Entertainment

Actors Who Declined Iconic Roles and Their Subsequent Paths

By Eric Hardman

Will Smith was the Wachowskis’ first choice to play Neo in the 1999 film The Matrix, but he declined the role because he did not understand the story or the vision for the film and felt he could not give the part the respect it deserved. Smith instead starred in Wild Wild West, which was a critical and financial failure.

Emily Blunt was the first choice for the role of Black Widow in Iron Man 2. She was under contract to star in the 2010 fantasy comedy Gulliver’s Travels, which forced her to back out of the MCU project. Gulliver’s Travels did not perform well critically or financially.

Jack Nicholson turned down the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather because he believed the character should be portrayed by an Italian actor. The studio had difficulty casting a then‑unknown Al Pacino, but Nicholson’s refusal helped lead to Pacino’s eventual casting.

Michelle Pfeiffer was director Jonathan Demme’s first choice for the role of Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs. She declined the part because she disliked the film’s dark subject matter. The role went to Jodie Foster, who won an Academy Award for her performance. Pfeiffer later said turning down the role was one of her biggest career regrets.

Sean Connery was also offered the role of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs but turned it down because of the film’s graphic content. Anthony Hopkins ultimately played the character, earning a Best Actor Oscar for a performance that lasted only about fifteen minutes.

Hugh Jackman was approached to play James Bond in the 2006 reboot Casino Royale, but he declined the role because he was committed to Wolverine in the X-Men franchise and did not want to split his focus between two major franchises. Daniel Craig accepted the role and the film was well received.