Dirty Harry franchise.
movies also star his son Scott Eastwood.
Eastwood is known for his efficient, no-nonsense approach to filmmaking, which played an influence on which projects he chose. Sometimes, Eastwood had to reject parts due to his commitment to other projects. Also, while filmmakers ended up preferring different stars for some roles he was considered for, Eastwood also flatly declined many other parts. Some movies Eastwood rejected launched the careers of other actors to superstardom, and if it were anyone but Eastwood, turning down such parts would have meant massive missed opportunities.
Superman
To this day, the most memorable Superman because he preferred to play characters more "grounded in reality." Eastwood was considered for the role primarily due to his A-List status, as were other popular stars at the time. There were many interesting choices on the table before the part went to Reeves. For example, Muhammad Ali was in talks to become Superman, as revealed by producer Ilya Salkind in the commentary for the updated 40th Anniversary Superman edition, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Eastwood turning down the role is probably a blessing in disguise, considering the enigmatic performance Reeves delivers. While Eastwood would have undoubtedly performed well in the role, the hardened persona he exemplifies would have perhaps become forever affected if he played such a do-gooder role like Superman. However, Superman III may have improved a little if evil Superman was played by Eastwood.
James Bond
Another iconic role that Eastwood turned down was Agent 007 himself. Roger Moore portrayed James Bond instead of Eastwood for six movies in the span of 10 years, starting with Live and Let Die and ending with the weirdly-titled Octopussy. The decision for a new Bond came when Sean Connery chose to part from the role after 1971's Diamonds are Forever before eventually returning to the franchise 12 years later for a final time in Never Say Never Again.
The Bond possibly being Idris Elba.
Captain Benjamin Willard, Apocalypse Now
The part that eventually went to Martin Sheen was originally offered to Eastwood. Inspired by the 1899 novel Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now follows Captain Benjamin Willard through the jungles of Vietnam on a mission to assassinate Marlon Brando's Colonel Walter Kurtz after he goes rogue. The film's grueling process is further detailed in the 1991 documentary Heart of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse.
According to an interview with Coppola fired Harvey Keitel as Apocalypse Now's Willard because of his character's interpretation before making his final casting choice.
John McClane, Die Hard
Clint Eastwood was heavily involved with Die Hard. According to Mental Floss, he even owned the movie rights to Nothing Lasts Forever, Roderick Thorp's 1979 novel that Die Hard adapted. Eastwood was slated to star as John McClane before the role went to Bruce Willis, who at the time was known for his more comedic part in the TV show Moonlighting. Considering that the movie was originally going to be a more serious '80s action flick, Willis was far from being the first choice for McClane.
Despite owning the movie rights, Die Hard because, as revealed in a SlashFilm interview with Die Hard's screenwriter Jeb Stuart, Eastwood "[didn't] get the humor" of the script. Eastwood instead moved on to work on the sixth installment of the Dirty Harry franchise, The Dead Pool. It released in 1988, the same year Die Hard came out. Eastwood's McClane performance would have likely been a lot darker and more serious than Willis', but Eastwood played a significant part in getting the movie made in the first place.
Harmonica, Once Upon A Time In The West
Patrick McGilligan's biography Clint Eastwood, A Legend s a meeting between Eastwood and director Sergio Leone regarding the 1968 spaghetti western Once Upon A Time In America, which became the last film Leone made before his 1989 death.
Agent K, Men In Black
Agent K in the sci-fi comedy franchise Men In Black almost went to Eastwood. According to the Huffington Post, director Barry Sonnenfeld met with Tommy Lee Jones and found him to be a better choice. It's probably all the better that Jones accepted the role, considering the strong on-screen chemistry he had with Will Smith's Agent J.
Rick Deckard, Blade Runner
While Ridley Scott's several movie cuts suggest that Rick Deckard may be a replicant, Clint Eastwood was unequivocally not Rick Deckard despite being considered for the role, according to Moviefone. Based on Phillip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Blade Runner cemented the cyberpunk future-noir style into popularity, making Ridley Scott one of the most influential sci-fi directors of this generation. Eastwood's cool, gritty style paired with his success in crime dramas would have made him a great Deckard had the role gone to him instead of Harrison Ford.
Graham Hess, Signs
M. Night Shyamalan almost cast Clint Eastwood as Mel Gibson's role for the 2002 sci-fi horror obligatory M. Night Shyamalan twist disappointingly being that the invading aliens are allergic to water.
Hank Deerfield, In the Valley of Elah
The character of Hank Deerfield in 2007's crime drama In the Valley of Elah was offered to Clint Eastwood, according to Million Dollar Baby. While Clint Eastwood declined the role, Haggis reports in a Rotten Tomatoes interview that Eastwood was nonetheless instrumental in getting In The Valley of Elah made.
Clint Eastwood garnered a reputation that continues to grow to this day. Turning down culturally iconic roles and still maintaining his legendary status only further establishes his importance to cinema. Cry Macho, there's no doubting that Clint Eastwood has done well to maintain a monumental legacy in Hollywood.
