movies tom cruise turned down

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Every major movie role tom cruise turned down.

While Tom Cruise is iconic as Ethan Hunt and Maverick, here's a run-through of the biggest movie roles the Mission: Impossible star turned down.

Here’s every major movie role Tom Cruise has turned down. The Mission Impossible star’s almost four-decade-long acting career is nothing short of impressive, from the dedication with which he throws himself headfirst into a role to  the death-defying Mission: Impossible stunts he has managed to pull off over the years. Cruise has a long string of memorable performances to his credit, starting with his breakthrough role as Joel Goodson in the 1983 American comedy Risky Business and his iconic portrayal of expert aviator Maverick in Top Gun . Then on, Cruise went on to work with some of the most prolific directors of all time, including auteur Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, and Martin Scorsese to name a few. 

Apart from lending his charismatic presence to big-budget action/sci-fi films like Edge of Tomorrow and Oblivion , Cruise is known for his intense commitment and drive in terms of pre-role preparation and character study. This is exemplified in the filming circumstances of Eyes Wide Shut , with its sprawling two-year filming, no set end-date, and Kubrick’s obsessive perfectionism that once led to Cruise doing 95 takes of simply walking through a door. Fast-forward twelve years and Cruise’s intense enthusiasm towards his roles has not faded - as signified by his Burj Kalifa stint in 2011’s Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol , along with the decision to  shoot aboard the International Space Station in zero-gravity for an upcoming space movie. 

RELATED:  Mission Impossible: How Tom Cruise Pulled Off Rogue Nation's Plane Stunt

Cruise fans will also be excited about his other upcoming projects, which reprise his characters Maverick and Ethan Hunt - both having had an indelible impact on popular consciousness. While he has signed on to exciting projects throughout his career, there are a raft of roles that the Jack Reacher star has said no to, including a wildly-popular '80s dance flick and a leading role in a beloved cinematic universe. While Cruise has been nothing but a powerhouse despite passing up on some big-budget franchises, here’s a run-through of major movie roles that are a peek into what might have been.

It is difficult to envision anyone other than Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, owing to the emotional depth and nuanced wit he was able to bring to the character. Jon Favreau's Iron Man emerged as a trendsetter for superhero movies, without which, the Marvel Cinematic Universe wouldn’t be the same as it is today. However, in 2008, the studio was keener on casting Cruise, as he had expressed interest in the part and producing the film at the same time. While it might’ve been interesting to see Cruise don Tony Stark’s powered exoskeleton, it is probably for the best, as Cruise himself admitted in a 2005 interview that things wouldn’t have worked out if he chose to go down that road: 

“It's not happening. Not with me, no … They came to me at a certain point and, when I do something, I wanna do it right. If I commit to something, it has to be done in a way that I know it's gonna be something special. And as it was lining up, it just didn't feel to me like it was gonna work. I need to be able to make decisions and make the film as great as it can be, and it just didn't go down that road that way.”

The Shawshank Redemption

The enduring legacy of Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption , starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, is that of a rich, balanced narrative that captures the idea of the triumph of the human spirit without coming off as superficial or forced. Based on the Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption , the film’s titular character, Andy Dufresne, was to be played by Cruise, as per the vision of producer Rob Reiner. Reiner, who had previously worked with Cruise on the sets of A Few Good Men , offered Darabont “a sh*tload of dough” in exchange for casting Cruise and handing over artistic control. While it was a tempting offer, Darabont refused, choosing to hold on to his creative integrity. The rest is history, as the film went on to garner seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. 

RELATED:  Stephen King Theory: IT & The Shawshank Redemption Are Connected

Cruise’s memorable dance sequence in Risky Business convinced the producers of Footloose that he would be perfect for the part of “neutral teen” Ren McCormack. However, Cruise was unavailable for the part as he was busy filming All The Right Moves , in which he plays a Serbian American high-school defense back named Stefen Djordjevic. Eventually, the role was bagged by Kevin Bacon, who, in one of the film’s iconic scenes, belted out a distinctively frenzied dance move in an empty warehouse to the song Never by Moving Pictures. Footloose also got a sequel but lacked the charm of the original. 

Edward Scissorhands 

Despite the box office success of 1989’s Batman , Tim Burton was at the studio’s mercy in terms of casting for Edward Scissorhands , as they wanted Cruise to take up the mantle of the gentle-hearted artificial humanoid. While Burton did meet up with Cruise to discuss the character, he later commented that it “worked out for the best” as Cruise had suggested a “happier” ending for the fantasy romance film. Johnny Depp ended up getting the part, churning a terrific performance that artfully translated the character’s fierce longing to be loved.

A Beautiful Mind 

Prior to being a Ron Howard classic starring Russell Crowe, A Beautiful Mind was set to be a Robert Redford film starring none other than Cruise, as Nobel Prize-winning mathematician John Nash. However, Tom Cruise went to turn down the role in favor of working with Jerry Maguire director Cameron Crowe in the surrealist drama Vanilla Sky , the English language remake of the 1997 Spanish film, Abre los ojos .

NEXT:  Every Major Movie Role Leonardo DiCaprio Turned Down

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Top gun: maverick, mission: impossible - dead reckoning part one.

13 Iconic Movie Roles That Were Turned Down By Huge Stars

Head of Entertainment, HuffPost UK

We can’t imagine anyone but Tom Hanks playing Forrest Gump, or Reese Witherspoon as Elle Brooks in Legally Blonde .

But these are just two iconic roles that were originally offered to other big name stars, who ultimately turned them down.

Find out who could have played them instead – plus many more surprises – below...

Forrest Gump

Starred: Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump

Turned down by: John Travolta

John Travolta opted to star in Pulp Fiction instead of taking the titular role in Robert Zemeckis’s classic.

The two films ended up going head-to-head at the 1995 Oscars, with Forrest Gump bagging six awards – including a Best Actor gong for Tom – compared to one for Pulp Fiction

Legally Blonde

Starred: Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods

Turned down by: Christina Applegate

Anchorman star Christina has since admitted that turning down the lead in the hit 2001 comedy was a “stupid move”.

“I got scared of kind of repeating myself,” Christina revealed in 2015 .

The iconic role eventually went to Reese Witherspoon, and is still arguably the part she is best known for.

