Many scripts get read by big-name actors every year, and the fact of the matter is, they can’t take every role they read. While that may be the case, some actors and actresses turn down parts that could help their careers, and it makes you wonder what the world would be like had they chosen to accept. These here are films that could have turned out much differently than they ended up; these are Major Roles Turned Down By Movie Stars! Subscribe to American Eye
5. Johnny Depp
Can you imagine Johnny Depp skipping school, rodding around town in his best friend’s dad’s car, singing in a parade, and just generally being rowdy? Well, that’s what almost happened when he was considered to play the part of Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The only problem is that John Hughes has said that he wrote the part of Bueller with Matthew Broderick in mind, so, in the end, he ended up with the part. Depp apparently also turned down roles in movies like The Matrix, Speed, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. While those were all pretty big movies in their time, the decisions to skip out on them don’t seem to have hurt his career much. In fact, he probably came out better than if he’d decided to do them. Nice plays, Mr. Depp.
4. Nicolas Cage
Now, we’re not really in much of a position to judge, but we think that Nicolas Cage may have missed out a bit on a career opportunity here. He told Newsweek that he was offered the role of Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy but turned it down because of the amount of time it would take to film. He stated, “There were different things going on in my life at the time that precluded me from being able to travel and be away from home for three years.” Now, we can totally understand and respect that, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t miss out on a role that may have done some good for his career. He’s not upset about it, though, and has said that since he didn’t appear in the films, he can enjoy them as a fan. He has enough money anyway, and Viggo Mortensen did a fantastic job with Aragorn. We all won.
3. Christopher Plummer
This denial of a role is understandable if you take into account that Christopher Plummer would have been nearly 70-years-old at the time the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Yes, this is another actor who passed up a part in the fantastical series, but instead of Aragorn, he was looking at playing Gandalf. When you’re that old, you don’t know how much time you’ve got left, and a three year filming commitment sounds like it could end up being the last thing you ever do! He’s even a fan of the books written by J.R.R. Tolkien and said he isn’t exactly sure just why he turned down the part. But he did go on to state, “I thought there are other countries I’d like to visit before I croak.” Enough said, Mr. Plummer. Enough said. We can’t imagine anybody other than Ian McKellen as Gandalf anyway.
2. Ian McKellen
While we’re kind of on the subject of Ian McKellen, we figured it was fitting to mention a huge role he turned down. When Richard Harris passed away, McKellen was offered the opportunity to take over as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies, but he declined. First of all, he says he doesn’t regret it because he already got to play Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings films. Second, he stated that considering Richard Harris kind of trashed McKellen’s acting abilities not long before he passed it wouldn’t be fair for him to take over the part. This seems wholly understandable; he didn’t feel like shoving it in Harris’ face. Granted, he wasn’t here anymore, but still. Good on you, Sir McKellen! The part ended up going to Michael Gambon, who we think did a fine job.
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