Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow would have been in an on-screen relationship alongside Ben Affleck in a 2001 movie if they both had accepted the role. The iconic movie, directed by Michael Bay received two extreme reactions from the world as it was nominated for several Oscars, but also several Razzies.
We are talking about Michael Bay’s iconic movie, Pearl Harbor starring Ben Affleck in the lead role alongside Kate Beckinsale and Josh Hartnett. Well, the cast would have been very different if Paltrow and Damon had not rejected the roles!
Matt Damon And Gwyneth Paltrow Refused Pearl Harbor
The 2001 epic can only be described as a love story against the backdrop of historical events (like Titanic). Depicting Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale, and Josh Hartnett in the lead roles, the trio would have been very different if Affleck’s best friend had said yes.
As per the film trivia on IMDB, the producers of the 2001 film wanted Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow for the lead roles alongside Ben Affleck. However, due to scheduling conflicts, The Martian star and the Iron Man actress weren’t able to commit to the role. As a replacement, Kate Beckinsale and Josh Hartnett were selected for the roles that were meant for Damon and Paltrow.
Matt Damon would go on to star in his iconic 2001 film Ocean’s Eleven which became a major milestone in his Hollywood career. As for Michael Bay’s movie, Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale, and, Josh Hartnett were nominated for the Razzie for the Worst Screen Couple!
Matt Damon Also Refused To Star In Avatar!
Matt Damon is indeed an actor often faced with scheduling conflicts. After refusing Pearl Harbor but finding fame in other iconic movies, the actor was working on his Jason Bourne franchise when a lucrative offer came to him.
Although James Cameron did not want a star face for his 2009 film Avatar, he was ready to hire Matt Damon for the lead role and also offer him 10% of the profits. The total figure would have amounted to roughly $250 million and Damon would have found a new height of stardom.
Unfortunately, the actor was busy shooting his 2007 movie, The Bourne Ultimatum, and hence had to reject the offer. After receiving Oscars and Razzies, Pearl Harbor found a rating of 6.2/10 on IMDB and a record-breaking low of 24% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The 2001 movie is available to stream on Max in the U.S.
