Actors receive many job offers throughout their careers, but they don’t accept them all. Often it’s a good decision, but sometimes they regret turning down the offer because the role was worth it for other actors. That’s what happened to Harrison Ford, who turned down a role that won an Oscar.
What 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 connection to the Middle East. It combines various stories of extremism, greed and the politics behind it.
According to Box Office Mojo, the film grossed almost $94 million (almost €86 million) on a budget of $50.8 million (almost €46.6 million). In addition, the film also received several awards, including the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for George Clooney. Harrison Ford almost had this role, but he turned it down and regretted it.
Arnold Schwarzenegger also regrets a rejection: Schwarzenegger turns down the lead role in one of the best action films, regrets it to this day: “I love this film”
Syriana – Trailer for the thriller about the oil business in the USA
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I think I made a mistake
George Clooney plays CIA agent Bob Barnes in the film. The role was originally offered to Harrison Ford, but he turned it down. According to Far Out Magazine, he revealed in an interview that he turned down the role because he did not believe in the truth of the source material. However, he later regretted turning it down.
I saw part of Steve Gaghan’s film Syriana and I wish I had played the role that was offered to me – the role of George […] I think I made a mistake.
According to the interview, Ford also believes that the film was edited and was more truthful. Things that he believed were not true were no longer included after he turned it down.
Ford never won an Oscar in his career. For his role in Witness, he received a nomination for Best Actor. For George Clooney, however, the role paid off. To date, it is his only Oscar for acting. In 2013, he won the Oscar for Best Picture for Argo, along with Ben Affleck and Grant Haslov. Strange things happen at the Oscars from time to time, as was the case in 2003: One time, a person who doesn’t even exist was nominated for an Oscar.