Actors Who Turned Down Big Roles
These 25 Actors Passed on the Role of a Lifetime, but Most of Them Didn't Regret It
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Gladiator made a Hollywood star of Russell Crowe, but he almost never entered the arena at all. A New York Times review revealed that Gibson was the first choice to play Maximus, but the actor turned it down — reportedly concerned about the intense action scenes and believing himself too old for the role.