11 Stars who turned down parts in films that went on to big box office success

Actors and actresses often have to make difficult decisions about which roles to take, and sometimes they turn down parts in films that end up being massive box office successes. In hindsight, these decisions may seem like missed opportunities, but at the time, the actors may have had valid reasons for passing on the roles. When it comes to making decisions, actors and actresses are no different from the rest of us. Sometimes they make the right call, and other times they miss out on a huge opportunity. Turning down a role in a film that goes on to be a massive box office success can be a real source of regret for actors, and can even affect their career trajectory. Here are some famous examples of actors and actresses who turned down parts in films that went on to become huge box office hits.

Will Smith in “The Matrix” – Will Smith was originally offered the role of Neo in the iconic sci-fi film “The Matrix,” but he turned it down to star in the film “Wild Wild West” instead. Keanu Reeves ultimately played the role of Neo, and “The Matrix” became a massive success, grossing over $463 million worldwide.
Julia Roberts in “The Blind Side” – Julia Roberts was offered the lead role in the sports drama “The Blind Side,” but she turned it down due to scheduling conflicts. The role ultimately went to Sandra Bullock, who won an Academy Award for her performance. “The Blind Side” grossed over $309 million worldwide.
Tom Selleck in “Indiana Jones” – Tom Selleck was originally offered the role of Indiana Jones in the iconic adventure film “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” but he turned it down due to his commitment to the TV show “Magnum, P.I.” The role ultimately went to Harrison Ford, and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” grossed over $389 million worldwide.
Gwyneth Paltrow in “Titanic” – Gwyneth Paltrow was offered the lead female role of Rose in the epic romance film “Titanic,” but she turned it down. The role ultimately went to Kate Winslet, and “Titanic” became one of the highest-grossing films of all time, earning over $2.1 billion worldwide.
Sean Connery in “The Lord of the Rings” – Sean Connery was offered the role of Gandalf in the “Lord of the Rings” film series, but he turned it down due to not understanding the script. The role ultimately went to Ian McKellen, and the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy became a massive success, grossing over $2.9 billion worldwide.
Michelle Pfeiffer in “Basic Instinct” – Michelle Pfeiffer was offered the lead female role in the erotic thriller “Basic Instinct,” but she turned it down due to the film’s explicit content. The role ultimately went to Sharon Stone, and “Basic Instinct” grossed over $352 million worldwide.
Bette Midler in “Sister Act” – Bette Midler was originally offered the lead role in the comedy film “Sister Act,” but she turned it down due to not wanting to play a nun. The role ultimately went to Whoopi Goldberg, and “Sister Act” became a massive success, grossing over $231 million worldwide
Matt Damon – Avatar. Matt Damon is one of the most recognizable actors in Hollywood, with an impressive list of blockbuster movies under his belt. But he was reportedly offered the lead role in Avatar, one of the highest-grossing films of all time, and turned it down. He later revealed that his reason for doing so was that he didn’t want to be away from his family for a long period of time.
Marilyn Monroe – Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Marilyn Monroe is a Hollywood icon, known for her sultry voice and glamorous style. However, she turned down the lead role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s as her agent advised her that playing a “prostitute” would be bad for her image, so she turned it down. The role eventually went to Audrey Hepburn and became a classic.
Brad Pitt – The Bourne Identity. Brad Pitt is one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood, but even he has to turn down roles from time to time. He reportedly turned down the lead role in The Bourne Identity as he was busy with other projects at the time. The role eventually went to Matt Damon and helped establish him as a major action star.
Christina Applegate – Legally Blonde. Christina Applegate is best known for her role as Kelly Bundy in Married… with Children, but she could have been the lead in Legally Blonde. However, she reportedly turned down the role as she was worried about being typecast as a ditzy blonde. The role eventually went to Reese Witherspoon, and the movie became a massive hit.

In conclusion, turning down a role in a film that ends up being a huge box office success can be a difficult decision for actors and actresses. While it may seem like a missed opportunity in hindsight, these actors and actresses may have had valid reasons for turning down the roles. Nonetheless, it’s fascinating to think about how different these films could have been if different actors had taken on these iconic roles.

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Sarah Meere

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