Most celebrities have gone through the stage of not appearing in a movie after being approached. While this is a pretty common thing in Hollywood, the news of certain films missing out by a celebrity creates a buzz. Angelina Jolie, who hardly needs any introduction, has a list of movies she declined as well.
But Jolie rejecting the 2000 movie, Charlie’s Angels has been the talk of the talk of many tabloids as the movie. The Salt actor has appeared in several action films in her career, so, rejecting Charlie’s Angels was a bit of a shocker. But Jolie had her reasons.
Also read: “She was so insane inside”: Denzel Washington’s Movie Made Angelina Jolie Lonely and Drove Her Nuts
Angelina Jolie Rejected The Cameron Diaz Movie
Cameron Diaz starrer Charlie’s Angels was a great hit and went on to be a part of a three-film franchise. The movie also made its prominence with an awe-inspiring female-led action package of entertainment. Despite the star-studded cast that includes the three lead actors, Lucy Liu, Drew Barrymore, and Diaz, the studio also wanted Angelina Jolie onboard.
She would have been a wonderful addition to the film but the studio’s plan to bring her into the film did not last long as Jolie declined the offer. “When [Columbia Pictures] sent me the script for Charlie’s Angels, they said there were three reasons I should do it,” Jolie once told Premiere.
“They said there hadn’t been really good, strong roles for women; that it would make me a big star; and that I would have a fun time doing it.”
Jolie had her fair share of action roles with strong female characters. “All my roles so far in Gia, Wallace, Playing By Heart, and The Bone Collector have been strong female roles. The idea of being a big star has absolutely no appeal to me,” she said.
“Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz are already celebrities and they’re going to have great fun spoofing their images with Charlie’s Angels. I’m not at that point in my career, so audiences won’t have as much fun watching me run around in high heels chasing bad guys and flipping my hair.”
The Wanted actor further said that some part of the script was fun but the story was not for her.
Angelina Jolie Chose Nicholas Cage Movie Instead
Around 2000, Jolie was a rising star, thanks to her performances in Gia and Girl, Interrupted, the actor has received a lot of appraisals. After rejecting Charlie’s Angels, Jolie chose another action flick, Gone in 60 Seconds starring Nicholas Cage in the lead role. The actor revealed in an interview with CBS that she was looking for something different after her last film, Girl, Interrupted. “It was a really heavy thing,” she explained. “It weighed on me.”
Stating the reason for choosing the Cage movie, the actor said that her role in Gone in 60 Seconds was more attractive. “That was going to be my fun movie and I was going to have fun doing it with guys,” Jolie said.
“I did this film to ground myself because [this character] is very, y’know, her hands are greasy. She’s got two jobs. She knows what she wants, simple things make her happy. And she’s very to the point, doesn’t want much. Is just looking for a fast ride and that would make her happy,” Jolie told Associated Press.
McG’s directorial debut, Charlie’s Angels was a big movie with high production value. So, it was a no-go for the actor. “Plus, I don’t wanna be that exposed by being in a really big movie,” Jolie told Film Ink.
There is no denying that Gone in 60 Seconds has not received critical applause like Charlie’s Angels, but it did decently at the box office grossing over $237.2 million while the Diaz movie was a bit ahead with a total of $264.1 million.
Jolie is set to be in the fourth installment of the popular animated action franchise Kung Fu Panda 4 starring alongside Charlie’s Angels star Lucy Liu. The movie is set to hit theatres on 8 March 2024.
Source: Showbiz CheatSheet.
