Every Movie Role Tom Hanks Turned Down!
7. The Thin Red Line - Lt. Col. Gordon Tall
Around 1998, it appears that a few people had a similar idea when it came to casting Tom Hanks in an epic war movie.
Though the legendary thespian would eventually commit himself to Steven Spielberg's standard bearing WWII drama, Saving Private Ryan, he was also courted to star in another war-time project going into production around the same time.
Before eventually landing on Nick Nolte, Terrence Malick wanted Hanks to play the role of Lt. Col. Gordon Tall in his very own star-studded war drama. However, Hanks had already committed to Spielberg's movie, so he had to politely decline Malick's offer.
He wasn't the only Tom who turned down Malick's war film for Spielberg's either. Tom Sizemore also decided to join the iconic director's set of troops in Saving Private Ryan after being offered a meatier role in that flick and failing to get hold of Malick for several days once the offer was on the table.
Even though The Thin Red Line still went on to be a largely acclaimed movie, earning a number of Academy Award nominations, Saving Private Ryan took home five Oscars, including Best Director for Steven Spielberg and secured Hanks yet another nomination for Best Actor.