The Smack-Themselves-In-The-Forehead Club

[Eliseu Gouveia]

Dougray Scott could have been Wolverine.
Tom Selleck could have been Indiana Jones.
And Wil Smith rejected the role of Neo in Matrix.

What actors must smack themselves in the forehead when they think of a role in a movie?

[Legato]

I dont see why Will should smack himself in the head. He is still a big star regardless of him rejecting the role of Neo.

Chris O'Donnell

Lets see he was considered to be Peter Parker in the movie Spider-Man before Toby Maguire was offered the role. He turned down the role of James Edwards in Men In Black so that role was given to Will Smith.

Two movies that could have saved his career after the travesty that was Batman & Robin but he didn't take the opportunity that was given to him.

Now he isn't even considered an A-List star.

[Agent Helix]

Dougray Scott could have been Wolverine.
Tom Selleck could have been Indiana Jones.
And Wil Smith rejected the role of Neo in Matrix.

What actors must smack themselves in the forehead when they think of a role in a movie?

Scott was filming Mission Impossible 2, so couldn't.

Selleck was contractually obligated with Mangum P.I., so couldn't.

Will Smith is arguably the biggest movie star in the world, and the Matrix as a whole is generally reviled in retrospect, so why should he care?

[jesse_custer]

No! You can't reject everything like that!

[G. Wayne]

What all did Sean Connery turn down before he finally decided to do League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?

[Mac Danny]

What all did Sean Connery turn down before he finally decided to do League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?

Nothing. He'd be on Hollywood squares if you let him.

[Wannabe]

Dave Chappelle says his biggest regret is turning down the role of Bubba in Forest Gump.

[EZMOHR]

Wasn't Tim Matheson also considered before Harrison Ford as Indy?

[ultramandingo]

Mel Gibson - Turned down the lead role in Gladiator
Alec Baldwin - The role of Richard Kimball in “The Fugitive
Warren Beatty - Turned down the role of Jack Horner in “Boogie Nights.” the James Caan’s role in “Misery”, the part of Gordon Gekko in “Wall Street” and Robert Redford’s role in “The Sting.”
Denzel Washington - rumored he turned down the role of “Ray Charles” in Ray.
Leonardo DiCaprio - Offered the part of Dirk Diggler in “Boogie Nights”
John Travolata - Turned down the role of Forrest Gump.
Tom Hanks - Turned down the role of Ray Kinsella in “Field of Dreams,” and Andy Dufresne in “The Shawshank Redemption”

http://www.glamorati.com/celebrity/2008/20-actors-and-actresses-who-turned-down-important-or-popular-roles/

[Monty_Cristo]

most of these movies would have sucked if the above-mentioned actors had agreed to be in them. they shouldn't be smacking themselves in the forehead. we should throw them a parade.

[EZMOHR]

Warren Beatty also turned down the role of Bill in Kill Bill. He urged Tarantino to hire David Carradine for the role.

[EZMOHR]

most of these movies would have sucked if the above-mentioned actors had agreed to be in them. they shouldn't be smacking themselves in the forehead. we should throw them a parade.

Really......cause with the exception of Warren Beatty as Gordon Gekko (Beatty in real life= slimey, Beatty on sceen=not) and John Travolta as Gump (That is a big no) I don't think any of the rest could've been the abomination you might be thinking.

I mean Gibson/Crowe is kind of a wash. Baldwin is a good actor, and Harrison Ford didn't have to do much but be earnest in The Fugitive, James Caan isn't a sacred cow as Paul Sheldon, nor is Burt Reynolds in Boogie Nights. Paul Newman's character was more fleshed out in The Sting, and Robert Redford isn't the actor Beatty is. Plus Universal and George Roy Hill didn't want Redford in the part for the most part until Newman went to bat for him.

I would take Denzel Washington ANY day of the week over Jamie Foxx (To Date he's still only been in two watchable movies). Leo as Dirk Diggler could've been a different take than Marky Mark, and Tom Hanks as Ray Kinsella would've been the same as The Cos. Though, I know Tom Hanks could've been Andy in Shawshank...Tim Robbins owned that part and I would'nt want anyone different than him.

I guess I just don't see the sky falling like you do with these actors if they had been casted.

[Murrocko]

I dont see why Will should smack himself in the head. He is still a big star regardless of him rejecting the role of Neo.

