Choosing the right script can be a very difficult task, especially for top level actors who have many scripts. Such was the case with Bruce Willis, who turned down the film, which won nine Oscars, and at the same time was forced to participate in The Sixth Sense due to a deal with Disney, but the film turned out to be the most profitable of his career.
As we will see, Arnold Schwarzenegger faced similar circumstances. He received a big offer to star in the franchise, but he turned it down due to the unfinished script and a sequel was rumored at the time.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Turned Down Die Hard Because Of The Unfinished Script
Speaking alongside Empire, Arnold recalled turning down two major scripts, both Die Hard and The Rock. Die Hard in particular could’ve been a major game-changer, however, Arnold felt as though the script was unfinished at the time.“There was an unfinished script, which someone gave me and said, ‘Would you want to play this?’ I was working with Joel Silver on Predator and Die Hard was his next movie. So we talked about it, but then he hired Bruce Willis.”
Arnold recalled similar circumstances for The Rock, which ultimately went to Nicolas Cage.
“Here, look at this script. But don’t read it! Just, here’s what the premise is. He was all over the place,” he explains. “I said, ‘Look, Don. I can’t make a commitment based on what you’re showing me here. You won’t even let me read the script! Why don’t you bake it some more, develop it some more then we’ll talk again.’ He was very upset. He just walked out and then went to Nicolas Cage with the part,” Arnold revealed of producer Don Simpson.
Bruce Willis Took On Die Hard And Made A Fortune From The Film
Bruce Willis’ start with Die Hard caught Hollywood by surprise given that an unproven TV star was making a salary of $5 million in such a major film. However, Willis didn’t make much of the news at the time, and felt confident.“We didn’t put a gun to anybody’s head. In a town and an industry where all this can be gone next year, you take what you can get. You get what you can.” “I really feel that Fox is pleased with how it all turned out. They paid me what they thought I was worth for the film, and for them.”
With a global gross of $148 million based on a $28 million budget, one would imagine the executives slept just fine back in ’88.”
Willis would go on to reveal that he did his best during performances, and didn’t try to think of the other circumstances he couldn’t do anything about.
“I can only do the best work that I can as an actor, and after that there’s not a whole lot that I can do. You can talk about the film, but even that…. who knows what that does? I like Sunset and what I did in it. The fact that it didn’t do well at the box office is just a fact. It’s neither here nor there.”