Pretty Woman

Starred: Richard Gere as Edward Lewis

Turned down by: Burt Reynolds

Hollywood legend Burt opted not to lock lips with Julia Roberts in the 1990 rom-com and the role of Edward Lewis eventually went to Richard Gere.

Rumour has it that Burt also turned down the opportunity to play James Bond because he didn’t think the public wouldn’t accept an American 007.

The Silence Of The Lambs

Starred: Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling

Turned down by: Michelle Pfeiffer

In a 2021 interview with The New Yorker , Michelle revealed she had turned down the role of FBI agent Clarice Starling because she was uncomfortable with the film’s “evil” message and ending.

“With Silence of the Lambs, I was trepidatious,” she said. “There was such evil in that film. It was that evil won in the end, that at the end of that film evil ruled out. I was uncomfortable with that ending. I didn’t want to put that out into the world.”

The role went on to earn Jodie Foster her second Best Actress Oscar.

Starred: Keanu Reeves as Neo

Turned down by: Will Smith

Keanu worked with Will Smith’s wife Jada in the second and third Matrix films, but the Fresh Prince star was actually up for the lead role initially.

He later admitted that had he taken on the role, he thinks he would have “messed it up”.

“The Matrix is a difficult concept to pitch,” he told Wired in 2004 . “In the pitch, I just didn’t see it. I watched Keanu’s performance – and very rarely do I say this – but I would have messed it up. At that point I wasn’t smart enough as an actor to let the movie be.”

Starred: Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater

Turned down by: Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwynnie said her mother believed it was “not ladylike” to talk openly about turning down roles, which included the lead in Titanic.

She added that she “couldn’t change the past.”

Starred: Kevin Bacon as Ren McCormack

Turned down by: Tom Cruise

We still have no idea if Tom Cruise can actually dance, but we almost found out when he was up for the lead role in this 80s classic.

However, Tom had already committed to All The Right Moves and so the role went to Kevin Bacon instead.

Shakespeare In Love

Starred: Gwyneth Paltrow as Viola De Lesseps

Turned down by: Julia Roberts

When Daniel Day Lewis turned down the role of Will Shakespeare (eventually played by Joseph Fiennes), Julia also passed on the period drama at the eleventh hour.

“Daniel wasn’t interested, so Julia withdrew and the whole thing fell through just six weeks before filming was due to begin,” cast member Simon Callow revealed in 2014.

Gwyneth Paltrow went on to win an Academy Award – complete with a very emotional acceptance speech – for playing the role of Viola.

Starred: Harrison Ford as Han Solo

The Hollywood icon, who died in 2018, told Business Insider that he “just didn’t want to play that kind of role at the time”.

Screen legend Al Pacino also said no, before Harrison Ford was signed up.

Starred: Emma Stone as Mia Dolan

Turned down by: Emma Watson

It was another famous Emma who was originally lined up to play Mia in the Oscar-winning musical feature film.

“It’s one of these frustrating things where sort of names get attached to projects very early on as a way to kind of build anticipation or excitement for something that’s coming before anything is really actually agreed or set in stone,” the Harry Potter star said in 2017.

Meanwhile, Emma Stone went on to bag her very first Oscar for her performance opposite Ryan Gosling.

Years later, Emma Watson would end up taking on a role that was originally offered to Emma Stone, when the latter dropped out of Greta Gerwig’s Little Women.

Brokeback Mountain

Starred: Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist

Turned down by: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon

The Oscar-winning film’s producers struggled to cast the two lead roles, with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars passing on the film. Director Gus Van Sant, who was eventually replaced by Ang Lee, told IndieWire that “nobody wanted to do it. They all said no”.

Ang Lee went on to win the Best Director Oscar and Heath Ledger, who played farmer Ennis, received a Best Actor nomination.

Monster’s Ball

Starred: Halle Berry as Leticia Musgrove

Turned down by: Angela Bassett

Halle Berry became the first African-American woman to win the Best Actress Oscar for her role as Leticia in the 2001 movie Monster’s Ball, but the part was originally intended for Angela Bassett.

Explaining her reasons for passing on the role, Angela told Newsweek: “It’s about character, darling. I wasn’t going to be a prostitute on film. I couldn’t do that because it’s such a stereotype about Black women and sexuality.”

Starred: Russell Crowe as Maximus

Turned down by: Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson believed he was too old for the physical demands required for the lead role in Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning epic.

The part eventually went to Kiwi actor Russell Crowe, who went on to win the Best Actor Oscar in 2001.

More In Entertainment

Actors Who Refused Roles In Tom Cruise Movies

There are few actors who have dominated the screen for as long as Tom Cruise , who has been among Hollywood's biggest leading men for nearly 40 years. The fact that he's as recognizable an action hero to kids of the 2020s as he is to children of the '80s is perhaps his greatest feat.

With such a long and impressive filmography though, Cruise has had the pleasure of acting alongside greats from multiple eras of Hollywood. From elder statesmen like '60s screen legend Paul Newman in "The Color of Money" to today's hottest young rising stars like Monica Barbaro in "Top Gun: Maverick."  Even with so many movies across parts of five decades, there are still plenty of stars that Cruise hasn't gotten a chance to work with. But a few came pretty close.

Whether it was because of a scheduling conflict with another film they were making, a lack of interest in the particular project, or even an objection to the script, there are quite a few big names that turned down offers to star with the great Tom Cruise. Some regret it, and some might not, but was it a mistake to pass up the opportunity? Read on and judge for yourself.

Ian McKellan in Mission: Impossible II

The "Mission: Impossible" movies have always had great villains with talented actors playing slippery, slimy terrorists and international criminals, from Phillip Seymour Hoffman to Henry Cavill . But for "Mission: Impossible II," Cruise almost enlisted the services of British actor Ian McKellan . The revelation that he turned down an offer from Cruise came in an interview with McKellan for People Magazine in July 2015, and according to the actor, if he'd agreed, he may have missed out on two of his most iconic roles.

"I got offered a part in 'Mission: Impossible II' with Tom Cruise but they wouldn't let me see the whole script because I might have spilled the beans," he said. "I only got my scenes." This didn't sit well with McKellan, who wasn't happy about the thought of agreeing to a project without seeing the entire story. "Well, I couldn't judge from reading just those scenes what the script was like. So I said no. And my agent said, 'You can't say no to working with Tom Cruise!' and I said, 'I think I will.'"

