10 Celebrities Who Rejected Multi-Million Dollar Movie Offers

It may sound strange, but there have been instances where actors have declined roles in movies that ended up making over a billion dollars at the box office. This decision likely meant saying no to a payday of millions of dollars, depending on their contract. Some actors have shared in interviews that they turned down these roles due to creative reasons, scheduling conflicts, or simply because they were unaware of the movie's potential financial success.

These situations also highlight the distinct difference in Hollywood between movies that have the potential to reach a billion-dollar status and movies that are recognized by prestigious award shows. As award ceremonies like the Golden Globes start to acknowledge more blockbusters, there may be a growing overlap between these two categories in the future. Nevertheless, actors will always have to make choices based on their perception of a potential film's success.

Keanu Reeves Turned Down Captain Marvel (2019)

Domestic Gross: $427 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.13 Billion

A close-up of John Wick (Keanu Reeves) wearing a suit and looking pensive in John Wick - Domestic Gross: $427 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.13 Billion - Keanu Reeves Turned Down Captain Marvel (2019)

Marvel's president, Kevin Feige, revealed that Keanu Reeves is always a top choice for their movies. Reeves' popularity, his reputation as an action hero, and his impressive fight sequences in John Wick and The Matrix series make him a sought-after actor. One notable role Reeves declined was Yon-Rogg in Captain Marvel, which eventually went to Jude Law.

Reeves had to decline the role in Captain Marvel because of scheduling conflicts with filming John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum. Despite being considered one of the weaker movies in the MCU, Captain Marvel managed to gross over $1 billion. However, there is still a possibility for Reeves to take on a role in the MCU in the future, which would surely excite fans.

All box office figures mentioned in this list are based on data from boxofficemojo.com.

Gal Gadot Turned Down Barbie (2023)

Domestic Gross: $636 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.4 Billion

Gal Gadot as Gisele in Fast and Furious - Domestic Gross: $636 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.4 Billion - Gal Gadot Turned Down Barbie (2023)

Robbie described Gal Gadot as having Barbie energy because of her incredible beauty, yet she is still so likable because of her genuine sincerity and enthusiastic kindness. He mentioned that her kindness is almost dorky in a charming way, making her even more endearing.

Michael Douglas Turned Down Frozen (2013)

Reportedly, producer Margot Robbie's first casting choice for Barbie was Gal Gadot. Gadot was unable to take on the role due to scheduling conflicts. Despite this, Gadot's influence could still be felt in the casting decisions for Barbie. Robbie described Gadot as having the perfect "Barbie energy" - being incredibly beautiful yet still endearing due to her genuine sincerity and enthusiastic kindness. It was almost like she was right on the brink of being a dork.

Domestic Gross: $400 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.4 Billion

michael douglas as hank pym in ant-man 3 - Domestic Gross: $400 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.4 Billion - Michael Douglas Turned Down Frozen (2013)

Orlando Bloom Turned Down Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Orlando Bloom, known for his role as Legolas in The Lord of the Rings, made a surprising decision to turn down a role in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in 2011. Bloom's absence was noticeable in the film, as he had played the character Will Turner in the previous Pirates movies. Despite this missed opportunity, Bloom has continued to have a successful acting career in various other projects.

Domestic Gross: $241 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.05 Billion

Orlando Bloom as Will Turner in Disney Pirates of the Caribbean - Domestic Gross: $241 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.05 Billion - Orlando Bloom Turned Down Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

After starring in three successful Pirates of the Caribbean movies alongside Johnny Depp and Kiera Knightley, Orlando Bloom decided not to come back for the fourth installment. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest are the only two movies in the series that made over $1 billion worldwide. Will and Elizabeth are absent from the fourth movie because Bloom and Knightley wanted to focus on different projects and move away from big franchise films.

Despite his initial decision, Bloom eventually returned to both of his major franchises. He reprised his role as Will in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and as Legolas in the Hobbit movies. Knightley also made a brief appearance in the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film.

Ryan Gosling Turned Down Beauty and the Beast (2017)

Domestic Gross: $505 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.27 Billion

Ryan Gosling sitting at a piano, looking to the side at someone in a scene from La La Land. - Domestic Gross: $505 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.27 Billion - Ryan Gosling Turned Down Beauty and the Beast (2017)

It's no secret that there was some confusion among actors when it came to choosing between roles in La La Land and Beauty and the Beast. For instance, Emma Watson opted to play Belle instead of taking on Emma Stone's Oscar-winning role. Similarly, Ryan Gosling passed on the role of Beast, which eventually went to Dan Stevens, to star in Damien Chazelle's La La Land (via Teen Vogue). This comparison highlights the different paths actors can take in terms of the roles they choose to pursue. Both movies are romantic musicals, but while one became a box office sensation, the other became an award season favorite.

