Jack Nicholson is an iconic actor known for his achievements in the field of exceptional acting. With his infamous line “Here’s Johnny” in Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film The Shining, Nicholson found worldwide fame.
With his Hollywood fame on the rise, Jack Nicholson was approached with several roles and opportunities in classic movies. For various reasons, Nicholson could have replaced veteran actors like Harrison Ford and Anthony Hopkins but decided not to. Here’s a list of 5 iconic movies that Nicholson decided to reject.
1) Michael Corleone – The Godfather
Michael Corleone was the breakthrough role of veteran actor Al Pacino. As per a report, Francis Ford Coppola apparently offered Nicholson an offer that he couldn’t refuse. The actor gracefully rejected the role because he believed that “back then I believed that Indians should play Indians and Italians should play Italians.”
Or in more simpler words, the role of Michael Corleone should only be played by an Italian. Well, the role eventually went to Al Pacino but fans can’t help but wonder, what if Jack Nicholson had indeed taken the role of Michael Corleone?
2) Rick Deckard – Blade Runner
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Back in 1982, Ridley Scott created a masterpiece of a movie when he directed Blade Runner. Spanning a franchise that would release movies with huge time intervals in between, Harrison Ford was attached as the main lead of the 1982 film but the role was initially offered to Jack Nicholson.
Since most of the story relied on expressing emotions through facial expressions, Nicholson was given the opportunity but wasn’t compatible with the role.
3) Hannibal Lecter – The Silence of the Lambs
An iconic character that would have suited the Batman actor greatly was the role of Hannibal Lecter in the classic 1991 movie, The Silence of the Lambs. As per a report, Jack Nicholson was heavily considered for the role of Hannibal Lecter and was almost finalized for the same.
It wasn’t until Anthony Hopkins emerged from the shadows and showed his calm demeanor of being a complete psychopath that he was chosen in the end. Nicholson’s portrayal would have been chaotic and violent but fans would have indeed loved to see him portray the role of Hannibal Lecter.
4) Father Karras – The Exorcist
In the 1973 film, Jack Nicholson was offered the role of Father Karras in The Exorcist. As per the reports, director William Friedkin wanted desperately to work with Nicholson. The role however went to Jason Miller and the rest is history.
5) Indiana Jones – Raiders of the Lost Ark
The one role that could have potentially changed Jack Nicholson’s career was the role of Indiana Jones. Starring in the role of a fedora-wearing archeologist, Nicholson was heavily considered for the role alongside Tom Selleck.
The role eventually went to Harrison Ford and the world loved him for it. It seems that Nicholson could have brought a chaotic and frenzied side to Indiana Jones but this version of Jones never came to the light of day.
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