But the real stunner is that it was literally the very next day that director Bryan Singer offered him the role of Magneto in "X-Men." Shortly thereafter he secured the role of Gandalf from Peter Jackson in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and according to McKellan, he'd probably have had to turn both of them down if he'd agreed to "Mission: Impossible II."

Dennis Rodman in Jerry Maguire

Basketball star Dennis Rodman was at the height of his fame playing alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls when he attempted a big-time Hollywood career. He wound up starring in a few major films, including "Double Team" in 1997 alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme and "Simon Sez" two years later, but never quite found the big screen fame he was looking for. But it all could have gone down very differently had he not turned down an offer to star opposite Cruise in the 1996 sports comedy, "Jerry Maguire."

The film stars Cruise as a sports agent who starts his own firm, which struggles to survive with one complicated superstar client, Rod Tidwell, played by Cuba Gooding Jr. But during a 2019 episode of the "The Dan Patrick Show," ESPN host Roy Firestone — who played himself in the film — made a surprising reveal about director Cameron Crowe's original ideas for the film's cast. "Originally Rodman was going to be Rod Tidwell, people don't know that ... he turned down the role."

Firestone didn't divulge why exactly Rodman passed — it could very well have been a scheduling conflict with his NBA duties — but missing out on what turned out to be an Oscar-winning role for Cuba Gooding Jr. may be one of the biggest mistakes he made in Hollywood.

Jason Alexander in A Few Good Men

Jason Alexander became a household name thanks to his iconic role as quirky, perpetually down-on-his-luck New Yorker George Costanza in the trailblazing sitcom "Seinfeld."  But before he was a sitcom star he was offered a role in the 1992 legal drama, "A Few Good Men." It all happened in 1990 when director Rob Reiner was assembling his cast, and according to actor Kevin Pollack in an interview with Vanity Fair in 2017, the role he wound up playing was originally intended for Alexander.

"I have an offer out to Jason Alexander," Pollack said he was told by Reiner at the time. But believe it or not, most expected that "Seinfeld" wouldn't get a second season, and Reiner only had Pollack as his backup choice should Alexander have a scheduling conflict. "It was one of those bizarre moments that could have gone either way," Pollack said. Ultimately, "Seinfeld" got its renewal — and many more — and Pollack snagged the role in "A Few Good Men" which wound up earning four Academy Award nominations . "It worked out pretty great for Jason and myself."

In 2021, the "Seinfeld" star acknowledged the offer to play the part in a post on Twitter : "[Kevin Pollack] was my replacement and I have never forgiven him for being better than I would have been. Now he's a pal and I'm waiting for him to quit a job for me."

Bill Murray in Rain Man

Imagine  "Ghostbusters" star  Bill Murray  playing Bill Harford, a psychiatrist who discovers a hidden world of sexual hedonism in the Stanley Kubrick film, "Eyes Wide Shut." In the 2020-released book, "Stanley Kubrick: American Filmmaker," it's revealed that Murray was on the filmmaker's short list of casting choices when he was planning the movie in the 1980s before the role went to Cruise in 1999 (via the Independent ). But that's not the role we're here to discuss  – because about a decade earlier, Murray was offered a role opposite Cruise in the 1988 drama, "Rain Man."

In a 2018 interview with Yahoo , the film's screenwriter Barry Morrow talked about how the movie was cast. "Dustin was the first person to commit to the project," he said. "[The script] was sent to him and Bill Murray simultaneously by Mike Ovitz at CAA ... I think what I heard was that Bill Murray just didn't read the script and Dustin did." Clearly, Murray wasn't very interested in the project, passing by default as Hoffman got the coveted role that would earn him an Academy Award for best actor. "Dustin called and marked his territory," Morrow concluded.

Don't feel too bad for Murray though. After turning down a chance to star alongside Cruise, the former "Saturday Night Live" star turned his attention to "Scrooged" which has gone on to become an iconic Christmas classic and one of his most celebrated roles.

Javier Bardem in Minority Report

Javier Bardem got his start in his native Spain, starring in a number of films there throughout the 1990s before making the leap to Hollywood. Eventually, after a small role alongside Cruise in "Collateral" and a leading part in the drama "Goya's Ghosts," he'd gain notoriety for his turn as the villainous Anton Chigurh in the Coen Brothers' 2007 masterpiece, "No Country for Old Men." But before "Collateral," Bardem almost starred with Cruise in the 2002 Steven Spielberg-directed sci-fi action, "Minority Report."  

In fact, during a speech at the Toronto Film Festival in 2017 (via The Hollywood Reporter ), Bardem revealed he was Spielberg's original choice for Department of Justice agent Danny Witwer. "When I met [Spielberg], I was really star-struck," Bardem said of his first meeting with the director. But having starred almost entirely in Spanish films to that point, Bardem had reservations about making a leading role in such a high-profile role one of his first American projects. "Now I can, because I've done those roles. But at the time, it was difficult for me to jump into a foreign-language performance," Bardem explained. "My English is better now. You may not believe it, but it's better."

Ultimately, Witwer was played by Irish actor Colin Farrell, who had made his big-screen debut just three years prior. The role brought Farrell to stardom, and while Bardem would have to wait a little longer, it worked out pretty well for everyone involved.

Val Kilmer in Collateral

Val Kilmer is probably best known for starring in "Top Gun," in which he plays Maverick's rival and eventual wingman Lt. Tom "Iceman" Kazansky. Ironically enough, he initially turned down the part, telling Entertainment Weekly in 2022 that it took Cruise cajoling him to accept the role. He'd reprise the part more than 35 years later in the legacy sequel, "Top Gun: Maverick," where he was brought back together with Cruise for the first time since the original film. But the on-screen reunion between the actors almost took place 18 years earlier when he was offered a role in the 2004 thriller, "Collateral."

Directed by Michael Mann, the film follows an unwitting taxi cab driver (Jamie Foxx) who is forced to play driver to a deadly hit man (Cruise). Initially, Kilmer was announced to star in the film in an undisclosed role, as noted by Variety in a 2003 report that also announced the addition of Jada Pinkett Smith to the cast. But within weeks, it was reported that Kilmer had departed the film (via MovieWeb ), as the shooting schedule came into conflict with Oliver Stone's "Alexander," which he was already well into filming.