Chris O'Donnell

Lets see he was considered to be Peter Parker in the movie Spider-Man before Toby Maguire was offered the role. He turned down the role of James Edwards in Men In Black so that role was given to Will Smith.

Two movies that could have saved his career after the travesty that was Batman & Robin but he didn't take the opportunity that was given to him.

Now he isn't even considered an A-List star.

Wow, where'd you find this all out?

[Jared]

What all did Sean Connery turn down before he finally decided to do League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?

Rumor has it: Gandalf in Lord of the Rings...which led to him taking League, because it was another weird fantasy script that he didn't understand.

Gibson turned down Gladiator because he felt he was getting too old for that shit. In hindsight, it didn't hurt his career at all, but it was a great thing for Russle Crowe.

[Kaos]

I would take Denzel Washington ANY day of the week over Jamie Foxx .

yeah but as a guy that watches every single thing Denzel does...he wouldn't be right for the role...well he would in the sense Denzel is right for anything...btu Foxx WAS a better choice.

[Jared]

The guy who played Christopher Pike must have kicked himself over the way things turned out.

[EZMOHR]

yeah but as a guy that watches every single thing Denzel does...he wouldn't be right for the role...well he would in the sense Denzel is right for anything...btu Foxx WAS a better choice.

Jamie Foxx I'm convinced sold his soul to the devil for 2004. The only two watchable films he's ever been, and the only two things he's ever done in his career that are enjoyable were in that year.

Jamie Foxx was good in Ray. He was the better choice than Denzel.....that being said, Denzel would've been good in the part as well IMO. It would've been different, but I can't say it would've been worse than Foxx.

[the goddamn batman]

I nominate M. Night Shyamalan. For starting out so well and instantly turning to shit.

[Jared]

Shelly Long famously left Cheers to pursue other things...and disappeared from the face of the Earth until the Brady Bunch movie. And she re-disappeared after the sequel.

Did Kristy Swanson even get a call about the Buffy series? Bet she wishes she had.

[Muggs]

Dougray Scott could have been Wolverine.
Tom Selleck could have been Indiana Jones.
And Wil Smith rejected the role of Neo in Matrix.

What actors must smack themselves in the forehead when they think of a role in a movie?

I think Scott smacks himself in the head for the fact that Mission Impossible 2 ran way over schedule, forcing him to drop out of X Men, as opposed to turning it down flat.

Micheal Madsen and Matt Dillon both probably wish that they didn't turn down roles in Pulp Fiction.

[Agent Helix]

I really doubt Sean Connery regrets not playing a wizard after years and years of one of the most vaunted careers in the business.

[Tobias March]

John Travolta - American Gigolo.

I remember an MTV doc on him....even his gym teacher was flabbergasted he turned that down. 'He would have made a fantastic gigolo' he said. No word of a lie.

[DonC]

Did Kristy Swanson even get a call about the Buffy series? Bet she wishes she had.


No, the producers felt she was too old by the time the TV series came about. Plus they kind of wanted to distance themselves from the movie.

[DubipR]

Didn't Stewart Townsend leave as Aragorn right before the shooting of LotR and then quickly replaced with Viggo?

[DonC]

Didn't Stewart Townsend leave as Aragorn right before the shooting of LotR and then quickly replaced with Viggo?


The story I've heard is that he filmed for about a week, then was fired.

Edit: I looked it up, he was fired the day before filming began.

[Alan Lynch]

Rumor has it: Gandalf in Lord of the Rings...which led to him taking League, because it was another weird fantasy script that he didn't understand.
He's talked about this a few years ago. Claims that he was offered a role in The Matrix too, but I can't for the life of me think what part that could've been.
Gibson turned down Gladiator because he felt he was getting too old for that shit. In hindsight, it didn't hurt his career at all, but it was a great thing for Russle Crowe.
Mel Gibson could probably smack his forehead for letting his personal views go public.
I really doubt Sean Connery regrets not playing a wizard after years and years of one of the most vaunted careers in the business.
I'm sure he's said that he did regret it. It's what prompted him to try fantasy with League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Which went well for everyone.

[Kirayoshi]

I dunno if this qualifies as a head-smack or getting out while the getting was good, but Genevieve Bujold was originally cast as Captain Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager, but left in a huff.

