Competing for major roles in Hollywood is the name of the game, and when a project has a ton of buzz surrounding it, the biggest actors on the planet want nothing more than to star in it. However, there is only room for one person in each role, meaning that plenty of stars miss out on big opportunities. At one point, John Travolta and Tom Cruise, who were already major stars, found themselves up for a project with a ton of potential. Neither man would get the role, and eventually, Brad Pitt was the one that got the gig and the Oscar nomination.
Let’s take a look at which character Cruise and Travolta missed out on.
John Travolta Is A Film Legend
Having been in the entertainment industry for a number of decades now, John Travolta has seen and done everything that an actor could hope for. He has starred in blockbuster hits, been showered in critical acclaim, and has made millions of dollars along the way. Thanks to his success, the actor is a genuine legend who helped raise the bar for younger performers breaking into Hollywood.
After becoming a prominent name on television, Travolta became a massive star on the big screen thanks to movies like Saturday Night Fever, Urban Cowboy, and Grease. Through the years, he would add a number of other hits, including Pulp Fiction, Face/Off, and even Wild Hogs. There were some notable peaks and valleys, and through it all, Travolta remained a fixture in entertainment.
Now, as great as it is that the man has had countless hit projects, he has also missed out on a few that could have added some luster to his legacy. Over time, Travolta has missed out on projects like Chicago, As Good As it Gets, Forrest Gump, and even The Green Mile. He could have done well in these projects, but ultimately, the casting for them wound up being fantastic. There is another major role that Travolta missed out on, but he wasn’t the only one. Turns out, Tom Cruise missed out on this role, as well.
Tom Cruise Is An Iconic Star
Much like John Travolta, Tom Cruise has been in the game for decades and spent his time becoming one of the biggest movie stars of all time. Cruise has excelled in a number of genres and in a number of projects, but what he has done as an action star has truly cemented his place in history. Some of Cruise’s notable works include the Mission: Impossible franchise, Days of Thunder, Interview with Vampire, Top Gun, Rain Man, Jerry Maguire, and more. Honestly, his list of hits rivals just about anyone else’s in Hollywood, and even now, the man is still anchoring huge projects.
Cruise, however, has missed out on plenty of projects that could have added to his already-impressive list of credits. Some notable movies that Cruise missed out on include A Beautiful Mind, Cry-Baby, Footloose, Edward Scissorhands, The Matrix, and even Iron Man. Yes, Cruise was considered for the role of Tony Stark for years, but Robert Downey Jr. wound up getting the gig.
As we mentioned already, Cruise and the aforementioned Travolta both had a chance to star as a popular character on the big screen, but both had to sit by and watch as Brad Pitt did wonderful things with the character.
They Both Missed Out On ‘The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button’
Back in 2008, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button hit theaters with a ton of hype thanks to some brilliant marketing, and it was clear early on that this movie was going to be taking fans on an interesting adventure with a fascinating character. Brad Pitt was brilliant in the titular role, as was Cate Blanchett, who once again made the most of her opportunity on the big screen.
At different points, both John Travolta and Tom Cruise were up for the role of Benjamin Button. According to IMDb, Travolta was attached to the role in the late 90s, and Ron Howard was set to direct the project. The site also shows that Cruise was attached to the project with Steven Spielberg serving as director in the 90s. Ultimately, Brad Pitt would star in the project, while David Fincher directed.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was a success at the box office that went on to win three Academy Awards. Travolta and Cruise could have done some interesting things in the lead role, but Brad Pitt was the perfect man for the job.
