unilad homepage
unilad homepage
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • World News
    • Crime
    • Health
    • Money
    • Sport
    • Travel
  • Music
  • Technology
  • Film and TV
    • News
    • DC Comics
    • Disney
    • Marvel
    • Netflix
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
John Leguizamo reveals Hollywood blockbuster he regrets turning down because he 'felt dissed'
Home>Film & TV
Published 15:21 13 May 2024 GMT+1

John Leguizamo reveals Hollywood blockbuster he regrets turning down because he 'felt dissed'

The actor has revealed why he turned down the role

Ben Thompson

Ben Thompson

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: Jerod Harris/Variety via Getty Images / Twentieth Century Fox

Topics: Film and TV, Celebrity

Ben Thompson
Ben Thompson

Advert

Advert

Advert

When you work in Hollywood as an actor, there are bound to be some roles you regret turning down.

And John Leguizamo is no exception.

Best known for roles in blockbuster hits like Die Hard 2, Ice Age, and more recently Super Mario Bros, the Colombian-American actor certainly has an impressive résumé.

Advert

But even some of the most accomplished actors have their regrets.

In a recent interview with Business Insider, the 63-year-old actor opened up about some of the films he turned down.

Among them was roles such as Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada, who would be played by Stanley Tucci. He also gave a cold shoulder to a part in Happy Feet, which would end up going to Robin Williams.

But the most noteworthy snub of all has to be a lead role in Mr and Mrs Smith, starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Explaining his reasons, Leguizamo said: "For Mr & Mrs Smith it was because they were paying them $20 million and they were going to pay me scale. I felt dissed, and they probably weren’t dissing me, but I felt dissed.

John Leguizamo has spoken of his regrets over turning down a major movie role. (David Livingston/Getty Images)
John Leguizamo has spoken of his regrets over turning down a major movie role. (David Livingston/Getty Images)

"Sometimes when you’re a person of color, you’re so used to being dissed that you think you’re being dissed, and sometimes you’re not being dissed. So that’s what happens, and you have to go to a lot of therapy to fix that."

Vince Vaughn ended up taking the role in the 2005 action flick.

It was also later reported that only Pitt was the one who got the eye-watering $20 million paycheck, while Jolie was paid $10 million.

As for the other roles that he turned away, he didn't want to do Happy Feet as he was already linked to the Ice Age films.

"I don't want to be doing all these ice movies. Such a stupid reason," he said. "But it seemed logical to me at the moment, and then I lost out on millions."

Well, you know what they say about money... You can always make more of it.

Last year, Leguizamo spoke out about being negotiated to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The role Leguizamo turned down would go on to be played by Vince Vaughn. (Twentieth Century Fox)
The role Leguizamo turned down would go on to be played by Vince Vaughn. (Twentieth Century Fox)

He told ComicBook.com that he was going to play Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Ultimately, Michael Keaton played the role.

Leguizamo said: "I was supposed to be the Vulture. We had negotiated and I was about to play him, and they said that Michael Keaton wanted it back and they asked me if I would give it up.

"I said, ‘Well, okay I guess.’ They said, ‘No, we’ll work with you again, we’re gonna…’ That’s what happened there."

Asked if he would go back to the Marvel Universe, he said: "I would if I was offered The Riddler or some part like that. I would go back to other franchises.

"I mean, if you make it up to me. But then they offered me some tiny scientist in the movie. I was like, ‘No thank you. Thank you, but no.'"

Choose your content:

23 mins ago
4 hours ago
9 hours ago
3 days ago
  •  Santiago Felipe/Getty Images
    23 mins ago

    Big Brother 28 cast officially revealed as Drag Race All-Star, UFC fighter, and pop star's daughter head into 'Time Trip' house

    From pro UFC fighters to hidden celebrity legacies, meet the full cast of houseguests heading into the 'Time Trip' house this summer.

    Film & TV
  • Karwai Tang/WireImage
    4 hours ago

    Tom Holland admits he thought Christopher Nolan hated his acting as he cut every 3 minutes for surprising reason

    Tom Holland admitted his first day on Christopher Nolan's new epic was incredibly stressful because he thought Nolan didn't like his work

    Film & TV
  • Netflix
    9 hours ago

    Police found disturbing items in Caroline Herrling's home that were left out of Worst Neighbor Ever on Netflix

    She was eventually ordered to pay millions of dollars in restitution after admitting her role in the scheme

    Film & TV
  • Olivia Wong/Getty Images
    3 days ago

    Bam Margera's savage response to possibility of reuniting with Jackass co-star Johnny Knoxville

    Margera and Knoxville's friendship broke down during the making of Jackass Forever

    Film & TV
  • Where to stream Eddie Murphy’s top movies as he reveals three major films he regrets turning down
  • Jack Black reveals the one role he regrets turning down after movie became one of his ‘all time favorites’
  • Antonio Banderas explains why he has no regrets after leaving Hollywood
  • Josh Peck breaks down staggering amount he was paid for Drake & Josh