According to the report, Kilmer was never actually signed on but was deep in talks to join the film alongside his old friend. Though it's never been confirmed what role Kilmer would have held, it's likely it was Detective Fanning, a part held by then lesser-known Mark Ruffalo.

Ricky Gervais in Mission: Impossible III

For "Mission: Impossible III," Cruise, who also served as producer on the franchise, needed a fresh new direction. After failing to get the project in motion with Joe Carnahan (with a cast that would have featured Scarlett Johansson, Kenneth Branagh, and Carrie-Anne Moss, per Slashfilm ), he turned to TV director J.J. Abrams to direct the next installment. Looking for some new cast members, Abrams put out an offer to Ricky Gervais, creator and star of the British sitcom, "The Office."

In fact, Gervais officially landed the role of quirky tech savant Benji Dunn in January 2005, with the actor himself excited to join the film. "I greatly admire the director [J.J.] Abrams and Tom Cruise is the greatest film star of our generation. It should be fun," he told the Daily Mirror at the time (via  UPI ). Unfortunately, repeated delays in the film's production proved to be a problem for Gervais, who was committed to not just his own TV series, which was seeing an explosion in popularity, but the Christopher Guest film "For Your Consideration" (per  Vulture ). Eventually, Gervais was forced to drop out and was replaced by "Shaun of the Dead" star, Simon Pegg.

Oddly enough, this wouldn't be the last time that Abrams would call on Gervais only to be rebuffed. The director would offer him the part of Scotty in the big-screen reboot of "Star Trek,"  and it would once again be Pegg who wound up taking the role.

Jessica Chastain in Oblivion

Imagine, if you will, an  Oscar-nominated actor has signed up for a movie opposite Cruise, but at the last minute wants to drop out to pursue a different role in another project. You might think that a superstar like Cruise would be furious to lose an actor who could very well help make or break his film and perhaps even be insulted that they wanted out of being his co-star. But when that very scenario played out around the casting of the 2013 film "Oblivion," Cruise did the unexpected: in a testament to his strong character, the Hollywood legend actually helped Jessica Chastain wiggle out of her commitment to the film so she could star in another movie.

The year was 2012, and Chastain was all lined up to play the role of Julia (ultimately portrayed by Olga Kurylenko) when she was given an offer by director Kathryn Bigelow to star in the military thriller, "Zero Dark Thirty." Mesmerized by the script, she went to Cruise himself with the news, and to her surprise, he not only gave his blessing but talked to the studio himself about letting Chastain out of her contract. "Someone contacted him from my agency and said, 'Listen, she wants to work with you. And she would love to, but there is this other film, and it's so important,'" Chastain told  Vanity Fair in 2017. "And with his support, I was able to do this movie. He's a pretty incredible human."

Eva Herzigová in Eyes Wide Shut

Czech model Eva Herzigová was a regular on magazine racks on the covers of "Elle," "Vogue," and "Top Model" in the 1990s when she embarked on a career as an actress. Though she only made a few appearances in movies, she almost nabbed a part in the 1999 erotic thriller, "Eyes Wide Shut." Directed by legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, the film starred Cruise and his then-wife Nicole Kidman  and had a number of casting changes during development ( per Sun Sentinel ). 

Herzigová was also offered a role by Kubrick, and you'd think an aspiring actress would leap at the chance to work with a trio of Hollywood heavyweights. But in an interview with the New York Times , Herzigova talked about turning down the role: ”He only called because he needed a model,” she claimed shortly before the film's release. ”The part called for three scenes: in the first, I'm [using drugs]; in the second, I have an intense 20-minute dialogue with Tom Cruise, and in the third, I'm dead — and I had to do it all totally nude." 

While it could have been a career game-changer, Herzigová stuck to her principles: "I just didn't want to start out that way. I really tried to bargain with him and say, 'Couldn't I just wear a little something?' but he said no.”

Nicholas Hoult in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning

It was first announced  in January 2019 that director Christopher McQuarrie would return to the "Mission: Impossible" franchise for not just his third directorial effort in the series but his fourth as well. The two films would comprise the final entries in the entire saga, and send Cruise's Ethan Hunt out in a two-part bang titled "Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning." A sprawling cast would include returning stars Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, and Vanessa Kirby, with Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Rob Delaney, Cary Elwes, Esai Morales, and Nick Offerman joining across the two films. But "Mad Max: Fury Road"  star Nicholas Hoult was almost a member too.

In a 2021 profile of the actor in The Hollywood Reporter , it was revealed that Hoult declined a role offered to him personally by Cruise after passing a fight choreography test with flying colors. The part would have been for one of the film's main villains which ultimately went to Morales. But the real reason he declined isn't what you'd expect. As mentioned by THR, the ongoing situation with the COVID-19 pandemic led to repeated delays and production problems on "Dead Reckoning," which wound up creating problems for Hoult. Already booked with other projects — including the "Dracula" spin-off "Renfield" directed by Chris McKay — Hoult had to bow out, despite the personal invitation and all the physical prep work.

Jessica Chastain in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

That's right, "Oblivion" wasn't the only time that Jessica Chastain passed up a chance to star opposite Cruise in a big-budget blockbuster. After she'd dropped out of "Oblivion," it was only a year later that word would pop up that she was again being sought for another Cruise project, this time the fifth film in the "Mission: Impossible" series, "Rogue Nation." It was in April 2014 that it was widely reported by the likes of IndieWire that she was sought for a major role.

The following month,  Deadline announced that she was indeed the top choice and that she was offered the part, even noting how she had previously passed  on "Oblivion." But once again, Chastain eventually opted out of the film, and it was confirmed just two months later that Chastain was no longer in the running. Instead, a young Swedish star named Rebecca Ferguson would step into the role vacated by Chastain, that of enigmatic MI6 agent Ilsa Faust (via  Hindustani Times ).

Rumors online have circulated that the reason Chastain passed on the part is due to the lengthy and rigorous training required, but this has never been confirmed. Of course, if that was the case, perhaps it's all the better, as Ferguson and Ilsa Faust have since become recurring stars of the series, returning for all three sequels.

