10 Actors Who Turned Down a Huge Pay Day

Discover out why these actors turned down large bucks…

1. Matt Damon – “Avatar”

Matt Damon was initially up for the starring position as Jake Sully in “Avatar,” however turned it down because of scheduling conflicts. Wanting again, the actor revealed that director James Cameron had provided him 10% of the movie’s income if he have been to simply accept the position — which might have totaled over $250 million.

“Jim Cameron provided me ‘Avatar.’ And when he provided it to me, he goes, ‘Now, hear. I do not want anyone. I do not want a reputation for this, a named actor. In case you do not take this, I’ll discover an unknown actor and provides it to him, as a result of the film would not really want you. However when you take the half, I am going to provide you with ten per cent of [the film’s profits].’ I noticed in having to say no that I used to be in all probability passing on the prospect to ever work with him. In order that sucked and that is nonetheless brutal. However my youngsters are all consuming. I am doing OK,” Matt instructed GQ.

2. Sean Connery – “Lord of the Rings”

Earlier than Ian McKellen joined the solid of “Lord of the Rings,” the late Sean Connery was requested to play Gandalf. Sean was reportedly provided $30 million in addition to 15% of the field workplace earnings — which might have totaled over $400 million. Regardless of the large payday, Sean nonetheless turned down director Peter Jackson, who says the actor simply did not perceive the script.

“We did make a proposal to Connery however he mentioned no. We by no means received a solution till years later, however apparently he learn the fabric and simply did not get it,” Peter instructed the Unbiased.

3. Will Ferrell – “Elf 2”

After the large success of “Elf,” a sequel was written that was as soon as once more set to star Will Ferrell. He was provided $29 million to tackle the position of Buddy the Elf as soon as once more however he turned it down as a result of he thought the plot merely rehashed the primary film.

“I might have needed to promote the film from an sincere place, which might’ve been, like, ‘Oh no, it is not good. I simply could not flip down that a lot cash.’ And I assumed, ‘Can I truly say these phrases? I do not suppose I can, so I suppose I can not do the film,'” Will instructed THR.

4. Josh Hartnett – “The Darkish Knight”

Josh Hartnett was initially up for the position of Batman within the “Darkish Knight” trilogy however turned it down as a result of he was burnt out. Whereas it is not identified precisely how a lot he was provided, the position ended up going to Christian Bale, who made a reported $45 million.

“I’ve undoubtedly mentioned no to a few of the incorrect folks. I mentioned no as a result of I used to be drained and needed to spend extra time with my family and friends. That is frowned upon on this business. Individuals do not like being instructed no. I do not prefer it. I realized my lesson when Christopher Nolan and I talked about ‘Batman.’ I made a decision it wasn’t for me. Then he did not wish to put me in ‘The Status.’ They not solely employed their Batman for it, in addition they employed my girlfriend [Scarlett Johansson] on the time,” Josh instructed The Guardian.

5. Keanu Reeves – “Pace 2: Cruise Management”

When “Pace” grew to become an enormous hit on the field workplace, star Keanu Reeves was instantly requested to return for the sequel. The actor was even reportedly provided $11 million for the position however ended up turning it down as a result of he wasn’t a fan of the script.

“I did not get to be in that. Nicely I made a decision to not be in that. I learn the script and I used to be like, ‘Ugggghhh.’ It was a few cruise ship and I used to be pondering, ‘A cruise ship is even slower than a bus,’ and I used to be like, ‘I like you guys, however I simply cannot do it,'” Keanu mentioned on “Jimmy Kimmel Reside.”

6. Michael Keaton – “Batman Ceaselessly”

Michael Keaton had already portrayed Batman in two earlier movies when he was requested to return for “Batman Ceaselessly.” Sadly, Michael wasn’t as within the movie following the departure of director Tim Burton and ended up turning down a reported $15 million payday.

“The straightforward reply was, it wasn’t any good. I used to be good. I mentioned to them, ‘This can be a actually fascinating character with a twin character.’ I attempted to make them perceive. However when somebody says to you, ‘Does it should be so darkish?’…I assumed, Are we speaking about the identical character? So lastly I simply mentioned no,” Michael instructed Leisure Weekly.

7. Matthew McConaughey – Unknown

Matthew McConaughey grew to become the king of rom-coms within the early 2000s however there got here a degree the place he needed to pivot his profession in a brand new course. On the time, he was solely getting provides for a similar forms of movies and he determined he wanted to begin turning them down if he needed to transition to totally different sorts of roles. That included turning down a movie that provided him $14.5 million.

“I declined the provide. If I could not do what I needed, I wasn’t going to do what I did not, irrespective of the worth,” Matthew wrote in his memoir “Greenlights.”

8. Jerry Seinfeld – “Seinfeld”

After nearly a decade on the air, Jerry Seinfeld simply wasn’t enthusiastic about one other season of “Seinfeld.” Amid the present’s large success, the community needed Jerry to return for yet another season however he declined. The actor was reportedly provided $110 million for the season, which might have totaled a whopping $5 million per episode, however he says he has no regrets about turning it down.

“It was the proper second…Crucial phrase in artwork is ‘proportion.’ How a lot? How lengthy is that this joke going to be? What number of phrases? What number of minutes? And getting that proper is what makes it artwork or what makes it mediocre,” Jerry instructed The New York Instances Journal.

9. Russell Crowe –  “Lord of the Rings”

Russell Crowe was provided the position of Aragorn in “Lord of the Rings” however turned down what would have been an enormous payday as a result of he felt that he wasn’t truly director Peter Jackson’s first alternative. Reflecting on the scenario, Russell says he was provided 10% of the backend grosses of the trilogy, which might have amounted to over $100 million.

“I did not suppose Peter Jackson truly needed me on that movie, as a result of I believe he was compelled into speaking to me, as a result of there was a second in time when everyone needed me in all the pieces…I’m speaking to him on the telephone, and it is like, I do not suppose he even is aware of what I’ve completed. I simply knew that my intuition was that he had anyone else in thoughts, which turned out to be Viggo [Mortensen], and he ought to be allowed to rent the actor that he needs,” Russell mentioned on “The Howard Stern Present.”

10. Jim Parsons

After 12 seasons on the air, Jim Parsons was able to say goodbye to “The Massive Bang Principle,” despite the fact that he was making large bucks. Earlier than the present ended, Jim was reportedly making almost $1 million per episode and CBS needed him to signal on for 2 extra seasons. If he had caught round, Jim stood to make greater than $50 million — however he nonetheless turned it down.

Jim later defined that previous to the present’s remaining season, he had “an intense summer season” of labor and private occasions that left him feeling burnt out and affirmed that he was making the correct option to stroll away.