It’s fascinating to delve into the world of what-ifs and wonder how different Hollywood would be if certain actors had accepted or declined roles as they did. In this case, it seems that Christopher Reeve‘s pickiness opened doors for several iconic actors we know and love today.
Christopher Reeve was well-known for portraying the legendary character Superman in the 1970s and ’80s. However, in the world of Hollywood, Reeve was also renowned for being quite choosy when it came to accepting roles. The Superman films are undoubtedly the most recognized movies in Reeve’s career; many casual moviegoers may not have encountered or even heard about his other films. Yet, had Reeve not been so particular about his choices, his filmography would have appeared quite distinct and arguably more impressive.
This week, as the acclaimed documentary “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” premieres on Max, let’s journey back in time and revisit some significant roles and movies that Christopher Reeve declined throughout his career, films nearly as legendary as “Superman“. Here are ten films that Christopher Reeve passed up before making his decisions.
10 ‘Romancing the Stone’ (1984)
Under the guidance of renowned director Robert Zemeckis, the film titled “Romancing the Stone” unfolds as a thrilling romantic adventure. It narrates the tale of a New York City romance novelist who finds herself in Colombia, forming an alliance with an adventurer to save her kidnapped sister from dangerous criminals. Following his triumph in Superman, Reeve was presented with the opportunity to star as the lead in “Romancing the Stone” and other action-packed movies.
Unwilling to be pigeonholed as an action hero, Reeve declined offers for movies like Romancing the Stone and other action films on this list. However, in the case of Romancing the Stone, it might not have made a difference since one of the film’s producers, Michael Douglas, eventually landed the role of Jack T. Colton, the movie’s adventurer, alongside Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito instead.
9 ‘Fatal Attraction’ (1987)
It wasn’t just Romancing the Stone that eventually landed in Michael Douglas’ hands instead of Christopher Reeve; Reeve was also in contention for the starring role in the timeless psychological thriller, Fatal Attraction. This film, iconic for Douglas as attorney Dan Gallagher, depicts him unraveling his life after a brief indiscretion leads to disastrous consequences.
In the story, the character Reeve was given the opportunity to play Dan Gallagher, a lawyer involved in a passionate yet perilous relationship with a magazine editor portrayed by Glenn Close. However, he declined this role for the reasons explained earlier.
8 ‘American Gigolo’ (1980)
The film titled “American Gigolo” centers around a well-paid male escort residing in Los Angeles, who finds himself under suspicion for a murder investigation. Interestingly, Christopher Reeve was initially offered the main role of Julian Kay; however, he ultimately chose not to accept it.
In an unexpected turn of events, the role initially went to an unidentified Richard Gear, which turned out to be a brilliant decision for the budding actor. The movie “American Gigolo” served as Gear’s breakthrough performance, propelling him into stardom and cementing his status as a leading man and sex symbol in Hollywood.
7 ‘The Running Man’ (1987)
In a far-off dystopian period spanning between 2017 and 2019, the storyline of The Running Man revolves around a popular television program where convicted felons, referred to as “runners”, are forced to evade capture and death at the hands of skilled assassins. Interestingly, not many people are aware that this story was originally adapted from a novel by Stephen King, who wrote it under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.
Initially, Christopher Reeve was planned for the lead character Ben Richards in the movie, and the script was intended to be a profoundly symbolic narrative. However, Reeve declined the role, which later went to Arnold Schwarzenegger. This actor switch transformed the film’s genre from a dark allegory into the action-comedy that it eventually became.
6 ‘Total Recall’ (1990)
It turns out that Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t just step into the role of “The Running Man” left vacant by Christopher Reeve, but also took over from Reeve as Douglas Quaid in the sci-fi classic “Total Recall.” In this film, Schwarzenegger’s character finds himself caught between fantasy and reality when he uncovers the possibility that his memories of an adventure on Mars may be more than just implanted recollections.
