20 Actors Who Turned Down Major Movie Roles
3. Tom Hanks - Jerry Maguire (Jerry Maguire)
Based on the way this titular character was played by Tom Cruise, it's hard to imagine Tom Hanks in the role. But that's exactly what almost happened. When Cameron Crowe began writing the script - following the failure of his last picture, Singles - he wrote Jerry Maguire with Hanks in mind.
Early in the writing process, Hanks was approached to have a look at what Crowe had come up with. Hanks took one look at the script and turned it down, saying that it was "just a story about a guy sleeping with a girl from his office."
Crowe went away to brush up on the story, but by the time he was done, Hanks had decided he was too old for the part. He had also recently won two Academy Awards and wanted to do some directing, so he and Crowe agreed to part ways.
When the film was released, Hanks - ever Mr Nice Guy - said he loved it and that Tom Cruise was "perfect" in the role.