After the recent revelation that Brenton Thwaites, who plays Nightwing on Crisis on Infinite Earths as part of the Arrowverse, there has been some discussion about why Thwaites elected not to appear in one of the biggest television crossovers of all time.
Yet Thwaites isn't the first actor to turn down an appearance or major role. There have been plenty of performers who had the opportunity to showcase their talent in iconic films, who eventually decided that either the part or the film itself just wasn't for them, and fans of Ranker took care to compile some of them.
Anne Hathaway — Knocked Up
An Academy Award-winning actress who has starred in movies like Ocean's 8, Anne Hathaway has more than made her mark on Hollywood. Yet there is one major film that she turned down for somewhat surprising reasons.
Though Hathaway was meant to star in the film Knocked Up as Alison Scott, she declined the role after discovering that the studio intended to use graphic footage of a real woman giving birth, according to Allure. Though surprisingly, she turned down a major role in a critically acclaimed film, it's understandable that something like that could make her uncomfortable enough to abandon the film entirely.
Patti LaBelle — The Color Purple
One of The Color Purple was a film that thoroughly explored the lives of Black Americans in the early 1900s. While it touched on some heavy themes and was adored by audiences, one actress elected to turn down the role of Shug Avery, a major character in the film.
Patti LaBelle, an actress and singer who worked on Mama I Want to Sing and Daytime Divas, LaBelle isn't one of the most popular actresses, but she had a major opportunity that she rejected in The Color Purple. Shug is an incredibly deep character who truly embodies the themes of the film through her love and respect for herself. For an actress looking to make a name for herself, it would have been an excellent role that could have helped improve her career.
Steve McQueen — Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
One of the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was an iconic film that subverted many of the tropes and expectations for the Western genre. The film showcased corruption, tragedy, and the underlying heart of Westerns in their entirety and turned the genre on its head.
But, despite this film being one of the most iconic of the late 1960s, Steve McQueen turned down the role of the Sundance Kid, a move that could have made him even more of a star than he was. Unfortunately, McQueen wanted top billing on the film over more senior actor Paul Newman, and the rest was history.
Bette Midler — Misery
An actress who has won countless awards through the years, Bette Midler starred in films like The Addams Family, earning quite the name for herself in the process. Unfortunately, she did turn down one major role that continues to stand out in the minds of fans everywhere.
The film Misery, based on Stephen King's book of the same title, almost featured Bette Midler as Annie Wilkes. Though she later regretted it, Midler turned down the role due to the story's violent nature. The film went on to become a massive success, proving to be a major blunder by the seasoned actress.
Steve McQueen — Close Encounters Of The Third Kind
Steve McQueen didn't just turn down the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid role. He refused a role in another iconic genre-defining film. This time, Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind received a rejection from one of the most promising actors of his generation.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind holds up even today by exploring the story of alien encounters that ended with child abductions and the journey to reclaim them. McQueen turned down the starring role of Roy Neary, disappointing Spielberg greatly, and pas the opportunity to take an extraordinary and impactful role.
Garth Brooks — Saving Private Ryan
There are few movies as well-known and well-regarded as Saving Private Ryan, and few have quite so many fans across the United States. But, in the wake of the attack on Normandy, viewers had the chance to see soldiers desperately trying to rescue one soldier, and audiences loved it. They didn't, however, get to see one performed starring alongside the rest.
Garth Brooks, an acclaimed country music singer, actually turned down the chance to appear in the film. It could have been a path into acting for the singer, but he eventually elected to avoid the film entirely, due to alleged creative differences among some of the other actors. It's unfortunate, but it's one of the major details fans never knew about the behind-the-scenes of Saving Private Ryan.
Eddie Murphy — Who Framed Roger Rabbit
An actor who starred in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, it seems Murphy turned down the opportunity.
Murphy was meant to play Detective Eddie Valiant and star in the film but found the concept of the movie wanting. On the first pitch, it does seem strange enough that one can't blame Murphy for it. After all, a detective helping animated characters escape a murder charge? It's harder to accept that role than to turn it down.
Jack Nicholson — The Godfather
Having starred in best revenge movies of all time, one would expect any actor to eagerly jump at the role, especially given the worldwide acclaim the film would go on to earn.
Yet, despite being offered the role of Michael Corleone, Nicholson ended up turning him down. He believed that an Italian should have the role instead, which eventually led to the casting of Al Pacino as the iconic character. A match was made in Heaven, and it wasn't even planned.
Bruce Willis — Ghost
While Bruce Willis is known for interacting with ghosts, sometimes he avoids them where he can. The actor who starred in Ghost.
A movie nothing like its director's other films, Ghost explores the life of a man trying to help protect his girlfriend even after his death. Willis reportedly didn't like the concept of the film, and Patrick Swayze took up the role instead. It's a confusing decision, especially considering that the film turned out to be incredible.
Russell Crowe — X-Men
Most of the world knows Hugh Jackman as an iconic Wolverine, but many people don't know that Jackman wasn't even the first choice. Instead, Russell Crowe, an actor who starred in Les Misérables, was offered the part — and quickly turned it down.
To explain why he refused the role, Crowe claims he didn't want to be typecast, which was certainly a possibility after Gladiator. Still, it meant that X-Men eventually cast Jackman, leading to one of the most iconic characters in a comic book movie having the perfect actor. So, in the end, it worked out.