Val Kilmer in The Outsiders

Incredibly, "Top Gun" might have actually been the second collaboration between Cruise and Val Kilmer had it not been for Kilmer turning down a starring role in the 1983 drama, "The Outsiders." But it shouldn't come as a surprise to hear that he auditioned for the Francis Ford Coppola film, as star  Rob Lowe once said that "every actor in Hollywood under the age of 35" had come in to try out.

In addition to Kilmer, auditions included the likes of Mickey Rourke, Dennis Quaid, Kate Capshaw, and Helen Slater, on top of the actors who wound up starring: Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Diane Lane, C. Thomas Howell, and Lowe. It was Howell who would play the role of Ponyboy, the film's narrator and lead protagonist, but the actor was apparently not Coppola's first choice. As noted in his 2022-released memoir, "I'm Your Huckleberry," Kilmer was initially picked to play Ponyboy. 

Despite being given the rare opportunity to take the starring role in a project helmed by one of Hollywood's most celebrated directors, Kilmer passed on the offer. According to his book, the actor declined because he was prepping for a run on Broadway in a play titled "Slab Boys," and in hindsight, it might have been the wrong move. As noted by Variety , the play ran for just six weeks, and the addition of Kevin Bacon and Sean Penn to the cast saw Kilmer bumped down to a supporting role.

What Tom Cruise Has Said About Why He Turned Down Playing Iron Man In The MCU

The MCU could have looked much different!

From the beginning, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been loaded with incredibly talented actors playing its most iconic superheroes, as well as those unforgettable and nuanced villains. That all started back in 2008 when Iron Man blasted its way into theaters and launched the franchise, while also giving its star, Robert Downey Jr ., a shot an even bigger career. Even though Downey’s Tony Stark has become one of the most beloved heroes in superhero movie history, another icon of the industry was once attached to portray the genius, billionaire, playboy , philanthropist…and that man was Tom Cruise .

The story of Tom Cruise’s involvement with the MCU goes back nearly 20 years, well before Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios changed the superhero movie landscape, and even longer before the Top Gun: Maverick actor was rumored to be playing Supreme Iron Man in the cameo-heavy Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness . With all this history, some might be wondering what Cruise himself has had to say about one of the biggest “what ifs” in cinematic history. Well, look no further…

Before Robert Downey Jr. Took On The Role, Tom Cruise Was Long-Rumored To Play Iron Man

The list of actors who almost played Marvel characters is full of some of today’s most recognizable faces (and voices), and at the top is Tom Cruise. Back in 2006, we covered some of the speculation surrounding the ageless actor portraying Tony Stark in the yet-to-launch Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to multiple reports at the time (most of which have been lost to time in the ever-changing internet since then) Cruise was rumored to have been interested in playing Iron Man as far back as 2004, when Jon Favreau first came aboard to direct the movie. 

With Paramount Pictures producing the film, it made sense to have one of the studio’s biggest stars front and center. However, it just wasn’t meant to be and the role went to Robert Downey Jr.

Tom Cruise Expressed Doubts At The Project Working At The Time

Even though there was speculation that Tom Cruise would be leading the Iron Man movie in 2006, the actor expressed his doubts about the project over a year earlier when he was asked about the long-rumored project. During a visit to the War of the Worlds set in February 2005, IGN asked Cruise about the prospect of playing Tony Stark and if the movie would ever come to fruition, to which he replied:

[Marvel Studios] came to me at a certain point and, when I do something, I wanna do it right. If I commit to something, it has to be done in a way that I know it's gonna be something special. And as it was lining up, it just didn't feel to me like it was gonna work. I need to be able to make decisions and make the film as great as it can be, and it just didn't go down that road that way.

Later on in the interview, Cruise explained that he has never made a movie just to make a movie and that he needed to be interested in the story. When it came to Iron Man he said it just wasn’t “panning out” as of yet. But this wouldn’t be the first time Cruise was attached to portray Iron Man nor was it the last time he would speak on the matter.

Tom Cruise Later Said He Was ‘Not Close’ To Playing Iron Man

The speculation surrounding Tom Cruise and his involvement with the Marvel Cinematic Universe would continue to creep up in the years following those initial reports and comments, including in April 2018, in an interview with ComicBook.com . When asked about how close he was to playing Tony Stark before Robert Downey Jr. came into the picture, Cruise had this to say:

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Not close, and I love Robert Downey Jr. I can’t imagine anyone else in that role, and I think it’s perfect for him.

In addition to sharing praise for his Tropic Thunder co-star, Cruise said he wouldn’t “rule anything out” in terms of showing up in a superhero movie at some point in the future.

The Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness Screenwriter Originally Wanted Tom Cruise’s Iron Man In The MCU Movie

The buzz surrounding the whole “Tom Cruise as Iron Man” business died down somewhat over the years, but reached new heights in the lead-up to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness , with rumors circulating that the Mission: Impossible star would be playing “Supreme Iron Man” in the mind-bending MCU movie. A lot of the speculation came from a scene in the movie’s trailer that showed Stephen Strange ( Benedict Cumberbatch ) being escorted by Ultron sentries, which fans believed could only be built by Tony Stark. Those rumors were squashed by screenwriter Michael Waldron in a May 2022 Rolling Stone interview where he revealed that this was never the case:

Yeah, that was totally made up. I mean, there’s no cut footage of Tom Cruise! But I love Tom Cruise, and I said to [Marvel Studios president] Kevin [Feige]  at one point, I was like, 'Could we get Tom Cruise’s Iron Man?' I remember reading about that in Ain’t It Cool News back in the day, that Tom Cruise was going to be Iron Man.

Though he knew Tom Cruise’s Supreme Iron Man would not be making an appearance in the movie, it’s easy to see that Waldron was excited even thinking about the prospect of the character showing up.

Tom Cruise’s MCU Debut Wasn’t An Option Because Of Availability

In the Rolling Stone interview mentioned above, Michael Waldron was asked if anyone pitched the idea to Tom Cruise in the early development stages, to which he replied by saying Tom Cruise was shooting Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One and Part Two at the time, which made the whole situation tricky:

I don’t believe so. I just don’t think it was ever an option, because of availability.

With Cruise’s schedule being all out of whack with the various Mission: Impossible movies and the May 2022 release of Top Gun : Maverick , it’s easy to see how getting him to show up for a brief cameo would have been a tall order.

