Brad Pitt is one of Hollywood's most recognizable and admired actors, known for his ability to reinvent himself from film to film. From the iconic force of Tyler Durden in Fight Club to the elegant charm in Ocean's Eleven and the epic courage in Troy, his filmography is full of incredible characters.
Even an actor as talented as Brad Pitt has had to make tough choices between potentially game-changing opportunities and safer bets. Over the years hes turned down a bunch of roles that now look like they could have left their mark on film history.
One of the first major movies that could have changed everything for him was Apollo 13. Brad was actually one of the top contenders to play Jack Swigert, the astronaut in that famous 1995 film, but in the end, he decided to go with Se7en, David Fincher's thriller. His family and fans were probably disappointed, but Pitt was convinced he was making the right call - it allowed him to take on a super complex character and nail down his rep as a versatile actor.
Science fiction even threw him an opportunity that he chose not to take. Then they offered the role of Neo in The Matrix to Brad Pitt. He turned it down - thought the character just wasn't right for him - and instead focused on Tyler Durden, a character that let him explore some really dark and provocative aspects of his own personality. That refusal is one of the most talked-about "what ifs" in Hollywood history.
Another opportunity he missed out on is Almost Famous. Cameron Crowe was also thinking of him for Russell Hammond, the lead guitarist of a 1970s rock band. Pitt probably bailed because of the age difference with the young Penny Lane - and maybe because he thought the part wasn't complex enough. Anyway, the character went to Billy Crudup, but it's always fun to think about what would have happened if Pitt had taken the role - it might have totally changed the vibe of the film, which is now a cult classic with 4 Oscar nominations. Pitt's career has also been influenced by all sorts of age and timing considerations - on The Departed, for example, Scorsese initially thought of him for the role of Colin Sullivan, the young, corrupt cop. However, feeling like he was getting a bit old for the part, Pitt gave it to Matt Damon. He did stay on as a producer, and that turned out pretty well since the film won 4 Oscars, including Best Director.
One of the most surprising rejections is probably for The Shawshank Redemption - Pitt was actually cast as Tommy Williams, the young inmate whose storyline is crucial to the plot, but he bailed for Interview with the Vampire instead, leaving the role to Gil Bellows. Even without him in it the film turned out pretty amazing - audiences loved it and critics didn't have any complaints.
All of these rejections show that even an actor of Pitt's level has to make tough choices - balancing their gut feeling, the timing and all the artistic considerations that come into play. The roles he didn't take do look like they might have changed his career path, but at the same time, they allowed him to focus on projects that really showcased his talent.