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Michael Douglas Reveals He Wasn't First Choice for Iconic 'Wall Street' Role

Michael Douglas recently revealed he was not the first choice to play Gordon Gekko in the 1987 film "Wall Street." He learned decades later that director Oliver Stone first offered the role to Warren Beatty and then Richard Gere, both of whom turned it down. Douglas believes he was cast due to his background as a producer and familiarity with East Coast finance culture. The actor also used the opportunity to critique Silicon Valley's current influence on the film industry.

Key Points: Michael Douglas: Not First Choice for Gordon Gekko in Wall Street

  • Warren Beatty passed first
  • Richard Gere also declined
  • Douglas learned decades later
  • Role defined 80s greed critique
  • Douglas credits his producer background
3 min read

Michael Douglas wasn't the first choice to play Gordon Gekko in 1987's 'Wall Street'

Michael Douglas reveals Warren Beatty & Richard Gere turned down Gordon Gekko before he got the iconic Wall Street role. Hear his reaction.

"I didn't know any of that because you always like to think you were the one. - Michael Douglas"

Los Angeles, Feb 10

Hollywood star Michael Douglas, who played the iconic character Gordon Gekko in the Oliver Stone-directed 1987 crime drama "Wall Street", later learned that two actors had turned down the role before he was even approached.

Speaking at the TCM Classic Film Festival New York Pop-up x 92NY event, the 81-year-old actor said: "I must say, we were talking just before, while doing a little preparation for this, since I have not seen the movie fully in about 40 years ... but I saw an article recently that said that Oliver first went to Warren Beatty, who passed on it, and then to Richard Gere, who passed on it.

"I didn't know any of that because you always like to think you were the one."

The acclaimed movie served as a sharp critique of greed and excess in the US in the 1980s, reports femalefirst.co.uk

Douglas was acutely aware that it was a great career opportunity for him.

He said: "I was really happy, excited to bring the heart. You don't get many good parts in your life."

The actor thinks Oliver Stone recognised that he was particularly well-suited to the role, too.

He explained: "I guess when Oliver was asked, he was looking for an actor that had some business acumen and because I was also a producer, and because I did grow up in New York City, went to Allen Stevenson School, and then I went to prep schools.

"So I had a familiarity with the East Coast and that kind of life. And I had friends that I met from early school who were into Wall Street, so I wasn't closely familiar with it, but I understood the lifestyle. I guess that's why he chose it."

Meanwhile, Douglas had previously accused tech firms of "dumbing down" the movie business.

The actor has enjoyed a decades-long career in the film industry. The star bemoaned some of the changes he's witnessed in recent years, suggesting that so-called big tech is having a detrimental impact on the movie industry.

He said at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: "The biggest change in my lifetime and career has been digital. It's gone the other way in terms of both studios or in this case streaming services and now this latest chapter is the advent of Silicon Valley dumbing down and just taking over what we thought was this big industry."

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
"Greed is good" - that line is iconic! Shows how a role can define an actor's career. Warren Beatty and Richard Gere missed out big time. Douglas brought the perfect blend of charm and menace.
A
Aman W
His point about tech "dumbing down" the industry is so true. Look at Bollywood too - sometimes it feels like content is made for algorithms, not for storytelling. Quality over quantity, always.
S
Sarah B
It's refreshing to hear an actor be so honest about not being the first choice. Shows humility. And his analysis of why he was chosen - the background, the familiarity - makes perfect sense. Casting is an art.
V
Vikram M
Wall Street was a brilliant critique of 80s excess. The parallels to today's corporate culture, especially in Indian metros, are still very relevant. The pursuit of wealth at any cost... some things never change.
K
Karthik V
While I respect his views on tech, I have to respectfully disagree. Streaming platforms have given a global platform to so many regional Indian films and new talent. It's not all bad. Change is inevitable.

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