- [Narrator] He's one of,
if not the greatest actor,
of all time.
And, with five Oscar
nominations and two wins,
plus countless box office blockbusters,
he certainly knows how
to pick his projects.
But even the mighty Tm
Hanks has missed out
on some classic roles.
- Stupid is as stupid does, Mrs. Blue.
(dinging)
(zapping)
- [Narrator] Hanks is
an award season fixture
but passed on several
highly acclaimed movies,
including Tim Robbins' role
in "The Shawshank Redemption",
Kevin Costner's in "Field of Dreams",
and Daniel Day-Lewis'
in "Gangs of New York".
- Who was he?
Nobody.
Although Cameron Crowe
actually wrote "Jerry Maguire"
for Hanks, the actor turned it down
to direct, write and star
in, "That Thing You Do",
clearing the way for Tom Cruise
to earn his second Oscar nomination.
- One hit wonders.
It's a very common tale.
- [Narrator] Hanks also
passed on Keanu Reeves' role
in "Speed", Anthony Hopkins' in "Nixon"
and Robin Williams' in "Jack" on which
he was director Francis
Ford Coppola's first choice.
Hanks also passed on Nick Nolte's role
in "The Thin Red Line" to do
"Saving Private Ryan" instead.
- Then that's my mission.
- [Narrator] Hanks even
turned down "Big" initially
due to scheduling.
Producers then offered
the role to Robert De Niro
who was a cast for several
months before dropping out.
Hanks reconsidered and then rode the role
to his first Oscar nomination.
- I still don't get it.
- [Narrator] Hanks followed
"Big" up with a few
of his poorer performing movies,
including "The Burbs" and
"The Bonfire of the Vanities",
and for that reason Nintendo
passed on him playing Luigi
in 1993's "Super Mario Brothers",
a role that instead went to Jon Leguizamo.
- Come on 'cause somebody's gotta do it!
Don't got no other choice, right?
- [Narrator] Hanks next
made "Philadelphia"
after Daniel Day-Lewis, Micheal Keaton,
William Baldwin and
Andy Garcia all passed,
and "Forrest Gump" after Bill Murray,
Chevy Chase and John
Travolta turned it down.
Those movies earned Hanks
back-to-back Oscars,
while "Super Mario Brothers"
did not earn a lot.
- That's very disappointing.
- [Narrator] Hanks has
been considered for dozens
of other roles throughout his career
that for one reason or
another, went to another actor.
That fascinating list
includes Robin Williams' roles
in "Hook" and "Bicentennial Man",
Steve Guttenberg's in "Police Academy",
Cruise's in "Risky Business",
Judge Reinhold's in "Fast
Times at Ridgemont High",
Patrick Swayze's in "Ghost",
Billy Crystal's in "When Harry Met Sally",
Bill Murray's in "Groundhog Day",
Johnny Depp's in "Benny and Joon",
Val Kilmer's in "Batman Forever",
Robert Downey Jr's in "Chaplin",
Woody Harrelson's in "The
People vs. Larry Flynt",
Jude Law's in "Cold Mountain",
Liam Neeson's in "Kinsey"
and Russel Crowe's in "State of Play".
- Houston, we have a problem.
- [Narrator] Meanwhile,
Hanks was at one point cast
in Andy Garcia's role in
"When a Man Loves Woman",
Nicolas Cage's in "Adaptation",
John Travolta's in "Primary Colors"
and James Cromwell's in
"Star Trek:First Contact"
but had to pull out of each of them
over scheduling conflicts.
- So what is it you want me to do?
- [Narrator] The actor was
even eyeing an earlier version
of the recent Netflix
hit "Triple Frontier"
when that was coming together
but moved on when it delayed.
Hanks will be seen next playing Mr. Rogers
in "A Beautiful Day in the
Neighborhood" but first,
returns to reach for the sky
as Woody in "Toy Story 4"
a role that has certainly paid dividends.
- So long, partner.
(deep music)
(zinging)
