If anyone had to be labeled Hollywood’s golden boy in the late 70s, it was John Travolta. From early success on Welcome Back, Kotter to his star turns in Grease, Travolta’s charm, cool-collected persona, and chops in singing and dancing made him sparkle. As much as those roles played to his specific skill sets and advantages, they left him a bit typecast as the smooth-talking, dancing heartthrob – a niche he, or for that matter anyone, couldn’t keep playing forever.
It would be, perhaps, some soul-searching that would lead to a different alley in 1981. Blow Out, a gritty thriller by Brian De Palma had Travolta taking risks. Gone were the musical numbers and dance moves, replaced by an intense role as a sound engineer caught up in a murder. Travolta’s performance was strong – so strong that years later, Quentin Tarantino reached out to him with an offer to revive his career with a similarly intense role in Pulp Fiction.
Blow Out, however, wasn’t the only movie gamble Travolta took, or didn’t take. Over the years, he’s turned down several roles that went on to become career-defining performances for others. Here are five iconic roles that Travolta turned down—roles that, looking back, he might wish he hadn’t passed on.
1. Forrest Gump (1994)
When you think of Forrest Gump, it’s hard to imagine anyone but Tom Hanks in the role. Hanks brought an inherent innocence and humor to this character, and while doing so made a simple man into an American folk hero.
Before Hanks was cast, however, director Robert Zemeckis actually offered the role to Travolta, who famously turned it down. He chose instead to take on Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, playing the unforgettable hitman-in-love Vincent Vega, a decision that not only revived his career in the 90s but also made him a cult icon.
John Travolta would go on to express mixed feelings about turning down Forrest Gump. While he regrets passing this opportunity (Well, who wouldn’t?) to play such an iconic role, he’s also proud of what he achieved with Pulp Fiction. In his own words, Travolta said:
No, because if I didn’t do something Tom Hanks did, then I did something else that was equally interesting or fun. Or if I didn’t do something Richard Gere did, I did something equally well.
Despite this, the Oscars told a different story. Forrest Gump swept the 1995 Academy Awards with six wins, including Best Picture, Best Director for Zemeckis, and Best Actor for Hanks. It grossed over $678 million worldwide and became a cultural touchstone, with Hanks’ words and performance etched in the minds of fans – “Life is like a box of chocolates.”
Travolta, in Pulp Fiction, was also highly celebrated and it earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. He, however, lost to Hanks. Pulp Fiction was able to bag a Palme d’Or at the 1994 Cannes though (Tarantino’s one and only). It is, nevertheless, hard not to wonder what Forrest Gump would’ve looked like with Travolta in that white suit, running across the country.
Check out Forrest Gump on Prime
2. American Gigolo (1980)
American Gigolo is Richard Gere’s breakout role, but it was almost John Travolta’s. The film follows Julian Kaye, a suave escort whose life takes a dark turn when he’s accused of murder. Travolta was originally cast and even started prepping for the role, but he backed out at the last minute, and Gere stepped in.
American Gigolo was a significant turning point for Richard Gere. His conniving and understated performance in this Paul Schrader film made him a leading man – opening the doors to more high-profile roles. Had Travolta stayed on board, his career trajectory might have shifted dramatically, with him potentially becoming a romantic lead years before Pulp Fiction would give him a resurgence.
The film was a relatively moderate success at the box office, grossing around $22 million, which was significant for a dark thriller at the time. Gere’s performance also left a lasting impression on countless, giving him that holly-heartthrob-haze around him, the sex icon reputation, and setting him up for future hits like An Officer and a Gentleman.
3. Splash (1984)
Ron Howard’s Splash was a romantic comedy that gave Tom Hanks his first claim to fame. The story of a man who falls in love with a mermaid in this fantasy flick became an instant hit, grossing over $69 million and making Hanks a bankable star. Travolta was offered the role of Allen Bauer but yet again, he turned it down.
Travolta later admitted that while he doesn’t live with regret, Splash could have been a fun and pleasent change of pace. This role might have helped him stay in the public eye during a time when his career was facing a bit of a slump. The quirky, romantic story was well-suited to his charm, and it’s easy to imagine Travolta bringing a different spin to the character of Allen.
Hanks’ portrayal, meanwhile, was a turning point for him, opening doors to bigger films and establishing him as an everyman hero. Splash might have done something similar for Travolta, but as fate would have it, it’s one more role where Hanks stepped in and made the most of it.
Check out Splash on Prime
4. Chicago (2003)
Chicago swept the Oscars in 2003, winning six awards, including Best Picture, and brought back the big-screen musical in a major way. At the center of it all was Billy Flynn, the charismatic, smooth-talking lawyer played by Richard Gere. Travolta was actually the first choice for the role and was offered the part multiple times, but he ultimately turned it down, explaining how he wasn’t quite ready for a musical comeback.
With Gere in the role, Chicago went on to become both a critical and commercial success, earning over $306 million worldwide. Gere’s portrayal of Flynn was praised and showcased his versatility. Travolta later said he was flattered to be offered the part but wasn’t quite sure about taking on a musical after so many years away from the genre. Fans, however, can only wonder what Chicago would have looked like if Travolta brought his singing and dancing chops back to the big screen.
Check out Chicago on Prime
5. Apollo 13 (1995)
After Pulp Fiction, Travolta was on the lookout for another big project. When Apollo 13 was in production, he expressed interest in playing astronaut Jim Lovell, hoping to work with director Ron Howard. Be that as it may, Howard had already decided on Tom Hanks, who ultimately delivered a moving, heroic performance that became another defining role in Hanks’ career.
Apollo 13 was a massive success, grossing over $355 million worldwide and receiving nine Oscar nominations. Hanks’s determined astronaut won over audiences and critics alike, reinforcing his reputation as a relatable hero figure. It’s hard not to wonder if Travolta could have brought a different edge to the role, but he continued on his own path, taking on different types of projects.
Check out Apollo 13 on Prime
Travolta’s career choices have had a domino effect in Hollywood, with his decisions to not do certain films opening doors for other actors. In 1973, he was a strong contender for The Last Detail but ultimately lost the role to Randy Quaid. Several years later, Travolta turned down Pretty Baby to honor his commitment to Grease, and in 1978, he had to pass on Days of Heaven due to contract conflicts with Welcome Back, Kotter.
Richard Gere, for instance, owes a significant part of his career to roles Travolta passed on, like American Gigolo and Chicago, which became high points for Gere. And Tom Hanks, who ended up starring in Forrest Gump, Splash, and Apollo 13, saw each of these roles help solidify his status as one of Hollywood’s most versatile and beloved.
His instinct wasn’t always off-base, though—he rejected roles in The Blue Lagoon and Flashdance for personal or scheduling reasons. But Travolta, for his part, has always maintained a positive outlook on his career. Reflecting on some of these missed opportunities, he’s said he’s content with the roles he did take. As he once remarked,
I feel good about some I gave up because other careers were created.
It’s this laid-back attitude that has allowed Travolta to roll with the ups and downs of Hollywood. His “what could have been” list is one of Hollywood’s most compelling. For fans, nevertheless, it’s fun to imagine an alternate reality, wondering how these famous films might have looked with Travolta on the big screen.
