Most people probably know Michael J. Fox for his starring role in “Back to the Future.” But the actor almost became a part of another cult film too. He realized too late that his rejection was a serious mistake.
Who is Michael J Fox? Although not everyone may know the actor’s name, most people are familiar with his most famous role. In Back to the Future, Fox played the young Marty McFly, who travels through time with Doc Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd, in three films.
Fox played numerous other roles over the years. Since becoming ill with Parkinson’s disease, he has taken a step back and announced in 2020 that he would no longer work as an actor from now on. The reason would be health problems.
Despite this, he continued to give interviews talking about his career. He turned down a role in the 90s and still regrets it today.
Trailer for Back to the Future 2 from 1989
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A true cult film of the 90s
What film is it about? It may be a matter of taste, but in many circles Ghost – Message from Sam is considered a cult film of the 90s. The unusual love story between Molly (Demi Moore) and her late husband (Patrick Swayze), who continues to communicate with her as a ghost, hit a nerve and was well received by the audience.
The character of Sam is one of Swayze’s most famous roles, who also starred in several classics such as Dirty Dancing, Point Break and Roadhouse. The latter recently received a remake.
The role of Sam in Ghost was initially offered to several other Hollywood stars before Swayze received it. These include well-known names such as Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis and Tom Cruise. And Michael J. Fox was also asked, but declined.
In an interview with The View, he explains his decision to, among others, Whoopi Goldberg, who herself starred in Ghost:
I had an opportunity to work with you that I didn’t take. You told me about Ghost early on in the development process. I said it would never work. I said: Whoopi (Goldberg) is great, but it will never work. And then it was great, a huge success and I said: I’m a fucking idiot.
Michael J. Fox via The View
How successful was the film in the cinema? In the end, Ghost became a box office hit, grossing over $500 million worldwide. The film’s budget was comparatively small at $22 million.
Michael J. Fox says he was very upset when he heard about the film’s success. Not because he didn’t begrudge the filmmakers and actors, but because he deeply regretted not having agreed. What the iconic scene at the potter’s wheel would have looked like with Fox instead of Swayze is therefore left to our imagination. Or you can take another look at one of Fox’s greatest successes, which predicted today’s Hollywood back in 1989.