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We have always been amazed by the extraordinary talent of Mel Gibson, best known for playing Martin Riggs in theLethal Weaponfilmseries, and Max Rockatansky in the originalMad Maxtrilogy. He is not just a gifted actor but also an acclaimed director ofBraveheart, the film for which he received an Oscar. Even at 67, the actor is still regarded as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
And yet Gibson’s star power ensures that several significant roles must have been offered to him throughout his career. Occasionally, we find ourselves wondering how a character played by another actor could have had a completely different essence.
We shall therefore examine five movies whereThe Passion of the Christdirector could have played the roles of Robin Williams, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and other legendary actors.
Read more:“I was outraged”: Bojack Horseman Creator Found Out Harvey Weinstein & Mel Gibson Were Fans, Destroyed Them With Greatest Gag Ever in TV History
1.The Terminator(1984)
Though it is difficult to picture anyone else in the role, Arnold Schwarzenegger nearly did not get the job as the Terminator. It is said that Sylvester Stallone was first considered for the acclaimed role. In the end, Schwarzenegger—who starred alongside Stallone inThe Expendables—accepted the role afterMel Gibsonand theRockystar both declined.
Gibson playing the role would have been a wild and exciting ride, even though the former Governor of California is now inextricably linked with the franchise. After dominating the US box office for two weeks,The Terminatorbrought in $78.3 million despite having a relatively small $6.4 million budget.
The Terminatoris available for streaming at Max.
2.Dead Poets Society(1989)
InDead Poets Society,Robin Williamsportrayed John Keating in an Oscar-nominated performance that stood out among his best. However, what if Mel Gibson, the action star, had accepted the role? The latter was actually considered to fit the character when director Jeff Kanew joined the project.
Mickey Rourke, Dustin Hoffman, and Tom Hanks were among the other actors who were also considered for the part.Having won multiple awards, including nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Williams, Dead Poets Societywas a critical and financial triumph.
Dead Poets Societyis available to rent on Apple TV.
Read more:“We tested lines by stealing lines:” Mel Gibson Got A Role In $227 Million Movie Because Of Jodie Foster’s Gambling Comedy Flick
3.Gladiator(2000)
Ridley Scott’s epic historical dramaGladiator,which helped launch the careers of several of its leading actors, has won five Academy Awards.Russell Crowe, a former Roman general turned gladiator slave, was one of these stars. His performance as Maximus made him win an Oscar for Best Actor. Mel Gibson was also offered the role of Maximus, but sadly, he declined it.
Had he accepted the role, it would have been a major asset to his résumé.With a global box office receipt of over $503 million,GladiatorsurpassedMission: Impossible 2as the second highest-grossing movie of 2000.
You can watchGladiatoron Netflix.
4.Schindler’s List(1993)
Had Mel Gibson been cast as Oskar Schindler inSchindler’s List, it would have been a positive reflection on the Oscar-winning actor. Although he expressed interest in playing Schindler, director Steven Spielberg decided to go with the then relatively unknownLiam Neesoninstead of the popular actor so as not to overshadow the role. He thought Gibson’s fame could take away from the story ofSchindler’s List.
Notably, Kevin Costner has expressed interest in starring in the role as well. Often regarded as one of the best movies ever made, Spielberg’s film won praise from critics for its tone, acting, score, cinematography, and direction. It also made $322 million at the box office globally on a $22 million budget.
Schindler’s Listis available on FuboTV.
5.JFK(1991)
Oliver Stone’sJFKis widely regarded as one of the best movies about the 35th president of the United States. It recounts the emotionally accurate events that preceded and followed the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Kevin Costnerplayed real-life district attorney and JFK assassination investigator John Garrison in the film’s lead role. Prior to Costner landing the part, Mel Gibson had declined the offer. After its release,JFKenjoyed tremendous box office and award-show success.
After a slow start at the box office, the movie progressively gained traction, grossing over $205 million globally to rank as the sixth highest-grossing picture of 1991.
StreamJFKon DIRECTV.
Read more:Mel Gibson Refused To Star In Nicolas Cage’s $162 Million Flick, Chose $120 Million Movie Instead
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
