A Great Friday In Fact

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

 

Not a whole lot to blab about this time around… but I stumbled upon an interesting “article” on the web about some of the great hindsight of cinema history. Basically, these are some instances were an actor passed on a movie role for whatever reason… and in hindsight, it might have been a mistake. Here are some of the more interesting ones that I didn’t know about… and I’ve broken them down into categories:

 

Just fun to think of…

 

• Jim Carrey apparently passed on the role of Tim Burton’s “Edward Scissorhands” and it went to Johnny Depp. Now, I agree with you… Mr. Carrey would have brought a completely different kind of chops to the role… but here’s the fun thing to think about… would Jim, Tim & Helena Bonham Carter done a dozen movies together in the past twenty years if he hadn’t declined?
• Kim Basinger passed on the role of Paul Verhoeven’s classic “Basic Instinct” and the role went to Sharon Stone. Yes… she passed on showing half the world her… mmm… just think about that for a second… aaaand I’m done.
• Al Pacino was offered the role of Han Solo in “Star Wars” but wasn’t interested in a science-fiction flick, which at the time made perfectly good sense. I mean… the guy just did the Godfathers. However… just imagine some of the timeless one-liners of Han Solo… but with Al Pacino flair. “You’re all clear, kid. Now let’s blow this thing & go home” or “Great, kid. Don’t get cocky!” I’ve got plenty more… but you kind of need the whole impression.
• Will Smith passed on “The Matrix”… I know… shocker. Trust me, Will Smith has passed on every role in Hollywood that he hasn’t taken… and even took some he probably shouldn’t have been asked to (“Wild Wild West”?). Apparently he thought the story was too complicated & over the top to score big at the box office. Now we can thank the Fresh Prince for the Resurgence of Keanu. Hmm… I wonder who passed on “Independence Day” to give Mr. Smith his breakout role?
• Sean Connery passed on being Gandolf in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. It’s worth it just to think of him & his Scottish brogue saying “YOU SHALL NOT PAAASSSSS!!!” in all his James Bond badassery.

 

Could have been interesting…

 

• Bruce Willis passed on the lead in “Ghost” that Patrick Swayze played. I think Bruce did okay though… because he was banging Demi Moore in real life.
• Now, this one I knew about from a documentary… but Michelle Pfeiffer & Jeremy Irons turned down (like half of Hollywood did) the lead roles in “Silence of the Lambs” before the studio basically settled on Jodie Foster & Anthony Hopkins. Pfeiffer & Irons would’ve probably been great… but definitely different. Wanna see Jeremy Irons as really creepy? “Dead Ringers” Check it out!
• Jack Nicholson passed on the role of Michael Corleone in “The Godfather” and I love the quote as to why he did… allegedly it was something along the lines of “Indians should play the Indians” so Al Pacino’s career took off with that movie instead. Oh I know, Jack was already a star… just saying, at least he spread the wealth.

 

Oh, thank God!!!

• Mel Gibson was offered the role of “Batman” by Tim Burton. Now… I’m not saying that he could’ve done it… or that I totally expected Mr. Mom (Michael Keaton) to pull it off in all honesty… but Riggs as Batman?
• Tom Selleck was originally going to be “Indiana Jones” but apparently it fell through… and Harrison Ford was once again the winner of this George Lucas hit. Again, not saying he could’ve done it… but Harrison Ford… come on…
• Reese Witherspoon thankfully passed on “Scream” so Neve Campbell was filmed in something besides “Wild Things” and $teve & the Mad Scientist lived happily ever after. Quick question: Reese Witherspoon & Renee Zellweger… what exactly is appealing about them? Please comment.
• John Travolta passed on “Forrest Gump” and mind you… this was BEFORE his resurgence with “Pulp Fiction” in the early 90’s. Could you imagine? (shiver) Ugh… I don’t even want to… that’s a classic.

 

And they were never heard from again…

• Do you know who Dougray Scott is? He was the bad guy on “Mission: Impossible 2” a few years back. Yeah, the really really bad one. Well, he was originally offered the role of Wolverine in the “X-Men” movies… but had already committed to MI2… so it went to another Australian guy named Hugh Jackman. Have you heard of him? He was in… your mom’s dreams last night… and a few other movies. Dougray is… well, he was in “Death Race 3” apparently… you all watched that, right?
• Henry Winkler aka “The Fonz” was offered the lead in “Grease” that John Travolta took. Now, maybe the Fonz can’t sing… and that’s cool… but he’s basically had cameo roles since then in movies like “Scream” & “The Waterboy”
• Molly Ringwald turned down the role of the hooker with a heart of gold in “Pretty Woman” and… frankly, who could’ve seen that movie making a sh*t ton of money & getting an Academy Award nomination? Nobody! Repeat: NOBODY!!! Anyway, Julia Roberts took that role has turned down about as many as Will Smith since then… but at least has a steady career (for some reason). Molly… well, she… sigh… poor Molly…

 

Anyway, that’ll do it for today. Just thought I’d share a little bit of alternative universe shenanigans with you… still thinking about Al Pacino as Han Solo… and it kinda sounds like Tony Montana with an occasional “HOOAH!!!” Have a great day everybody!!!