10 Strangest Reasons Actors Turned Down Famous Movie Roles
3. Jack Nicholson Would Have To Miss LA Lakers Games - The Mosquito Coast
The Role
Allie Fox, an inventor who decides to up sticks with his family and re-settle in the jungles of Central America, where he hopes to build a new civilisation.
Allie was eventually played by Harrison Ford to solid acclaim, though director Peter Weir was initially interested in a far more naturally-suited actor for the weirdo part, Jack Nicholson.
Why He Turned It Down
In case you're not aware, Jack Nicholson is a huge fan of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, and for literally decades has organised his film projects around the team's playing schedule, even having it written into his contracts that he can have time off to watch them play.
But because The Mosquito Coast was going to be filmed on location in Belize for several months during basketball season, Nicholson declined to star.
Considering that Nicholson has held ultra-expensive courtside season tickets for the Lakers since the 1970s, it's a little less ridiculous than you might initially think.