Once more, Reeve turned down this movie to prevent being labeled solely as an action hero, a role that Schwarzenegger willingly adopted. In his biography, Reeve expressed this same sentiment, stating, “I found the scripts of the action genre poorly structured and felt that the leading roles could be convincingly played by anyone with a muscular physique.
5 ‘Hannibal’ (2001)
The movie titled “Hannibal” serves as a follow-up to the much-admired, award-winning film, “The Silence of the Lambs.” In this continuation, Anthony Hopkins reprises his memorable portrayal of Hannibal Lecter, the psychiatrist transformed into a psychopath. Additionally, we see the return of FBI agent Clarice Starling, now played by Julianne Moore, who endeavors to apprehend the fugitive serial killer before Mason Verger, the last known survivor of his attacks, locates him first.
Following the tragic accident that left him wheelchair-bound, Reeve was presented with the chance to play Mason Verger in Hannibal. At first, he was thrilled by the prospect, but his feelings shifted when he discovered that Verger was a pedophile and child molester who had suffered paralysis and facial disfigurement. This revelation was disturbing to Reeve, and as a result, he declined the role. In the end, Gary Oldman took on the part, becoming known for his portrayals of some of Hollywood’s most notorious villains.
4 ‘The Bounty’ (1984)
An engrossing British historical drama titled “The Bounty” unfolds a mutiny saga that occurred between a ship captain and his crew on board the HMS Bounty. Notable actors such as Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Liam Neeson grace this film. Initially, Christopher Reeve was part of the star-studded cast, recruited by the film’s original director, David Lean.
Despite Lean leaving the project, Reeve persisted with it initially. Yet, just before the final decision, the actor turned down the offer, stating his concerns about not being a suitable fit for the role. Eventually, Mel Gibson stepped in to take over the part once Reeve had withdrawn.
3 ‘Lethal Weapon’ (1987)
Christopher Reeve wasn’t just set for The Bounty; Mel Gibson also claimed the role in another one of his films, specifically Lethal Weapon. It is widely recognized that this was Gibson’s most memorable role, where he starred as Martin Riggs alongside another detective in the action classic. In Lethal Weapon, these two LAPD detectives, despite their differences, team up to take down a drug smuggling gang.
It’s not surprising that director Richard Donner, who was behind both Lethal Weapon and 1978’s Superman, tried to get Christopher Reeve for the role of Riggs. However, Reeve turned down the offer, clearing the path for Mel Gibson to accept the part instead. The film’s success led to a series of sequels, with reports suggesting a fifth movie is currently in development.
2 ‘Philadelphia’ (1993)
In the peak of the AIDS crisis, the film titled “Philadelphia” places a bigoted small-town attorney alongside an individual suffering from HIV, forming an alliance to sue a prestigious law firm over unjust termination.
The movie unites two exceptional actors from Hollywood, Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, who might have worked together with Christopher Reeve if not for his decision to decline the role. Reeve found the script too gloomy and expressed this in a letter to producers, but considering the film’s theme, it seems he had a point, albeit a bit obvious.
1 ‘Splash’ (1984)
Approximately a decade prior to the release of “Philadelphia”, during a particularly bustling year in film history, Tom Hanks took over the role from Christopher Reeve in a lesser-known movie titled “Splash“. This film was directed by the acclaimed director Ron Howard and is a romantic comedy that revolves around the burgeoning relationship between a young man and a secretly mermaid woman. The 1980s classic, “Splash“, almost featured Christopher Reeve in the lead role but he declined it, as did Bill Murray and Michael Keaton.
In simpler terms, Tom Hanks was an unrecognized actor at that time, but eventually landed the role which became his breakthrough performance and catapulted him into Hollywood stardom (specifically in the movie “Splash”). Interestingly, many prominent figures in Hollywood were initially passed over for Christopher Reeve’s roles. It’s possible their careers might not have flourished if Reeve hadn’t initially turned down those offers first.
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2024-12-07 19:39