LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tom Hanks has built a remarkable filmography that is the envy of many actors. From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, Hanks became the face of numerous beloved movies, including blockbusters like ‘Forrest Gump’, ‘Saving Private Ryan’, ‘Cast Away’, and the ‘Toy Story’ series. Interestingly, Hanks had the opportunity to add another major hit from the 1990s, ‘Jerry Maguire’, to his list of accomplishments.
Director Cameron Crowe, who expressed his desire to work with Hanks, revealed in an interview with NBC Sports that Tom Cruise was not his original choice for the lead role in 'Jerry Maguire'. Crowe initially envisioned Hanks in the part but had to reconsider due to scheduling conflicts.
‘Originally written with Tom Hanks in mind
Consequently, Tom Cruise was cast, and the film went on to achieve great success, earning Cruise an Oscar nomination. Hanks humorously suggests that since Cruise landed the role after he turned it down, a symbolic debt of at least a dollar is owed to him.
“It was originally written with Tom Hanks in mind. … I had this wonderful conversation with Tom Hanks, and people were waiting in the next room for the answer. And Tom Hanks was so complimentary and so great and said, ‘I’d love to do this, but I’m doing That Thing You Do! and I should be doing that instead of this movie. But good luck.’ I was so high on the Tom Hanks personality charisma that I walked into the next room like ‘I just had the greatest conversation with Tom Hanks.’”
A significant milestone for Cruise
Hanks made his directorial debut with ‘That Thing You Do!’, and it is understandable that he chose to focus on his passion project instead. Nevertheless, it's intriguing to contemplate the alternate possibilities for now-classic films. The Hanks-Cruise casting switch is not the only noteworthy aspect of ‘Jerry Maguire’. Jamie Foxx auditioned for a role that eventually earned Cuba Gooding Jr an Academy Award.
Given the stature of both actors involved, the casting decisions for ‘Jerry Maguire’ has become an enthralling "what if" scenario in recent Hollywood history. Hanks stands by his decision but acknowledges that ‘Jerry Maguire’ became a significant milestone for Cruise, generating over $273 million worldwide and receiving five Oscar nominations, including Best Actor for Cruise and Best Picture. The film also sparked a lasting pop culture phenomenon.
