The Decisions That Changed the Face of Hollywood As We Know It

-- Bruce Willis was originally cast as Danny Ocean in 'Ocean's Eleven.' Replacement George Clooney celebrated by having a keg of Guinness installed in his dressing room. Jon Favreau, who wrote 'Swingers,' turned down the offer to write the screenplay. Owen and Luke Wilson dropped out of playing the brothers Virgil and Tuck to film 'The Royal Tenenbaums.' Michael Douglas and Warren Beatty were all considered for the role Terry Benedict which eventually went to Andy Garcia.

-- Englishman Hugh Laurie, star of 'House,' won the British national title as a member of the junior coxed pair and was a varsity rower at the University of Cambridge before quitting due to mononucleosis. He rebounded by taking up acting and starring alongside love interest Emma Thompson with the Cambridge Footlights. In response to Laurie's audition for 'House,' producer David Shore exclaimed "See, this is what I want; an American guy." The audition video was shot in a hotel bathroom in Namibia. "It was the only place with enough light," confessed Laurie.

-- Ewan McGregor turned down the role of Neo in 'The Matrix' to work on 'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.' His uncle, Denis Lawson, acted in the original 'Star Wars' trilogy and was McGregor's inspiration to get involved in show business. Will Smith turned down the role of Neo because he "wasn't smart enough as an actor." Sean Connery was originally offered the role of Morpheus but refused because he couldn't understand the script. Carrie-Anne Moss (Trinity) didn't tell anyone she twisted her ankle while filming for fear she would be re-cast.


-- Steve McQueen was the first to turn down the role of Captain Willard in 'Apocalypse Now.' Jeff Bridges auditioned for the role and Nick Nolte expressed interest but director Francis Ford Coppola instead went with Harvey Keitel. Within two weeks of shooting, he was replaced by Martin Sheen.

-- 'Entourage' is loosely based on the experiences of executive producer Mark Wahlberg as an up-and-coming Hollywood star. Kevin Connolly, who portrays Eric, had retired from acting but was convinced to act in the show after the creators said his part was written with him in mind.

-- Paramount Pictures considered Ernest Borgnine, Orson Welles and George C. Scott for the role of Vito Corleone in 'The Godfather.' Director Francis Ford Coppola preferred either Laurence Olivier or Marlon Brando. Olivier was too sick so the role went to Brando. Sylvester Stallone was rejected for a role and shifted to screenwriting, later penning the script for 'Rocky.' Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman and Jack Nicholson all turned down offers to play the role of Michael Corleone, a role which turned Al Pacino into a star.

-- Patrick Dempsey, aka McDreamy, auditioned for the role of Dr. Chase on 'House' before taking the role of Dr. Shepherd on 'Grey's Anatomy.' Rob Lowe passed on the role. Isaiah Washington (Dr. Burke) also auditioned to portray Dr. Shepherd. The show was originally titled 'Complications.'

-- Quentin Tarantino plied Brad Pitt with five bottles of Pink Floyd Rose wine at Brangelina's Chateau Miraval estate before he accepted a role in 'Inglourious Basterds.' Tarantino approached Adam Sandler to star as a Nazi but was rebuffed by his choice to film 'Funny People.'

-- 'Gossip Girl' was originally pitched as a feature film starring Lindsay Lohan as Blair Waldorf. After repeated failings, the show's backers eventually approached Josh Schwartz, producer of 'The O.C.," to turn it into a television series. Mischa Barton turned down the role of Georgina Sparks. It was later given to Michelle Trachtenberg. Leighton Meester dyed her blonde hair brunette to audition to play Blair Waldorf.

-- Despite rampant speculation to the contrary, Heath Ledger was director Christopher Nolan's only choice to portray The Joker in 'The Dark Knight.' Rachel McAdams, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Emily Blunt were rumored to play Rachel Dawes, a role turned down by incumbent Katie Holmes and eventually portrayed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Josh Lucas, Mark Ruffalo and Liev Schreiber were considered for the role of Harvey Dent but Aaron Eckhart won out.

-- Nicolas Cage was so close to starring in 'The Wrestler' that he was seen doing research for the part at a Ring of Honor Wrestling event in New York City. But director Darren Aronofsky decided against the desires of investors that Robinson could only be played by Mickey Rourke.

Sources: IMDB | Research by Dino Sossi and Megan Rumph

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