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While there are no guarantees that any given movie or role within it is destined to win awards, conquer the box office, or change the face of cinema, hindsight isn’t only 20/20 but undefeated with a 100% success rate. Burt Reynolds was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars at his peak, but he was left kicking himself for decades after turning down two parts that worked wonders for the people who played them.
For at least half a decade, no leading man was more popular than Reynolds. The consecutive success of Smokey and the Bandit, Semi-Tough, The End, Hooper, Starting Over, Smokey and the Bandit II, The Cannonball Run, Sharky’s Machine, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas made him the highest-grossing actor in Tinseltown for five years in a row.
Understandably, he was happy to keep doing what he was doing. After all, his name was enough to put butts in seats, his distinctly American brand of moustachioed machismo had propelled him to the top of the A-list, and he even notched a couple of Golden Globe nominations in the ‘Best Actor – Musical or Comedy’ category to underline that he wasn’t entirely bereft of acting chops.
All good things must come to an end, though, and the early 1980s marked a period of irreversible decline. Reynolds gradually began slipping down the pecking order and never came close to being restored to former glories. The pinnacle of his career from that point on was undoubtedly his Academy Award-nominated turn in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights, even if he despised the director.
However, things could have been very different had Reynolds accepted either of the roles he’d come to regret turning down. The first would have made his star shine even brighter and guaranteed him millions of dollars in earnings for decades to come, while the other could have seen him take to the stage and collect an Oscar.
“This is where my IQ drops about 40 points,” he admitted, per Desert Sun. “Star Wars. That was the one.” Reynolds was being eyed for Han Solo, and after he decided he didn’t want to head off to a galaxy far, far away, Harrison Ford was awarded the part and turned the character – as well as himself – into a cultural icon.
“But the biggest one that I turned down, and I think I could have knocked it out of the park, was Terms of Endearment,” he said. “I felt it was very close to my life at the time. But I understood the character, and that’s very important. Actors will come along and act like they know what they’re doing, but they don’t even know who they’re playing or why they’re playing the guy.”
James L Brooks offered Garrett Breedlove to Reynolds, who knocked it back in favour of Stroker Ace, which bombed hard and landed five Razzie nominations, including ‘Worst Picture’. Meanwhile, Terms of Endearment enlisted Jack Nicholson after failing to secure its number one choice for the character, and he ended up winning the Oscar for ‘Best Supporting Actor’.
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Burt Reynolds was a Hollywood legend known for his charm, wit, and undeniable screen presence. However, there were a few roles that the iconic actor regretted turning down, leaving him feeling like an idiot for missing out on the opportunity. Here are a few of the roles Burt Reynolds wished he hadn’t rejected:
1. James Bond in “Live and Let Die”: Reynolds was offered the role of James Bond after Sean Connery left the franchise, but he turned it down, feeling that he wasn’t right for the part. The role eventually went to Roger Moore, and Reynolds later admitted that he regretted passing up the chance to play the iconic spy.
2. Han Solo in “Star Wars”: Reynolds was also considered for the role of Han Solo in the original “Star Wars” film, but he declined the offer, believing that the movie would flop. The role ultimately went to Harrison Ford, and Reynolds later expressed regret for not taking on the iconic character.
3. John McClane in “Die Hard”: Reynolds was offered the role of John McClane in the action-packed film “Die Hard,” but he turned it down, feeling that it wasn’t the right fit for him. The role eventually went to Bruce Willis, and Reynolds later admitted that he felt like an idiot for passing on the opportunity to star in such a blockbuster hit.
In the end, Burt Reynolds had an incredible career filled with memorable performances, but even he had moments where he wished he had made different choices. These missed opportunities serve as a reminder that even Hollywood legends can have regrets when it comes to turning down certain roles.
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Burt Reynolds, rejected roles, missed opportunities, Hollywood regrets, actor regrets, Burt Reynolds movies, career decisions, Burt Reynolds iconic roles
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