The Three Iconic Movie Roles John Travolta Famously Turned Down

Most Hollywood stars have a story about "the one that got away," but few can boast a list of rejected projects as impressive as John Travolta's. Throughout his long career, the actor has been notoriously picky, a trait that led him to pass on roles that became cornerstones of modern cinema. His decisions didn't just shape his own path; they inadvertently launched the careers of other major leading men, creating a fascinating history of what-ifs and missed chances.

A Trio of Regrettable Passes

While Travolta could fill a book with movies he declined, he has singled out three specific films as his biggest professional regrets. In a 2008 interview with Huff Post, he named Chicago, An Officer and a Gentleman, and The Green Mile as parts he wishes he had taken. His reasoning for turning down the musical Chicago was tied to his impression of the original stage production. “I wasn’t all that into the stage show,” he explained, “It was a lot of women who hated men, and I like women who like men”.

The role in question was that of Billy Flynn, the slick lawyer who helps women beat murder charges. After Travolta passed, Richard Gere stepped in, earning a Golden Globe for his performance. The movie itself became a massive success, winning six Academy Awards. Travolta later conceded that while he found the stage version harsh, the film adaptation possessed more heart and nuance.

Paving the Way for Another Legend

Regarding the other two films on his list, the star was more direct about his misjudgment. For both An Officer and a Gentleman and The Green Mile, he simply stated, “I probably should have said yes”. The latter role ultimately went to Tom Hanks, who had already won an Oscar for another part Travolta had famously rejected: Forrest Gump. It seems Hanks built a significant portion of his acclaimed career on opportunities Travolta let slip by.

It's hard for audiences today to envision anyone but Hanks in those roles. His signature style—measured, relatable, and fundamentally decent—became so intertwined with the characters that he made them his own. Travolta's interpretation would have undoubtedly been very different.

A Gracious View on Missed Opportunities

Despite the monumental success of the films he turned down, Travolta maintains a surprisingly gracious attitude about it all. He views his choices not as mistakes but as part of a larger cosmic plan, even joking about his role in shaping Hollywood. “I gave Richard Gere and Tom Hanks a career,” he once reasoned. He sees the situation with a rare kind of generosity for the industry.

This perspective is particularly admirable, considering how the careers of the actors who took his parts often eclipsed his own at times. But for Travolta, it seems to be water under the bridge. “What you turn down can be a gift to someone else," he said. "There is enough to go around”.