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SALT LAKE CITY — One role can make or break an actor's career, and because of that actors are often very particular about what movies they'll sign on to do.
There are always stories about so-and-so who turned down this role or that role. Here is a list of 10 roles notable actors turned down and how that sometimes made another actor's career.
Will Smith - Neo, The Matrix
Before Keanu Reeves became "The Chosen One" and coined the phrase, "Whoa" Will Smith was supposed to be Neo in "The Matrix" trilogy.
Smith decided he wasn't the man for the job and passed on the project.
Jack Nicholson - Michael Corleone, The Godfather
Jack Nicholson is a screen legend and Francis Ford Coppola wanted him to be his Michael Corleone.
In 2004 Nicholson told Movieline why he passed on the role: "Back then I believed that Indians should play Indians and Italians should play Italians."
The role eventually went to Al Pacino and Nicholson said he was the best man for the role.
"There were a lot of actors who could have played Michael, myself included, but Al Pacino was Michael Corleone. I can't think of a better compliment to pay him."
Johnny Depp - Ferris Bueller, Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Johnny Depp is now a superstar, but in 1986 he was a rising star and he decided not to take on the now iconic role of Ferris Bueller.
Matthew Broderick stepped into the role instead of Depp and became a teen idol and will forever be known as Bueller.
Matt Damon - Jake Sully, Avatar - Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight
Matt Damon is offered roles all of the time and because of that he often has to turn some down because of scheduling conflicts.
Damon was offered the lead in "Avatar" but scheduling conflicts with "The Bourne Ultimatum" kept him from it. The role eventually went to Sam Worthington.
Damon was also approached to play Harvey Dent, in "The Dark Knight," but he was already tied up with Clint Eastwood's "Invictus" and had to pass. Aaron Eckhart ended up in the role as Dent/Two Face.
John Travolta - Forrest Gump, Forrest Gump
John Travolta turned down the role of Forrest Gump in the 1994 hit.
The role went to Tom Hanks, who won his second Academy Award for his work, and the film won six Oscars overall including best picture.
Travolta admitted that turning down the role was a mistake.
Tom Hanks and Kevin Costner - Andy Dufresne, The Shawshank Redemption
Director Frank Darabont approached Tom Hanks to play Dufresne in "The Shawshank Redemption" but because of his commitment to "Forrest Gump" he had to turn down the role. He later worked with Darabont on "The Green Mile."
Kevin Costner was also offered the role of Dufresne, but passed so he could tackle his pet project "Waterworld."
Sean Connery - Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings - Morpheus, The Matrix
Sean Connery has been James Bond and a Highlander, but he could have had a few other blockbusters under his belt.
Connery was offered the role of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings franchise but decided to pass and the role went to Ian McKellen.
Connery also had the chance to play Morpheus in the Matrix trilogy but ultimately decided to pass on that as well and Laurence Fishburne stepped in.
Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, Nick Nolte - Han Solo, Star Wars
The Star Wars films are some of the most iconic movies of all time and none other than Harrison Ford played one of the franchise's best characters, Han Solo. But Ford was not the producer's first choice, or second or third.
Reportedly Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Nick Nolte all passed on the role.
Tom Selleck - Dr. Indiana Jones, Raiders of the Lost Ark
The iconic role of Indiana Jones went to Harrison Ford, but he was not the first actor offered.
Both George Lucas and Steven Spielberg wanted Tom Selleck to be Indy.
Selleck screen tested and the producer and director felt they had their man. Selleck was offered the role, but because of scheduling conflicts with his TV show "Magnum P.I." he had to turn it down.
Hit the link to see Selleck's screen test as Indiana.
Julia Roberts, Halle Berry - Most of Sandra Bullock's movies
Sandra Bullock has become American's sweetheart, but if it weren't for Halle Berry and Julia Roberts turning down roles she may just be another actress.
Julia Roberts was offered the lead roles in both "The Proposal" and "The Blind Side." She turned down both and Bullock stepped in both times.
"The Proposal" went on to make $163 million at the box office and "The Blind Side" made more than $255 million and earned Bullock an Academy Award.
There are a lot of stories out there of actors passing on big roles. What are some that we missed? Let us know on the comment boards, Facebook or send me an email.
