Here Are 9 Actors Who Would Be Way, Way, WAY Richer If They Hadn’t Turned Down These Iconic Movie Roles
Context:
Hollywood's landscape could have been vastly different if certain actors had accepted roles they were offered. Sean Connery turned down the role of Gandalf in 'The Lord of the Rings,' missing out on a potential $450 million payday, while Will Smith passed on the role of Neo in 'The Matrix,' which became a massive franchise. Brad Pitt also declined the role of Neo, believing it wasn't meant for him, and Matt Damon regretted turning down 'Avatar,' which could have earned him $250 million. Meanwhile, Dougray Scott was unable to play Wolverine due to filming conflicts, paving the way for Hugh Jackman's iconic portrayal.
Dive Deeper:
Sean Connery was offered the role of Gandalf in 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, with a deal that included 15% of the franchise's box office gross, which could have netted him $450 million, but he declined because he didn't understand the material.
Will Smith was offered the lead role of Neo in 'The Matrix,' but turned it down due to uncertainty about the film's pitch, opting instead to star in 'Wild Wild West,' one of his career's biggest flops, while 'The Matrix' went on to gross over $460 million.
Brad Pitt also turned down the role of Neo in 'The Matrix,' stating he believed it was not meant for him, demonstrating a philosophy that roles belong to those who ultimately play them.
Matt Damon passed on a role in James Cameron's 'Avatar,' which included a 10% share of the box office, potentially earning him $250 million, because he was committed to filming a 'Bourne' movie at the time.
Dougray Scott was initially selected to play Wolverine in the 2000 'X-Men' movie, but was forced to decline due to scheduling conflicts with 'Mission: Impossible,' allowing Hugh Jackman to take on the iconic role.
Toshiro Mifune was approached to play Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original 'Star Wars,' but declined over concerns that the film would cheapen the samurai image, missing out on being part of a legendary franchise.
Tom Selleck was initially cast as Indiana Jones but had to turn it down due to his commitments to 'Magnum, P.I.,' leaving the role open for Harrison Ford, who went on to become synonymous with the character.