When word broke earlier this week that Lindsay Lohan had turned down a role in The Hangover, it inspired me to research other not-so-wise-in-retrospect career moves. (Though I have to wonder if LiLo's mere presence in the surprise hit of the summer would've had a negative effect on its ticket sales and then it wouldn't have done as well? Has she reached that level on the Box-Office Poison-o-meter?)
What I found really interesting when digging up info on passed-over movie roles is that some actors and actresses turned down huge parts and have still done extremely well for themselves. Take Will Smith, for example. Did you know that he could've been Neo in The Matrix? It's almost hard to fathom, because to me, Keanu Reeves and all his "Whoa"-ness and stiffness and slicked-back-hairness IS Neo. They are one in the same — they always have been and they always will be… forever. But if Big Willie hadn't chosen to make Wild Wild West instead (please be polite and try to stifle your laughter), it would've been him getting jiggy with Morpheus.
Another case of an actor who wasn't adversely affected by turning down a plum role: Mel Gibson. Despite his personal dramas, no one can deny that he's had a successful career both in front of and behind the camera. Might it have been a bit more successful if he hadn't put the kibosh on taking the lead in Gladiator? You know, the part that snagged Russell Crowe an Oscar? Sure, Mel might regret that one a bit, but I think overall his bank account hasn't suffered too much because of that decision.
But can we make the same statement for Molly Ringwald — '80s teen-movie star who was offered Julia Roberts' role in Pretty Woman? D'oh! That must've been a tough pill to swallow when Roberts' career skyrocketed after the unconventional rom-com hit theaters. (For the record, Meg Ryan, Daryl Hannah and Jennifer Jason Leigh also turned down a chance to play hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold Vivian Ward.)
While Molly has settled into a television career thanks to The Secret Life of the American Teenager, the same can't be said for Richard Grieco, who starred alongside Johhny Depp in 21 Jump Street (and after that, its spin-off Booker). When Grieco tried to transition into movies, he was offered the lead role in a film that would turn both of its co-stars into A-listers: Speed. That's right, it could've been Richard Grieco, rather than Neo–er, Keanu Reeves, working with Sandra Bullock to try and keep an L.A. transit bus from exploding. Instead, he's taken to appearing in really bad films and has otherwise faded into oblivion.
Now, of course, the real question is, "Is it the actor/actress or the role or the overall movie that makes a film successful or launches a career?" There's just no way of knowing, but I doubt that's stopped the likes of Lohan, Ringwald and Grieco from wondering, "What if… ?"
Posted on July 10, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Yeah, Will Smith could have been Neo in the Matrix, which was very good, but then he would have had the punishment of being Neo in Matrix 2 and 3. Those movies were just horrible.
Posted on July 10, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Very hard to imagine anyone other than Julia Roberts as the Pretty Woman or Russell as the Gladiator. They really seemed to incapsulate those roles and I can’t envision Pretty in Pink transitioning with her whining teen personas to the charming Vivian. Really some interesting food for thought and I’m not sure I have a clear answer on whether the actor, the role or the movie holds the key.
Posted on July 10, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Lori, you’re right. I can’t even imagine Mel Gibson as The Gladiator. That just seems wrong.
Posted on July 10, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Clint, I’m going to have to strongly disagree. 2 and 3 were not horrible. If you want to say why, I’d gladly have a debate with you about this.
Posted on July 10, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I’ve never been much of a Matrix fan–someday I’ll have to re-watch them all and work up a coherent, reasoned explanation WHY. But I will say that, as a casual viewer of the series, I DID actually like 2 (Reloaded). And parts of 3.
Though I have to admit I’m sometimes more fascinated by strange cinematic trainwrecks… in some ways I was more interested in watching the Bros. W kinda go off the rails in 2 and esp 3 than in what was actually going on in the films. (And yep, I also LIKE Speed Racer for similar reasons–it’s the Bros. PURE cinematic vision, totally committed to its own frantic overload)
Posted on July 10, 2009 at 6:27 pm
I love anime, and Matrix 2 unt 3 were very much like live action anime. Will Smith would have brought too much star power to the Matrix, and part of what made The Matrix so good was how much of a surprise it was.
Posted on July 14, 2009 at 10:52 am
I think if anyone other than Julia Roberts was in Pretty Woman I would have actually enjoyed it! I just can’t stomach her in anything and don’t understand why she is so popular! Molly Ringwald would have been great (and it probably would have jump started her career again), but I think any good actor could have pulled it off.
I also enjoyed all the Matrix movies. I also enjoy Keanu!
Posted on July 14, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I think Scott Baio turned down the Kevin Bacon role (Ren) in Footloose.