Actors receive many job offers throughout their career, not all of which they accept. Often, this is a good decision, but sometimes one regrets rejecting an offer, as the role turned out to be rewarding for other actors. This was also the case for Harrison Ford, who declined a role that won an Oscar.
Which role is it? In 2005, the film Syriana was released, starring Matt Damon and George Clooney. The political thriller deals with the oil industry and its connections to the Middle East. Various stories of extremism, greed, and the politics behind them are intertwined.
According to Box Office Mojo, the film grossed almost 94 million dollars (about 86 million euros) against a budget of 50.8 million dollars (approximately 46.6 million euros). Additionally, the film won several awards, including the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for George Clooney. This role was almost played by Harrison Ford. However, he declined and regretted it.
Arnold Schwarzenegger also regrets a rejection: Schwarzenegger turned down the lead role in one of the best action films and still regrets it: “I love this movie”
I think I made a mistake
In the film, George Clooney plays CIA agent Bob Barnes. Originally, the role was offered to Harrison Ford, but he turned it down. According to Far Out Magazine, he revealed in an interview that he rejected the role because he did not believe in the truth of the source material. However, he later regretted declining the offer.
I saw part of Steve Gaghan’s movie Syriana, and I wish I had played the role offered to me – the role of George […] I think I made a mistake.
According to the interview, Ford also believes that the film underwent changes and became more truthful later. Things he thought were not true were no longer in it after he declined.
Throughout his career, Ford never won an Oscar. He received a nomination for Best Actor for his role in Witness. However, the role paid off for George Clooney. To this day, it is his only Oscar for his acting. In the film Argo, he received the Oscar for Best Picture in 2013 along with Ben Affleck and Grant Heslov. Strange things happen at the Oscars occasionally, just like in 2003: Once, a person was nominated for an Oscar who didn’t even exist.
