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Renowned actors in Hollywood are no strangers to starring in major projects and making millions out of them. But there goes a fair share of losing roles and a bit of humbleness in the way they rise to fame. Speaking of losing roles, Hollywood veteran Sylvester Stallone once came inches close to landing the role of Jason Bourne.
However, he wasn’t the only Hollywood A-lister who got sought for the role in the epic franchise. Apparently, there was Brad Pitt and Russell Crowe, who were also eyed for the titular spy role. But unfortunately, none of them succeeded in landing the million-dollar project that later went to Matt Damon.
Also read:Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Was the Unsung Hero in Sandra Bullock’s Most Excruciating Shooting Ever
Sylvester Stallone Was Eyed for the Role of Jason Bourne
Following the success ofJames Bondmovies that were adapted from Ian Fleming’s novels, several producers and filmmakers tried their luck in the spy genre. Thus, in the early 2000s, Hollywood came up with the adaptation of Robert Ludlum’s 1980 novel, which narrated the story of CIA’s most dangerous former operative, Jason Bourne.
When theJason Bournefranchise was finally coming to the big screen, according toUS Weekly,Sylvester Stallonewas among the few actors who were sought for the titular role of the government agent. But unfortunately, due to his extremely busy schedule during the early 2000s, Stallone failed to take up the role of Jason Bourne.
The actor was busy withEye See You, Liberty’s Kids: Est. 1776,Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over,and more projects during 2002 and 2003.
Also read:“Henry, don’t let them do that to me”: Henry Winkler Saved Rocky by Giving up a Fortune for Sylvester Stallone
Russell Crowe Was Sought for the Bourne Franchise
Thus, after theRockyactor failed to appear in the titular role of Jason Bourne, another veteran star was eyed for the film series. It was none other than the acclaimed actor Russell Crowe who came next in line for the role. Having played versatile roles throughout his career, Crowe was indeed a perfect choice for the role of CIA’s most dangerous former operative.
However, just like Sylvester Stallone, evenRussell Crowewas super busy with several acclaimed projects in hand. During the early 2000s whenJason Bournewas in development, the actor was busy withA Beautiful Mind. Further, he got engaged withMaster and Commander: The Far Side of the World,released in 2003.
Also read:Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Movies Make Him the Perfect DC Hero Who Made Live Action Debut in Stephen Amell’s Arrow
Brad Pitt Almost Replaced Matt Damon in Jason Bourne
After losing out on two veteran actors, according toUS Weekly, producers of theJason Bournefranchise went ahead to seek the rather young actorBrad Pitt. Rising to fame in the 90s and taking over the entertainment industry in the early 2000s, Pitt was the ultimate heartthrob who could have played the titular role of the secret agent.
Nonetheless, being one of the highly bankable stars in Hollywood, Brad Pitt was busy with other projects. Therefore, not out of disinterest, but because of his packed schedule due to his involvement inConfessions of a Dangerous Mind,Pitt had to unfortunately turn down the bad*ss role of Jason Bourne.
Eventually, when going after veteran actors and Hollywood heartthrobs didn’t serve well for the producers, they went after the Oscar-winning actorMatt Damon. And this time, they finally found the face of their globally acclaimed franchise.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3219
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
