Million dollar mistakes by movie stars

[jesseu2]

5 million-dollar mistakes by movie stars

Sean Connery wasn't supposed to be James Bond. Keanu Reeves wasn't supposed to be "The One." So, who were the original choices?
"I would have absolutely messed up 'The Matrix,'" Will Smith told Wired about turning down the role of Neo.

"I would have absolutely messed up 'The Matrix,'" Will Smith told Wired about turning down the role of Neo.

Here are 5 actors and the legendary roles they turned down:

1. THE ROLE: James Bond in "Dr. No"

WHO LET IT GET AWAY: Cary Grant

Despite being Bond producer Albert Broccoli's best man, Grant said, "I don't" to the offer, and Sean Connery got the role instead.

Of course, many studio executives objected to the decision, and even Bond creator Ian Fleming said Connery "wasn't exactly what I had in mind."

REGRETTABILITY METER: Low

By the 1960s, Cary Grant already had a spectacular film career. If he'd accepted the role (as Broccoli later revealed), it would've been just a one-movie deal. Mental Floss: Name that 007 tune

2. THE ROLE: Neo in "The Matrix"

WHO LET IT GET AWAY: Will Smith turned it down to star in the forgettable action flick "Wild Wild West," and the part went to Reeves.

REGRETTABILITY METER: Low

In an interview with Wired, Smith said, "I would have absolutely messed up 'The Matrix.' At that point I wasn't smart enough as an actor to let the movie be -- whereas Keanu was."

3. THE ROLE: Vincent Vega in "Pulp Fiction"

WHO LET IT GET AWAY: Michael Madsen, who was stuck in lengthy rehearsals for "Wyatt Earp." John Travolta got the role instead and, almost overnight, transformed from a Hollywood has-been into one of the most bankable stars in the business.

REGRETTABILITY METER: High

Madsen called "Wyatt Earp" a "big waste of time."

Mental Floss: Kim Jong Il, the director he kidnapped, and the awful Godzilla film they made together

4. THE ROLE: Gandalf in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy

WHO LET IT GET AWAY: Sean Connery, who'd never read the J.R.R. Tolkien series and claimed he "didn't understand the script." (Can you say karma?)

REGRETTABILITY METER: High

In return for playing the role, New Line Cinema offered the Scottish actor up to 15 percent of worldwide box office receipts, which would have earned Connery more than any actor had ever been paid for a single role -- as much as $400 million.

5. THE ROLES: Sundance in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in "The French Connection," and Captain Benjamin Willard in "Apocalypse Now"

WHO LET THEM GET AWAY: Steve McQueen

REGRETTABILITY METER: Tragically high

McQueen turned down the role of Sundance simply because costar Paul Newman refused to give him top billing.

Later, McQueen declined the lead in "The French Connection" because he felt the part was too similar to the tough cop he'd played in 1968's "Bullitt." Gene Hackman took the part and won an Oscar for it.

And finally, in 1978, McQueen told "Apocalypse Now" director Francis Ford Coppola to shove off when he was offered the lead. McQueen's non-negotiable asking price was $3 million; plus, he didn't feel like spending four months shooting in the Philippine jungle.

Instead, Martin Sheen landed the role, and despite suffering a heart attack during the stressful production, he gave one of cinema's greatest performances. Mental Floss: The 9 Battles of Martin Scorsese

5 million-dollar mistakes by movie stars - CNN.com

Interesting.

 

[LMP]

Cary Grant and Will Smith's gaffes aren't too bad, since they didn't really need those parts... the other 3 however, wow. Ian McKellen's the perfect Gandalf, but that would've made Sean Connery's retirement more triumphant than disappointing, that's for sure.

 

[mad1]

Will Smith would have been wrong for Neo!

I prefer him to Keanu but still, thank gosh he turned role down. Keanu gives Neo a perfect robotic attitude who seems both confused and smart at the same time.

Speed gives Keanu what ID gave Will - new status.
Matrix gives Keanu a 'legend' moment. Wild Wild West was crap but still, thank gawd he turned down.
Will still makes real good movies thou.

 

[The Sad Punk]

Cary Grant would have been completely boss as Bond. I wish he landed it, it'd make the series better to me, at least. Nothing against Connery, but this is Cary fucking Grant.

 

[Hewson]

Keanu gives Neo a perfect robotic attitude who seems both confused and smart at the same time.

.

I think the confused part just comes naturally.