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The Shawshank Redemptionis one of the movies that truly stood the test of time. This 1994 crime thriller helmed by Frank Darabont is based on the story of renowned horror writer Stephen King. It is also considered a sleeper hit as it initially bombed at the box office before becoming a cult-classic favorite.
One interesting fact about this movie is that three of the biggest Hollywood names declined to star in it. One would definitely wonder why they would refuse to join a project that would allow them to work with Morgan Freeman.
Who Are The 3 Actors Offered To Star InThe Shawshank Redemption?
The movie’s casting department went out in the 1990s to look for the actor who would play the part of Andy Dufresne. According toVanity Fair,Tom HanksandKevin Costnerdeclined the offer.
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Tom Cruisewas also tapped for the role, and he was actually game for it. In fact, he even did a table reading with the director. The only reason he balked at the movie was because he could not trust to work with a newbie director.
TheMission: Impossiblestar negotiated that if Rob Reiner, the director he worked with in 1992’sA Few Good Men, would keep an eye on the production, he would takeThe Shawshank Redemptionoffer. Castle Rock Entertainment producer Liz Glotzer said, “And Rob said, ‘No, if you’re going to do it with [Darabont], it’s his vision. So then Tom Cruise didn’t want to do it.”
Cruise’s reasoning for declining is that he wanted to protect his star power, and because the result of his previous film with Reiner was impressive, he wanted to keep working with veteran filmmakers.
“I loved making that movie”: Tom Hanks, Who Refused Shawshank Redemption, Was Heartbroken With $34M Directorial Debut That Later Became a Cult Classic
On the other hand, Costner had to turn down the project because he was already working on the post-apocalyptic sci-fi filmWaterworld, which ended up a box-office mess just likeThe Shawshank Redemption. The difference is that the latter managed to redeem itself, while the former became a forgotten name.
Tim Robbins Shares Thoughts OnThe Shawshank Redemption
Tim Robbins, the actor who bagged the lead role inThe Shawshank Redemption, reflected on his days playing Andy Dufresne. He toldEntertainment Weekly:
“It’s really been a great blessing. When you’re in a film that is the most popular film of all time, you’re able to scratch that one off the bucket list. For perspective, when you’re in this industry, oftentimes people are in a constant quest to outdo themselves. If your new film doesn’t outperform your last film, you’re on your way out.”
He claimed to have never focused on those aspects of stardom. He wanted to make movies that would last forever and would resonate with every generation.
“I’d sit there totally blown-out and depressed”: Morgan Freeman’s ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ Director Found the Unlikeliest Inspiration in $47M Martin Scorsese Film That Was Snubbed at the Oscars
The initial failure was also due to the fact that people could not remember the title. Only when they actually took the time to watch and understand it did they begin to love the film. For Robbins, being a part of the franchise was such a huge honor.
The Shawshank Redemptionis available to watch on Netflix.
Ariane Cruz
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3532
Ariane Cruz is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 3,000 articles published. Her love for pop culture and the creative arts fuels her passion to deliver engaging and informative stories. Her daily consumption of films, shows, and books keeps her energized for the day, along with her mission to serve as the bridge between fans and their favorite franchises.
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Kevin CostnerMorgan FreemanThe Shawshank RedemptionTim RobbinsTom CruiseTom Hanks
