly $450million.

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2025-05-25 14:52

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