Buzz
Widely regarded as one of the finest actors of his era, Al Pacino has cemented his legacy as one of the all-time greats. Beginning his film career in 1969’s Me, Natalie alongside Patty Duke, Pacino became a defining figure in the 1970s “New Hollywood” wave, a transformative period where counterculture reshaped mainstream cinema. His unforgettable performances in The Godfather series, Scarecrow, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Bobby Deerfield, and …And Justice for All solidified his status as a cinematic legend.
Despite amassing over 50 credits across his five-decade career, Pacino has famously declined numerous roles, some in now-classic films. Reflecting on his tendency to turn down projects in 2013, Pacino admitted, “I’m not the best judge of what’s good.” Below, we explore 16 roles that nearly became part of his storied filmography.
1. The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971)
Super-producer Robert Evans had to pull numerous strings to release Pacino from his prior commitment to portray Mario in James Goldstone’s Mafia-themed comedy. The catalyst for this shift? Just two days after accepting the role, Pacino was presented with the opportunity to play Michael Corleone. Ultimately, Robert De Niro stepped into the role originally intended for Pacino.
2. Lenny (1974)
In a 2010 interview with Larry King, Pacino revealed that declining the lead role in Bob Fosse’s biopic about Lenny Bruce remains one of his deepest regrets. Initially unsure about the part, he had a change of heart after witnessing a live comedy performance, stating, “I suddenly saw what I could bring to this role.” By then, it was too late, though Pacino praised Dustin Hoffman’s Oscar-nominated portrayal as “remarkable.”
3. Star Wars (1977)
For decades, speculation has surrounded the numerous actors who declined the role of Han Solo, paving the way for Harrison Ford to make it iconic. In 2013, Pacino addressed his decision during a Q&A, explaining to the audience, “Star Wars was within my grasp, but I couldn’t comprehend the script.”
4. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
When it comes to iconic sci-fi films Pacino passed on, Steven Spielberg considered a long list of actors before casting Richard Dreyfuss. Names like Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson, Gene Hackman, James Caan, and Pacino were all in the running.
5. Slap Shot (1977)
In
“I should have done that film. The hockey player role was perfect for me. Paul Newman is a phenomenal actor, but that’s not the point. I read the script and reached out to George Roy Hill to discuss it, but all he asked was, ‘Can he ice skate?’ That’s all he cared about. His response felt dismissive, as if he believed anyone could play the part. It was clear he wasn’t interested in exploring anything deeper.”
6. Days of Heaven (1978)
In Grobel’s biography, Pacino describes Days of Heaven as a role that left him deeply torn, stating, “I admire Terrence Malick, and I adore the film.” As noted in Peter Biskind’s Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Dustin Hoffman also declined the lead, which ultimately launched Richard Gere’s career.
7. Coming Home (1978)
Pacino revealed to Grobel that rejecting the lead in Coming Home, a role that earned Jon Voight an Oscar, was a difficult decision. He explained, “I was focused on making Born on the Fourth of July at the time. The two projects felt too similar.”
8. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
A quick calculation reveals that the Born on the Fourth of July project Pacino envisioned in the late 1970s differed significantly from the 1989 film that earned Tom Cruise his first Oscar nod. While Oliver Stone was still attached as the screenwriter, William Friedkin was initially set to direct. When Friedkin exited, Pacino followed suit. “I was committed to making it with Billy,” Pacino explained in Al Pacino. “Once Friedkin left, I lost interest. I wasn’t going to proceed without him.”
9. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
Pacino didn’t need to read the script for Robert Benton’s acclaimed divorce drama to realize it wasn’t a fit. “There were phases in my career where I didn’t even glance at offers,” he told Grobel. “I could sense when something wasn’t right for me. I had a gut feeling about this one—it just didn’t align with where I was at the time.” (Dustin Hoffman later won his first Oscar for portraying Ted Kramer.)
10. Apocalypse Now (1979)
Having collaborated with Francis Ford Coppola on two Godfather films, Pacino understood the director’s methods well enough to decline the role of Willard, played by Martin Sheen in Apocalypse Now. “I knew exactly how this would go,” Pacino told Coppola. “You’d be in a helicopter directing me while I’d be stuck in a swamp for months.” Pacino hesitated at the thought of five months of filming, but the production ultimately stretched to 16 months.
11. First Blood (1982)
Adapted from David Morrell’s 1972 novel, First Blood went through numerous director-star pairings before finally being produced. Martin Ritt envisioned Paul Newman in the lead, Sydney Pollack pushed for Steve McQueen, and by 1975, Martin Bregman was set to produce with Pacino as John Rambo. However, the film’s tone was vastly different at the time. “The character would have been understood, but not empathized with,” original screenwriter David Rabe noted in Douglas Robinson’s No Less a Man: Masculist Art in a Feminist Age. “My version of violence wasn’t designed to entertain or thrill.” Pacino reportedly withdrew because he envisioned Rambo as more of a "madman."
12. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Before Eddie Murphy transformed it into a comedy classic, Beverly Hills Cop was conceived as a gritty crime thriller, with directors like Martin Scorsese and David Cronenberg considered. Alongside Pacino, several high-profile actors declined the role of Axel Foley, including Mickey Rourke, Sylvester Stallone, and James Caan.
13. Die Hard (1988)
During a lively Q&A session in 2013, Pacino was reminded of the many blockbuster roles he had passed on. When asked about Bruce Willis’ legendary part in Die Hard, Pacino simply remarked, “I gave that boy a career.”
14. Johnny Handsome (1989)
Although Pacino later collaborated with director Harold Becker on Sea of Love and City Hall, he first met Becker while working on Johnny Handsome, as recounted in Grobel’s book:
“Harold and I struggled to resolve the third act, and we just couldn’t. The first half of the film was brilliant. It was my all-time favorite role. I was captivated by the concept of a character who had lived with a grotesque appearance, adapted to it, and then had to navigate the world after being transformed. I adored the role. Truly. But, once again, it fell apart because we couldn’t fix the ending. Mickey Rourke delivered a fantastic performance, but the film lacked a satisfying conclusion.”
15. Snake Eyes (1998)
In 1997, Pacino was poised to reunite with Brian De Palma, his director from Scarface and Carlito’s Way, for the Nicolas Cage film Snake Eyes. However, plans fell through. On July 11, 1997, Variety announced that, “After lengthy negotiations between Brian De Palma, Paramount executives, and Al Pacino for the lead role opposite Nicolas Cage in Snake Eyes, Pacino officially declined. The studio is now considering other actors, including Gary Sinise, for the action thriller penned by David Koepp.” (Sinise ultimately accepted the role.)
16. Pretty Woman (1990)
Before imagining Pacino in Richard Gere’s iconic role, it’s important to note that Pretty Woman was initially conceived as a much grittier story. Reflecting on the role in 2010, Pacino told Larry King, “Sometimes a role just doesn’t feel like the right fit, and you know it’s not for you.”
