by Bruce Willis has entertained audiences for decades with his charm, humor, and undeniable on-screen presence. From the beloved John McClane in the Die Hard franchise to his comedic turns in films like The Whole Nine Yards, Willis has proven himself to be a versatile and bankable star. However, early in his career, Willis made a decision that he would come to regret profoundly: turning down two of the 1990s’ biggest blockbuster roles.
In 1990, Willis was offered the lead role in Pretty Woman opposite Julia Roberts. However, believing the script to be just another romantic comedy, Willis turned it down. The role ended up going to Richard Gere, and Pretty Woman became one of the highest grossing films of the year, cementing Roberts as a superstar and propelling Gere to new heights of fame. For Willis, it was a tremendous missed opportunity that he has lamented publicly many times over the subsequent decades.
Just a few years later, Willis was offered the iconic role of Neo in the Matrix trilogy. But once again, he declined the role, admitting later that he found the script utterly confusing. That part then went to Keanu Reeves, who soared to A-list stardom as the trench coat-clad, kung fu-kicking Neo. The Matrix films became a pop culture phenomenon, blending groundbreaking special effects with an ingenious sci-fi premise.
In hindsight, it’s easy to see why Willis has called these decisions the biggest regrets of his career. While he achieved great success in other films, turning down Pretty Woman and The Matrix prevented him from being part of two of the most memorable and profitable hits of the era. For Willis, they were career-altering mistakes—and he knows it.
The Pretty Woman Blunder
In 1989, Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg acquired a script then titled $3,000. It was a dark drama about a troubled prostitute named Vivian Ward who is hired by a wealthy businessman named Edward Lewis to be his escort for a week. Katzenberg saw potential in the story and had the script completely rewritten as a romantic comedy, Retitled Pretty Woman, Disney began shopping the project around to directors and actors.
The film offered Willis the role of Edward Lewis, the billionaire who hires Vivian and eventually falls in love with her. At the time, Willis was red hot off the success of the first Die Hard movie and the hit comedy-drama Moonlighting. However, he turned down Pretty Woman, thinking it was just another forgettable rom-com.
In a 2013 interview with Piers Morgan, Willis admitted: “I turned down ‘Pretty Woman,’ big mistake. That was pretty big.”
Instead, the role went to Richard Gere, who at the time was trying to rebuild his leading man status after a string of box office flops. Teamed up with the then-unknown Julia Roberts as Vivian, Gere shined in Pretty Woman. His effortless charm and charisma as Edward Lewis lit up the screen, proving the perfect romantic match for Roberts.
When Pretty Woman opened in 1990, it exceeded all expectations. The $14 million movie raked in $463 million worldwide, making it one of the most profitable films of the decade. It also propelled Gere and Roberts to A-list fame, cementing them as two of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Roberts especially became America’s sweetheart overnight, earning a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her universally praised performance.
Meanwhile, Willis could only look on at the phenomenal success of Pretty Woman, lamenting his poor judgment. In that same interview with Morgan, Willis said “That was a pretty big one. I was offered the role of the lawyer and I didn’t want to do another romantic comedy. I wanted to do something different.”
But in trying to avoid being typecast, Willis missed out on one of the most iconic romantic comedies ever made. The role of Edward Lewis could have been a career-defining performance and further enhanced his leading man status. Instead, that glory went to his rival Gere, while Willis was left second-guessing himself.
The Momentous Matrix Mistake
In hindsight, Willis’ decision to turn down The Matrix seems utterly baffling. But back in the late 1990s, the cutting-edge concept and complex mythology of The Matrix was seen as a risky gamble for any A-list star.
Willis was approached to play Neo – the hacker who discovers the truth that humanity is trapped in a simulated reality created by machines. At first, Neo is skeptical of his supposed destiny to overthrow the machines as “The One.” But over the course of the film, Neo comes to accept his role as the resistance leader who will free humanity from enslavement.
According to Willis, he just didn’t comprehend the intricate philosophical themes and groundbreaking action envisioned for The Matrix when he first read the script.
“I was offered the role of Neo in ‘The Matrix’ and I turned it down,” Willis admitted in a 2010 interview. “I didn’t understand the script at all. I was like, ‘This is not going to work’.”
The part instead went to Keanu Reeves, who fully embraced the empathy and messianic journey of Neo. The unknown Carrie-Anne Moss was cast as Trinity, Neo’s partner and love interest. And veteran Laurence Fishburne signed on as Morpheus, Neo’s mentor who believes he is “The One” destined to save humanity.
When The Matrix hit theaters in 1999, it was an instant pop culture earthquake. The film’s groundbreaking “bullet time” visual effects were endlessly influential, its dystopian future was chillingly believable, and the blend of cyberpunk action and zen philosophy captivated audiences.
The Matrix grossed $465 million worldwide on just a $63 million budget. It was instantly hailed as an all-time classic, with many critics naming it one of the best sci-fi films ever made.
Just as importantly, The Matrix made Keanu Reeves an A-list celebrity. His quiet intensity as Neo combined with his dedication to the grueling martial arts training made him one of Hollywood’s most bankable leading men. The Matrix sequels Reloaded and Revolutions also cemented his action hero credentials.
Willis again had to watch as another actor benefited enormously from a role he declined. While he achieved hits like The Sixth Sense during this period, missing out on The Matrix prevented Willis from staying at the very apex of stardom alongside younger stars like Reeves. Willis rejected the script due to lack of vision, while Reeves had the foresight to recognize the immense potential of The Matrix.
Lessons Learned
Throughout his long career, Bruce Willis has proven himself to be an intelligent actor who takes risks. From his comedic film Moonlighting to gritty dramas like Pulp Fiction, Willis has shown immense range and adaptability. But even legends make mistakes.
By turning down Pretty Woman and The Matrix, Willis lost out on two hugely profitable projects that could have cemented his standing as one of Hollywood’s most popular leading men in the 1990s. While hindsight is 20/20, these missed opportunities have taught Willis the importance of carefully considering creative choices.
In interviews since, Willis has explained the importance of career risks, saying “I’ve learned that you have to be willing to take risks in this business. If you don’t, you’ll never get anywhere.” He also has stated that he is now more open to stepping out of his comfort zone as an actor.
Ironically, Julia Roberts, Bruce’s could-have-been Pretty Woman co-star, expressed a similar sentiment about career choices in a 2016 interview.
“I think sometimes I’ve gotten in my own way,” Roberts reflected. “But that’s part of it. You have to get in your own way and learn how to get out of your own way.”
For top talents like Bruce Willis and Julia Roberts, occasional blunders are part of forging an iconic career across decades in show business. The key is to not let regrets paralyze you, but to learn from mistakes and move forward.
Now entering the sixth decade of his legendary career, Bruce Willis has proven that valuable lesson time and again. He has racked up over $5 billion in worldwide box office receipts, earned multiple awards, and created indelible characters that will endure forever in film history.
While Willis wishes he could replay the past decisions to star in Pretty Woman and The Matrix, he stays focused on the future. And with his undiminished passion for his craft, Willis no doubt still has plenty of classics left to create on the big screen.