Rooney Mara Turned Down Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Domestic Gross: $533.5 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.06 Billion

Rooney Mara as Erica Albright in The Social Network - Domestic Gross: $533.5 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.06 Billion - Rooney Mara Turned Down Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Jones is amazing as Jyn, but Mara also would have excelled at portraying the character's arc of shifting from disillusioned to heroic.

Jessica Chastain Turned Down Iron Man 3 (2013)

Jessica Chastain was offered a role in Iron Man 3, but ultimately decided to turn it down. Despite the opportunity to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chastain cited scheduling conflicts as the reason for declining the role. She expressed admiration for the director, Shane Black, but regretfully had to pass on the chance to be a part of the superhero franchise.

Domestic Gross: $409 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.2 Billion

Jessica Chastain wearing sunglasses in Zero Dark Thirty - Domestic Gross: $409 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.2 Billion - Jessica Chastain Turned Down Iron Man 3 (2013)

Denzel Washington Turned Down Furious 7 (2015)

Denzel Washington reportedly turned down a role in the movie Furious 7 in 2015. Although the Fast and Furious franchise is known for its high box office numbers, Washington decided not to join the cast. The reason for his decision was not disclosed, but fans can only speculate on what could have been if he had accepted the role.

Domestic Gross: $353 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.5 Billion

Denzel Washington as Robert McCall in The Equalizer 3 - Domestic Gross: $353 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.5 Billion - Denzel Washington Turned Down Furious 7 (2015)

Claire Danes Turned Down Titanic (1997)

It was reported (via IndieWire) ahead of Furious 7's release that Denzel Washington turned down a small role, now believed to have been Kurt Russell's character "Mr. Nobody." Washington is not alone among actors who were almost cast in Fast & Furious, opting out of what they might have viewed as an implausible action movie. However, no one can deny that Fast & Furious is popular, with Furious 7 in particular being one of the franchise's best-reviewed movies. Washington likely would have become a fan favorite if he had appeared in Furious 7.

Domestic Gross: $674 Million | Worldwide Total: $2.26 Billion

Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Danes in Romeo and Juliet - Domestic Gross: $674 Million | Worldwide Total: $2.26 Billion - Claire Danes Turned Down Titanic (1997)

Claire Danes was considered for the lead roles in Titanic, along with several other actors. She had previously collaborated with Leonardo DiCaprio in Romeo + Juliet, released the year before Titanic. It would have been interesting to see them reunite for another romantic film, but Danes has stated that she has "zero regrets" about not taking on the role.

Titanic originally grossed $1.84 billion worldwide upon its release. Through multiple re-releases, the film later surpassed the $2 billion mark in box office earnings.

Matt Damon Turned Down The Dark Knight (2008)

Domestic Gross: $535 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.03 Billion

Mark Watney (Matt Damon) contemplating in the Hermes in The Martian. - Domestic Gross: $535 Million | Worldwide Total: $1.03 Billion - Matt Damon Turned Down The Dark Knight (2008)

Matt Damon is known for turning down some major movie roles, like Avatar, which turned out to be a huge hit. But did you know he also said no to playing Harvey Dent/Two-Face in The Dark Knight? The role eventually went to Aaron Eckhart. Damon even mentioned how he missed out on Avatar's success when talking about his decision to pass on The Dark Knight. Despite the financial loss, these missed opportunities are remembered not just for their box office success, but also for their critical acclaim.

Source: PEOPLE,boxofficemojo.com, Variety, E! News, Teen Vogue, Deadline, SlashFilm, IndieWire, ELLE, The Playlist

Editor's P/S:

The article provides intriguing insights into the diverse factors that influence actors' decisions to accept or decline movie roles, even when those roles end up in billion-dollar blockbusters. It highlights the complex interplay between artistic vision, scheduling conflicts, and the allure of financial rewards. While actors may miss out on astronomical paydays, their choices often reflect their personal priorities, creative aspirations, and the pursuit of roles that resonate with them on a deeper level.

The article also underscores the evolving dynamics of the film industry, where the boundaries between commercial success and critical acclaim are becoming increasingly blurred. As award shows acknowledge the merits of blockbusters, actors face the challenge of balancing artistic integrity with the potential for financial gain. Ultimately, their decisions serve as a testament to the subjective nature of filmmaking and the multifaceted considerations that shape the careers of these talented individuals.