Even though Tom Cruise has yet to show up as Iron Man, it doesn’t mean the prolific actor won’t make an appearance in some shape or form in one of the many upcoming Marvel movies . With the likes of John Krasinski, Patrick Stewart, and Ryan Reynolds having either already appeared or being slated to show up in the MCU at some point in the future, anything can happen, right?

Philip grew up in Louisiana (not New Orleans) before moving to St. Louis after graduating from Louisiana State University-Shreveport. When he's not writing about movies or television, Philip can be found being chased by his three kids, telling his dogs to stop barking at the mailman, or chatting about professional wrestling to his wife. Writing gigs with school newspapers, multiple daily newspapers, and other varied job experiences led him to this point where he actually gets to write about movies, shows, wrestling, and documentaries (which is a huge win in his eyes). If the stars properly align, he will talk about For Love Of The Game being the best baseball movie of all time.

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Woody Harrelson Reveals He Turned Down Tom Cruise's Role in 'Jerry Maguire' — and Regrets It!

Not only was the 1996 film a critical and commercial hit, but it also earned Tom Cruise an Academy Award nomination

Woody Harrelson was this close to having Renée Zellweger at hello.

In an interview with Esquire , the 58-year-old actor shared that there was one role he regretted turning down .

“I was offered what’s the ‘Show me the money’ movie? Jerry Maguire? I was offered Jerry Maguire ,” he said.

As for why he passed on the part, which eventually went to Tom Cruise , Harrelson said that he thought audiences wouldn’t be interested, as the storyline revolves around a sports agent.

“I said to Jim [James L. Brooks, one of the film’s producers], ‘Nobody is going to give a s— about an agent,’ ” he said.

Contrary to Harrelson’s initial thoughts, the 1996 film was a critical and commercial hit — earning over $273 million at the box office — and Cruise would go on to receive an Academy Award nomination for his leading turn in the movie.

Harrelson — who will be starring in the upcoming sequel Zombieland: Double Tap — also revealed that when the script for the first film was sent to him, it took some convincing to get him on board.

“My agent sent me the script, and I said, ‘Zombies, dude? Reallu? Has it come to this?’ And he said, ‘Will you please just read it?’ ” Harrelson said.

Fortunately for fans, his agent prevailed.

“Finally, I did, and I’m like, ‘Damn. That’s good writing,’ ” Harrelson said.

RELATED VIDEO: Woody Harrelson Didn’t Vote For Himself to Win the Three Billboard Oscar

Joining Harrelson for the sequel to the hit 2009 comedy will be original stars Emma Stone , Jesse Eisenberg and Abigail Breslin .

“It took 10 years to make because we were just insistent that the script be great — which sounds like it should be obvious, but that’s not always the case,” Eisenberg told Vulture in March of working on the sequel.

“Because the movie is not only popular but also beloved, people feel like it has some personal resonance for them, so we wanted to make sure that it’s as good or better than the first,” he added.

The original film was made on a $23 million budget and grossed more than $102 million at the worldwide box office as well as $75 million in the U.S.

Zombieland: Double Tap hits theaters Oct. 18.

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Tom Cruise Apparently Turned Down The Lead Role In The Mask Of Zorro

The film gods are a fickle bunch. If the flip of the coin had landed on a different outcome at various points in Hollywood history, the entire landscape of cinema as we know it could be completely changed. In fact, movie star Tom Cruise is something of a cottage industry to himself when it comes to major roles that he could've signed on for, but ended up little more than fascinating notes of trivia — in our universe, at least. There's the infamous "Iron Man" scenario that could've seen him suit up as Tony Stark instead of Robert Downey, Jr., of course, along with the near-miss of starring in the classic "Shawshank Redemption."  But there's one other little-known factoid that completes this little trilogy of alternate-history Cruise projects: one where he could've been cast as the lead of "The Mask of Zorro," incredibly enough.

Martin Campbell's beloved '90s action film celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, with /Film marking the occasion by unveiling an entire oral history carefully curated by Ben Pearson . The film as we now know it has Campbell in the director's chair, flanked by his chemistry-laden leads Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. But having this trio of talent involved wasn't always the case. At one point in the film's lengthy development cycle (1993, to be exact), Danish cinematographer Mikael Salomon was courted and actually hired to direct "The Mask of Zorro." During that time, filmmaking legend Steven Spielberg was involved as producer and apparently reached out to one major movie star — none other than Tom freaking Cruise — for the lead role of Zorro.

Obviously, this didn't happen, as Cruise turned down the offer. But we can add this to the list of unbelievable what-ifs that could've potentially come to pass. Here's how.

Cruise as Zorro? Probably not a good idea

It should go without saying that what felt like a no-brainer in the early 1990s probably doesn't read quite the same way today ... if it ever even did at the time, that is. Looking back, "The Mask of Zorro" already has a major question mark with the casting of Catherine Zeta-Jones, a Welsh actor, as the Latino character of Eléna Montero. Now imagine compounding the problem by announcing Tom Cruise, of all people, as the unmistakably Mexican masked hero Alejandro Murrieta. This strange-but-true story was once a very real possibility, if not for Cruise exercising quite a bit of careful consideration, thankfully enough.

Mikael Salomon spoke to /Film's Ben Pearson and included this little nugget for the oral history, explaining how Steven Spielberg attempted to get his future "War of the Worlds" collaborator Cruise on board. Both Viggo Mortenson and Sean Connery were looked at for various roles. But even those big names can't compare to the likes of Cruise. According to Salomon:

"Who else was [in the mix]? Some big — oh yeah, Tom Cruise. Early on, [Spielberg] wanted to offer it to him. Have you heard that? He wanted to offer it to Tom Cruise. And my friend and countryman Bille August had done 'The House of the Spirits' with all non-Latinos, and he got in so much hot water because of that, and they picketed the movie in South America. And I said to Steven, 'You know, that's probably not a good idea, just for that reason.'"

Salomon's instincts would eventually be validated, but not until Spielberg went ahead with his offer and reached out directly to Cruise. The call that Salomon would soon receive is one he still remembers to this day.