[kalorama]

I doubt Selleck lies awake at night fretting over not getting Raiders. It's not like he's been consigned to doing TV commercials ever since; he's done OK for himself. Besides, there's no guarantee that Raiders would have been as successful with Selleck. Much of what made the movie work came from Ford's presence onscreen.

In fact, I doubt most of the people who've been brought up here are living with much regret. Alec Baldwin? Mel Gibson?
Warren Beatty? Denzel Washington? Leonardo DiCaprio? John Travolta? Tom Hanks? Will Smith? Last I checked, none of those guys are living on welfare.

[Stressfactor]

I dunno if this qualifies as a head-smack or getting out while the getting was good, but Genevieve Bujold was originally cast as Captain Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager, but left in a huff.
I had read somewhere that it was because producers didn't find her "take charge" enough. They thought her line delivery was too soft and weak and therefore she didn't make a convincing "Captain".

[KenK]

Jamie Foxx I'm convinced sold his soul to the devil for 2004. The only two watchable films he's ever been, and the only two things he's ever done in his career that are enjoyable were in that year.

Jamie Foxx was good in Ray. He was the better choice than Denzel.....that being said, Denzel would've been good in the part as well IMO. It would've been different, but I can't say it would've been worse than Foxx.

I was just so impressed with the way Foxx managed to really disappear in the role, moreso than I think Denzel ever could have. Denzel's a great actor, but there's always a little too much of himself in almost every role that he does. And that one movie he did where he was an ex-british soldier? That man can't do accents for sh**!!

[C-Cool]

I dont see why Will should smack himself in the head. He is still a big star regardless of him rejecting the role of Neo.

Chris O'Donnell

Lets see he was considered to be Peter Parker in the movie Spider-Man before Toby Maguire was offered the role. He turned down the role of James Edwards in Men In Black so that role was given to Will Smith.

Two movies that could have saved his career after the travesty that was Batman & Robin but he didn't take the opportunity that was given to him.

Now he isn't even considered an A-List star.

Chris O'Donnell could have ruined both of those movies, ESPECIALLY Spider-Man. We already had to contend with Kirsten Dunst, but Chris O'Donnell too. Never.

But Men In Black really could have been a good shot at the A-List again. But Will could do songs too, so MIB was his for the taking in my opinion.

Or at least the first movie. That theme song was banging. Don't talk about the second one, okay...

[Legato]

Chris O'Donnell could have ruined both of those movies, ESPECIALLY Spider-Man. We already had to contend with Kirsten Dunst, but Chris O'Donnell too. Never.

But Men In Black really could have been a good shot at the A-List again. But Will could do songs too, so MIB was his for the taking in my opinion.

Or at least the first movie. That theme song was banging. Don't talk about the second one, okay...

I dont see any evidence on how O'Donnell could ruin both of the movies. If anything the blame involving Batman & Robin can be placed upon the director and the person writing the script.

Although I can agree with MIB. Mostly because Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones had good chemistry in the first movie and when I try to picture O'Donnell in Wills place I cant see that same chemistry between J & K working well.

[Muggs]

John Travolta - American Gigolo.

I remember an MTV doc on him....even his gym teacher was flabbergasted he turned that down. 'He would have made a fantastic gigolo' he said. No word of a lie.

Travolta turned down a bunch of films that went on to become big hits, American Gigolo, An Officer and a Gentleman, Fatal Attraction for roles in movies that bombed. Whats why his career went down the pan in the 80's. And the first thing he did after Pulp Fiction made him a star again was to turn down Get Shorty. Until Tarantino convinced him otherwise

[Legato]

Im not sure but wasn't someone else besides James Earl Jones was considered to play the voice of Darth Vader back when The Original Star Wars Trilogy was in production?

[Monty_Cristo]

Im not sure but wasn't someone else besides James Earl Jones was considered to play the voice of Darth Vader back when The Original Star Wars Trilogy was in production?

Al Pacino?

[ultramandingo]

The story I've heard is that he filmed for about a week, then was fired.

Edit: I looked it up, he was fired the day before filming began.

........... harvey keitel got fired from " apocalypse now" - replaced by sheen - and mick jagger (!!!!!!) and jason robards got replaceced by klaus kinsky in werner herzog's " fitzcarraldo"