10 Actors Who Were Too Scared To Accept Movie Roles
9. Hugh Jackman Was Scared About Being "Boxed-In" By James Bond
Though James Bond is a quintessentially British character, we often forget he was played by the Australian George Lazenby in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, a film that is widely considered one of the greatest entries in the series.
In the early 2000s, Bond nearly went down under for a second time, when Australia's greatest export, Hugh Jackman, was considered for the role. X-Men had just turned him into a Hollywood icon, and the Bond producers believed that his superstar chops would go nicely with a tux and a handgun.
Jackman, however, wasn't so sure. He declined the opportunity before talks could even begin, saying he was worried that the Bond role would "box me in too much". Essentially, he was scared about being known as Bond, and Bond alone, as he thought this would have a negative impact on the variety of roles he was offered.
Of course, the Aston Martin keys were ultimately handed to Daniel Craig, while Jackman went on to play a man with testicles hanging from his chin in 2013's Movie 43... not his finest moment.