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Who turned down the role for Forrest Gump?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 16, 2026

The Real Reason John Travolta Turned Down The Role Of Forrest Gump. John Travolta and Tom Hanks are such iconic and recognizable actors that it's hard to imagine either one of them playing roles the other made famous.

What actor turned down the role of Forrest Gump?

He wasn't the first choice to play Forrest, however. John Travolta was and the actor passed on the film, opting to star in Pulp Fiction instead. He's since admitted that he regrets his decision. Other actors considered for the role were Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Sean Penn.

Why did Travolta turn down Forrest Gump?

On paper, Forrest Gump could've fallen flat in several different ways. So it's likely Travolta didn't want to put his career on the line with the project. Besides, its filming would have prevented him from making another movie.

What role did Tom Hanks turn down for Forrest Gump?

The Shawshank Redemption

However, according to Vanity Fair, director Frank Darabont first offered the role to a whole host of movie stars, including Tom Cruise, Kevin Costner, and, of course, Tom Hanks, who turned it down in favor of Forrest Gump.

Did Tom Hanks refuse to get paid for Forrest Gump?

On top of that, Hanks, and Forrest Gump director Robert Zemeckis, each invested their own funds to keep scenes in the movie that Paramount Pictures was not willing to pay for, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

29 related questions found

Does Tom Hanks own Bubba Gump?

Tom Hanks' former bank is now a Bubba Gump Shrimp Company

Many years later, after Hanks had amassed a $350 million fortune, the bank was converted into a restaurant inspired by his blockbuster hit Forrest Gump. “The bigger thing about that, that was from a chemical bank,” Hanks said.

Who turned down Shawshank role?

By 1994, there was no bigger movie star than Kevin Costner. Starting with his starring role in 1987's The Untouchables, Costner went on a nearly decade-long run that saw him achieve critical and commercial dominance within the film industry.

Was Forrest Gump a flop?

Forrest Gump is considered to be a "successful failure" as Paramount claimed that, despite the film grossing over $350 million, they were still at a loss of $62 million thanks to distributors' and exhibitors' high fees and the film's marketing budget.

Who turned down the Matrix?

Keanu Reeves Thanks Will Smith For Rejecting Neo's Role In 'The Matrix' "Well, it changed my life. And, it was such a wonderful creative experience, and so to play Neo in The Matrix trilogy and now in the fourth... It impacted my life, personally and creatively," said actor Keanu Reeves.

Was Tom Selleck offered the role of Indiana Jones?

Tom Selleck: Indiana Jones in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'

Karen Allen, who played Marion Ravenwood opposite Ford as Indiana Jones, revealed the Friends alum's TV career forced him to turn down the gig. “Tom Selleck had been cast, and then it turned out Magnum P.I.

What movies did John Travolta turned down?

There's another actor who benefited even more from Travolta's losses: Richard Gere, who took on four parts which Travolta rejected. According to Business Insider, those roles were in the films "Days of Heaven," "American Gigolo," "An Officer and a Gentleman," and "Chicago."

Who turned down speed?

Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, here in 2014, co-starred in the original "Speed" film in 1994. (CNN) Keanu Reeves has revealed why he turned down the 1997 movie "Speed 2: Cruise Control." Reeves starred with Sandra Bullock in the 1994 film "Speed," about a bus that will explode if it drops below 50 miles per hour.

Who turned down the Pretty Woman role?

Molly Ringwald: Vivian Ward in 'Pretty Woman'

The '80s teen queen was reportedly close to playing then-unknown Julia Roberts' role in the 1990 classic. "Julia Roberts is what makes that movie. It was her part," Ringwald said during a Reddit Q&A in April 2012.

Was John Travolta in Forrest Gump?

John Travolta chose another iconic film over 'Forrest Gump'

But as noted above, Hanks beat out Travolta for the 1995 Oscar. Thankfully, the actor remains pragmatic about turning down the role. "If I didn't do something Tom Hanks did, then I did something else that was equally interesting or fun," Travolta told MTV.

Is Forrest Gump still rich?

Their net worth is estimated at $51.9 billion and $36.3 billion, respectively. Also making the list are industrialist and part-time superhero Tony Stark ($9.3 billion), Beverly hillbilly Jed Clampett ($9.8 billion) and Forrest Gump, whose early investment in Apple Computer has helped grow his fortune to $5.7 billion.

Who was Forrest Gump's father?

At one point, he had a job as a farmer, and resided in a very old shack with Jenny and his other daughters. According to Forrest, Mr. Curran was “a very loving man, always kissing and touching Jenny and her sisters”.

Was Forrest Gump a true story?

Although the historical events in Forrest Gump are very real, Forrest is not — however, the character was directly inspired by a handful of real people. The first is Sammy Lee Davis, a real-life veteran of the Vietnam War whose story is decidedly similar to Forrest's.

Who Turned Down Top Gun role?

Tom Cruise turned down his iconic role in 1986's Top Gun 'over and over again' until producer Jerry Bruckheimer convinced him to take the part. Tom Cruise almost skipped out on one of the most famous roles of his career.

Who turned down the role of Buzz Lightyear?

Billy Crystal has an impressive Hollywood career, starring in popular flicks such as When Harry Met Sally and City Slickers. However, despite his silver screen fame, there is one role he still regrets turning down.

Who auditioned for Andy Dufresne?

Andy Dufresne

Fellow 90s mainstays Tom Hanks and Kevin Costner were offered the role, but passed. Hanks was busy with the lead in Forrest Gump (1994), the film which would beat out Shawshank for Best Picture, among other awards.

What STD did Jenny have in Forrest Gump?

In 1994's original "Forrest Gump," the mother of Forrest Junior, Jenny (played by Robin Wright), dies after suffering from an illness implied to be HIV/AIDS.

Is Forrest Gump's son his?

Forrest accepted Forrest Jr. as his son, and therefore, Forrest Jr. is his son. Biologically though, here's some things to consider that suggest these two are not related.