Five Iconic Roles You Wouldn’t Believe Tom Cruise Walked Away From
A peek into the parallel universe of Tom Cruise’s career-defining rejections.
Tom Cruise, the ultimate Hollywood A-lister, has been gracing our screens for decades, jumping out of airplanes, piloting fighter jets, and even hanging off skyscrapers. With an illustrious career spanning over four decades, Cruise has made some pretty epic choices that have cemented his status as one of the greatest movie stars of all time.
From his iconic role in Top Gun to his daring performance in Mission: Impossible, Cruise’s resume is as impressive as his stunts. But what if I told you that the charismatic actor turned down some equally legendary roles?
Yep, that's right! Despite his action-packed filmography, there were a few parts that Cruise decided to pass on, leaving us all to wonder what could have been.
Turns out, Cruise is not just picky about which skyscraper he dangles from; he’s also quite selective when it comes to scripts. Over the years, he’s rejected roles that went on to become classics in their own right and got handed off to other actors who then became synonymous with those characters.
So, let’s take a closer look at five classic movie roles that nearly had Cruise’s name in lights. These roles are more than just ‘what-ifs’; they are defining moments in cinema history that could have turned out very differently.
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Far Out / Alamy
First on the list is Footloose (1984). Before Kevin Bacon shook up the dance floor, Cruise was offered the role of Ren McCormack. Fresh off the success of Risky Business, Cruise was ready to prove he could do more than slide across a floor in his underwear. But he declined, and Bacon stepped in to become the dance icon of the 80s.
Then there’s Indecent Proposal (1993). Imagine Cruise instead of Woody Harrelson in the steamy drama about love, temptation, and million-dollar dilemmas. Cruise said no, and the role went on to be another notch in Harrelson's belt.
Cruise’s selective streak continued with A Beautiful Mind (2001). This time, the role of the troubled genius John Nash, which won Russell Crowe an Oscar, was Cruise's for the taking. But he decided against it, choosing to stick with projects that resonated more personally.
In Donnie Brasco (1997), the role of undercover FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone eventually went to Johnny Depp—a part that would later become a highlight in his career. Cruise's decision allowed Depp to shine, proving that even in passing on roles, Cruise is a class act.
Finally, there’s Iron Man (2008). Yes, Cruise almost donned the iconic red and gold suit before Robert Downey Jr. swooped in to redefine the superhero genre. Imagine Tom Cruise as Tony Stark; the thought alone could have shifted the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a whole new direction.
So there you have it—five iconic roles that could have had Tom Cruise’s name on them. While it’s fun to imagine what might have been, it’s clear that Cruise’s instincts led him to where he is today, firmly seated at the top of Hollywood’s A-list.
And who knows? Maybe these rejections are precisely what kept his career on its unstoppable trajectory.
Jesse
