It is difficult to imagine Die Hard without Bruce Willis and Lethal Weapon without Mel Gibson. But surprisingly enough, the two actors were initially offered each other’s roles in the movies. Coincidentally when Willis refused to take away Gibson’s opportunity and turned down the offer for Lethal Weapon, he was proposed the role of John McClane in Die Hard.
Joel Silver produced Die Hard (1988) and Lethal Weapon (1987) initially had several actors appearing for the lead role until they chose the prodigies, Bruce Willis and Mel Gibson for their respective movies. Call it coincidence, but Willis turning down Lethal Weapon for Gibson, earned him nearly $500M more from the Die Hard franchise.
Bruce Willis Was Chosen For Lethal Weapon
Despite the buddy cop genre being pioneered by Walter Hill, Richard Donner’s Lethal Weapon popularized the concept. With Mel Gibson and Danny Glover appearing as the ideal choices for the lead roles of Riggs and Murtaugh, the movie excelled with its noir-tinged storytelling and non-stop action. However, Gibson wasn’t the first choice for the role, as Bruce Willis was in line before him.
Offered the role of Martin Riggs around the same time as Mel Gibson was offered the lead in Die Hard, Bruce Willis was the director’s choice for the movie lead. Considering the compelling storyline and foresighted million-dollar success of the franchise, Willis evidently found it hard to refuse the role. However, the actor turned down the offer, thus paving the way for Gibson to have it.
Mel Gibson’s Lethal Weapon franchise eventually grossed $952M worldwide and became one of the classic movies in the buddy cop genre. Following the success of the first installment, the filmmakers found the enthusiasm even more to create the other three sequels. But surprisingly enough, at the time when Bruce Willis refused Lethal Weapon, even Mel Gibson turned down the Die Hard franchise.
Bruce Willis In The Billion Dollar Die Hard Franchise
Although Bruce Willis refused Lethal Weapon and later appeared in Die Hard, it took eight other actors to reject the role before Willis was approached. There is no denying Willis turned Die Hard into a classic with his on-screen depiction of vigilante heroism, but it took him a lot more before he bagged the role of John McClane.
The lead role initially went to eight actors and Mel Gibson was one among them, who rejected the role. Although it was believed, Gibson would do well as John McClane, eventually Bruce Willis served the best justice to the character. Grossing $1.4B worldwide, the Die Hard franchise gained a separate fanbase, and Willis earned his recognition.
Rejecting Lethal Weapon for Mel Gibson turned out quite well for Bruce Willis as he earned an estimation of $500M more for this role in Die Hard. While beginning to venture into feature films, Willis got the opportunity for the billion-dollar franchise and became the ultimate hero, with a legendary status.
In the end, while Mel Gibson was hot in Lethal Weapon, Bruce Willis found himself in superstardom through Die Hard.
Watch the two classic hits Die Hard and Lethal Weapon on Amazon Prime Video.
Read more: An Angry Bruce Willis Fired His Entire Team After Losing $233 Million Movie That Won 9 Oscars
Source: Screenrant
