Should actors say yes to every single role they’re offered? Of course not, even though for some names that seems the case. Even if there’s a chance something becomes a hit, you can’t overwork yourself with no guarantee, in particular if your name itself has already become a sort of brand.So now we’re here to congratulate these following actors on their smart decision making, since they all dodge a bullet by saying no to all these problematic films. In many cases, you’ll notice that it makes perfect sense for them to have said no, but the fact that they were offered the role is entertaining nonetheless.cnx.cmd.push(function() {cnx({playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530",}).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796");});IMDbKeanu Reeves, Speed 2: Cruise ControlInstead of reprising his role, Keanu chose to tour with his band, Dogstar, and perform Shakespeare. It was a good call. The 1997 sequel, Speed 2: Cruise Control, became one of Hollywood’s most infamous box office bombs.IMDbMadonna, ShowgirlsMadonna was offered the lead but said she’d only do it with a full script rewrite. The studio refused, having already paid $2 million for it. She later called the movie a “legendary Vegas stripper flop” with zero regrets.IMDbWill Smith, Superman ReturnsWill Smith was considered for the lead in 2006’s Superman Returns, but he passed. While the movie wasn’t a total disaster, it didn’t quite relaunch the franchise as hoped, and Smith’s career continued to soar without it.IMDbMatt Damon, DaredevilA huge fan of the comic, Damon was offered the role before his friend Ben Affleck but “chickened out.” He disliked the script and didn’t know the director, so he passed on the dull and unconvincing 2003 film.IMDbAshley Judd, CatwomanAshley Judd was in the running for the lead role in the 2004 Catwoman movie. The part eventually went to Halle Berry, and the film became one of the most famously panned comic book movies ever made.IMDbRihanna, CatsRihanna was offered a part in the big-screen version of the musical Cats, but she turned it down. Given the 2019 film’s bizarre visuals and massive box office losses from its $100 million budget, that was a smart move.IMDbWinona Ryder, The Godfather Part IIIWinona Ryder was cast as Mary Corleone but had to drop out right before filming began. While not a total bomb, 1990’s The Godfather Part III is widely seen as the weakest entry in the legendary trilogy.IMDbVal Kilmer, Batman & RobinAfter clashing with the director on Batman Forever, Val Kilmer didn’t return for the sequel. Scheduling conflicts were the official reason, but it saved him from the infamous flop that was 1997’s Batman & Robin.IMDbVin Diesel, xXx: State of the UnionAfter the success of 2002’s xXx, Vin Diesel declined to return for the sequel. The studio moved on without him, casting Ice Cube in 2005’s xXx: State of the Union, which failed to capture the original’s magic.IMDbJack Nicholson, The Bonfire of the VanitiesDirector Brian De Palma wanted Jack Nicholson for a key role, but he passed. The studio then pushed for Bruce Willis in the part, leading to a notoriously miscast film that became a huge critical and financial failure.IMDbRobin Williams, Howard the DuckThe legendary Robin Williams was the first voice of Howard, but he quit after just a few days. He found it impossible to match his fast-paced improv style to the movements of the animatronic duck’s bill in the 1986 film.IMDbHarrison Ford, Basic Instinct 2It took over a decade to get Basic Instinct 2 made, and Harrison Ford was one of many big names considered for the male lead along the way. He wisely passed, avoiding the critically slammed and unsuccessful sequel.IMDbBradley Cooper, Green LanternIt came down to Bradley Cooper and Ryan Reynolds for the lead in 2011’s Green Lantern. The director reportedly preferred Cooper, but the studio cast Reynolds and the film ultimately flopped, failing to launch a new franchise.IMDbRussell Crowe, AlexanderRussell Crowe was reportedly considered for Oliver Stone’s historical epic. The $150 million film was a disaster in the US, with Stone blaming American “fundamentalism” for its rejection at the box office. Crowe dodged a big one.IMDbJim Carrey, Dumb and DumbererWhen it came time to make the prequel, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, Jim Carrey flat-out refused. He felt that trying to recreate the magic of the first film was a bad idea, and he was right. Too bad he went back on that decision for the sequel.The post 15 Actors That Smartly Turned Down Disasters appeared first on Den of Geek.