A call from Cruise

Not just anyone in Hollywood can afford to either accept or decline significant roles with nothing more than a single phone call. Tom Cruise is not just anyone. Mikael Salomon goes on to recall what must've felt like an otherworldly experience when Cruise got in contact with him to discuss the role for "The Mask of Zorro." By all accounts, it was a very short conversation. As Salomon tells it:

"One day I was doing a commercial and my assistant said, 'Mikael, there's Tom Cruise on the phone for you.' 'Tom Cruise? Okay.' I had worked with him on 'Far and Away.' I was the [director of photography] on 'Far and Away.' So he called me up and said, 'Thanks for the offer, but I think it's not a great idea for me to do this movie because, as you know...' I said, 'Tom, you're a very smart guy. Absolutely, you're absolutely right.'"

How sensible! As much as casting Cruise is the go-to move to turn any hypothetical production into a reality (from a business perspective, at least), it turns out that Cruise was well aware of the optics of such a casting and wisely walked away. That paved the way for Antonio Banderas to get the call (though it's worth noting the Spanish actor isn't quite the right fit, either), but Salomon had another name in mind. "The guy I wanted [...] Andy Garcia was the one who, I was talking to him, we had great meetings, but then it all petered out."

The rest is history, as the dream team of director Robert Rodriguez and Banderas eventually gave way to Martin Campbell and Banderas. But, as Salomon's experience reminds us, film history isn't written in stone. Happy 25th, "The Mask of Zorro."

Tom Cruise Explains Why He Turned Down Role of Iron Man

Cruise apparently weighed playing a superhero who needed to suit up vs. one who doesn’t.

Actor Tom Cruise has long enjoyed a history of playing action heroes but never a superhero. Still, many of characters come across as indestructible to the point where they might as well be a superhero. Most recently, Cruise has revived his popular Ethan Hunt role in Mission Impossible franchise and is flying high with enormous box office success from Top Gun: Maverick . The soon-to-be 60-year-old star has revealed how he came close to playing Tony Stark’s Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Of course, the part went to Robert Downey Jr. who made the character and its armored body his own.

Prior to the release of 2008’s Iron Man , Cruise was offered the opportunity to play Tony Stark but turned it down . He has opened up as to why he turned it down. As someone who has a reputation for thorough work, performing his own stunts, etc., one of the actor’s priorities appears to be wanting control over the project.

RELATED: Why Tom Cruise Would Still Be A Perfect Fit for Iron Man

Tom Cruise Proves He is Still Popular But Hasn't Ruled Out Superhero Films

Even Cruise admits that Downey has become so fused with Tony Stark that it is hard to imagine anyone else in the role. As for when he was first approached to star as Iron Man and why he declined the part, Cruise explained:

“[Marvel Studios] came to me at a certain time and, when I do something, I wanna do it right. If I commit to something, it has to be done in a way that I know it’s gonna be something special. And as it was lining up, it just didn’t feel to me like it was gonna work. I need to be able to make decisions and make the film as great as it can be, it just didn’t go down that road that way.”

In another interview, Cruise confessed he believes the role of Tony Stark was perfect for Robert Downey Jr. He said,

“Not close and I love Robert Downey Jr. I can’t imagine anyone else in that role and I think it’s perfect for him.”

When it comes to allowing fans seeing him play a superhero at some point in time, the actor does not rule it out but does say the project would have to meet his standards, stating:

“It's what’s the story? Does it interest me?”

Whether Cruise joins the MCU or DCEU remains to be seen. Meanwhile, the actor seems to enjoy playing a hero of the mission impossible kind.

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Tom Cruise was turned down for 'Mission: Impossible' by this star

Nicholas hoult turned down starring in 'mission: impossible 7' on a phone call with tom cruise.

Tom Cruise's new 'Top Gun' movie takes Griff Jenkins' breath away

Paramount Pictures' latest film, 'Top Gun: Maverick,' is expected to break box office records on its opening weekend.

Tom Cruise was denied by Nicholas Hoult when the star offered him a role in "Mission: Impossible 7."

Hoult explained that due to a prior work commitment, he was not able to appear alongside Cruise in the upcoming two-part "Mission: Impossible" finale.

The seventh installment in the franchise, "Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One," is set for release this summer.

"I screen-tested for 'Batman' and didn’t get it," Hoult said in an interview with The Guardian. 

Nicholas Hoult, right, turned down Tom Cruise's offer to be in "Mission: Impossible 7." (Getty Images)

TOM CRUISE FILMING 'MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 8' SCENES ON US AIRCRAFT CARRIER

"Screen-tested for 'Top Gun,' didn’t get it. Then I got the call from Tom Cruise: ‘Hey, how about "Mission Impossible?'" Ok. Got it. Then I had to drop out because I was already attached to do some more of [Hulu series] ‘The Great,'" he explained.

Hoult also auditioned for roles in "Batman" and "Top Gun: Maverick," but didn't get either. (Dia Dipasupil)

Hoult was originally cast to star in "Mission: Impossible 7" in January 2020, but just a few months later in May he was replaced by Esai Morales. 

The actor told the outlet that his prior commitment on Hulu's "The Great" got in the way of his ability to work alongside Cruise.

Cruise personally offered Hoult a role in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise. (Joseph Okpako/WireImage)

Hoult also explained that he screen-tested for the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne in the DC movie, but ultimately the part went to Robert Pattinson. He didn't share what role he auditioned for in "Top Gun: Maverick."

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Although Hoult didn't land a role in "Maverick" — which also starred Miles Teller and Glen Powell — he clearly made an impression with Cruise as the actor personally offered him a spot in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise.

Nicolas Cage and Hoult attend the premiere of Universal Pictures' "Renfield." (Dia Dipasupil)

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Hoult currently stars alongside Nicolas Cage in "Renfield," which bowed Friday.

Janelle Ash is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital.

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Tom Cruise Doesn't Really Do Sequels Very Often, But There's Apparently One Movie His Co-Star Was Shocked Didn't Get A Follow-up

U nless we are talking about Mission: Impossible – M:I 8 is currently filming or the long-delayed Top Gun: Maverick –Tom Cruise isn’t known for making very many sequels to his flicks. But, according to one former cast member, there is one film in his oeuvre that he is shocked never got a follow-up. The former cast member in question is Christian Slater, who co-starred along with Cruise and Brad Pitt in one of the best films of the 90s , the film adaptation of Anne Rice’s novel Interview With The Vampire . According to the Heathers alum, he’s shocked that he and the Risky Business star never got a second bite at the neck, playing a vampire in a sequel.

Christian Slater Reflects on The Missed Sequel Opportunity

It's hard to believe it's been nearly three decades–the movie turns 30 this year–since we were first mesmerized by one of the most iconic vampire performances on screen. In an interview shared on Comicbook.com’s Chris Killian’s Instagram , Christian Slater discussed how he and Cruise were reflecting on the project. The pair expressed a mutual astonishment over the movie's lack of a sequel despite their roles becoming fan favorites. He recounted:

Tom Cruise and I were both surprised that Interview With The Vampire didn’t get a sequel. You know, that would have been fun. Uh, I mean, he did bite me at the end of that thing.

For my money, even three decades since its release, Interview With The Vampire is still one of the best vampire movies ever committed to celluloid. Upon release, it was a critical and financial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing R-rated horror films of 1994, and grew to become a goth cult favorite. Not to mention, it introduced the broader world to actress Kirsten Dunst, a role Cruise helped the young actress secure thanks to some very practical advice.

The Enduring Legacy of 'Interview With the Vampire'

Tom Cruise's electrifying turn as the vampire Lestat was central to the film’s success. Initially, Anne Rice, the source material's author, hated Cruise’s casting in the role. However, his performance won her over and helped cement the film's place in cinematic history. Despite this success and the buzz around it, plans to continue Lestat's story with Cruise in a sequel never came to fruition. While the potential for a direct follow-up to this beloved film sparked plenty of discussions, ultimately, those plans remained just out of reach, leaving fans to wonder what might have been.

There was anticipation over a sequel starring the Top Gun A-lister, yet various factors, including rights issues, changes in production companies, and creative decisions, led to a different path for the book to screen adaptations of Rice's novels.

The next film in the series, Queen of the Damned, starring the late singer and actress Aaliyah , was released in 2002, but it did not involve Tom Cruise. Instead, Stuart Townsend took over the role of Lestat. The film combined elements from the second and third books of Rice's series, The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned . Still, it diverged significantly from the source material and did not continue directly from where Interview left off.

Interview With The Vampire is enjoying a second adaptation and return to screens as a television series, which is gearing up for its second season on AMC .

The Possibility Of A Sequel With Cruise

The ending of Interview with the Vampire set the stage perfectly for a sequel. It left audiences reeling from its final twist and introduced a new narrative thread with Daniel, the San Francisco reporter who becomes enthralled with Louis's tale of the undead. As Christian Slater hinted in the recent interview, the setup was ideal for a follow-up. Yet, despite the ripe storytelling potential, a direct continuation wasn't in the cards. Could a sequel with Cruise still happen? As the interviewers and Slater point out, Tom Cruise barely looks like he's aged since the last time he put on the Vampire Lestat's fangs. So, never say never.

Christian Slater's most recent work, another book adaptation, the series The Spiderwick Chronicles , is available now for free on The Roku Channel . Be sure to check out our 2024 movie schedule to see what upcoming horror movies are heading to a screen near you.

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Woody Harrelson Reveals He Turned Down Tom Cruise's Role in Jerry Maguire — and Regrets It!

Woody Harrelson was this close to having Renée Zellweger at hello.

In an interview with Esquire , the 58-year-old actor shared that there was one role he regretted turning down .

“I was offered what’s the ‘Show me the money’ movie? Jerry Maguire ? I was offered Jerry Maguire ,” he said.

As for why he passed on the part, which eventually went to Tom Cruise , Harrelson said that he thought audiences wouldn’t be interested, as the storyline revolves around a sports agent.

“I said to Jim [James L. Brooks, one of the film’s producers], ‘Nobody is going to give a s— about an agent,’ ” he said.

Contrary to Harrelson’s initial thoughts, the 1996 film was a critical and commercial hit — earning over $273 million at the box office — and Cruise would go on to receive an Academy Award nomination for his leading turn in the movie.

RELATED: Iconic Roles That Were Almost Played by Someone Else

Harrelson — who will be starring in the upcoming sequel Zombieland: Double Tap — also revealed that when the script for the first film was sent to him, it took some convincing to get him on board.

“My agent sent me the script, and I said, ‘Zombies, dude? Reallu? Has it come to this?’ And he said, ‘Will you please just read it?’ ” Harrelson said.

Fortunately for fans, his agent prevailed.

“Finally, I did, and I’m like, ‘Damn. That’s good writing,’ ” Harrelson said.

RELATED VIDEO: Woody Harrelson Didn’t Vote For Himself to Win the Three Billboard Oscar

Joining Harrelson for the sequel to the hit 2009 comedy will be original stars Emma Stone , Jesse Eisenberg and Abigail Breslin .

“It took 10 years to make because we were just insistent that the script be great — which sounds like it should be obvious, but that’s not always the case,” Eisenberg told Vulture in March of working on the sequel.

“Because the movie is not only popular but also beloved, people feel like it has some personal resonance for them, so we wanted to make sure that it’s as good or better than the first,” he added.

The original film was made on a $23 million budget and grossed more than $102 million at the worldwide box office as well as $75 million in the U.S.

Zombieland: Double Tap hits theaters Oct. 18.

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Tom Cruise produced a movie in Eugene during the summer of 1996 about Steve Prefontaine

In 1996 a film crew descended on Eugene to make a movie about Steve Prefontaine.

The film followed the relationship between record-breaking distance runner Steve Prefontaine and his coach Bill Bowerman.

Prefontaine was a star athlete from Coos Bay who ran for the University of Oregon and later competed in the Olympics in the 1970s.

He died in an automobile accident in Eugene on May 30, 1975, at the age of 24.

The film was written and directed by Robert Towne and produced by Tom Cruise.

Hundreds of locals appear as extras in the film at locations around Oregon, Lane Community College and Hayward Field.

The $25 million movie was released and distributed by Warner Bros. in 1998.

Cruise himself visited Eugene in 1998 for a screening of the film at the McDonald Theater.

The movie was well-received by critics but ended up grossing only $777,000 at the box office.

Contact photographer Chris Pietsch at [email protected] , or follow him on Twitter @ChrisPietsch and Instagram @chrispietsch