The Matrix Role Gary Oldman Reveals He Was Never Offered Unlike What Keanu Reeves Fans Think
Gary Oldman revealed that, contrary to rumors, he was not offered the role of Morpheus in The Matrix series.
British actor Gary Oldman has been a bankable Hollywood veteran for many years and is known for his versatility and intense acting style. With impressive filmography in various genres, Oldman has straddled the fine line between commercial success and critical acclaim through many diverse roles.
Apart from his Oscar-winning turn as Winston Churchill in The Darkest Hour, the celebrity has also made his presence felt in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy and the Harry Potter series.
Gary Oldman as Sirius Black in the Harry Potter films
Oldman has also been known to let go of significant parts in films that have gone on to become memorable with audiences, including Edward Scissorhands. On the other hand, the Oscar winner also set the record straight regarding false rumors about being offered certain characters like Morpheus from The Matrix, which he clarified did not come his way.
Gary Oldman Was Never Offered The Role Of Morpheus In The Matrix
Over the years, Gary Oldman has covered the gamut of roles in mutiples genres and has proved that he is one of the most accomplished actors in Hollywood. However, there have been rumors that the star turned down the opportunity to play certain iconic characters in cinema, including the famous role of Morpheus in The Matrix, which ultimately went to Lawrence Fishburn. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, Oldman denied these claims in no uncertain terms with a single, clear statement.
“No, I don’t remember Morpheus”
Gary Oldman denied rumors that he was offered the role of Morpheus in The Matrix
The Paranoia star went on to state that he believed in being upfront about his decision at the beginning, and felt it was unethical to mislead filmmakers and producers by making them elaborate on roles and characters and then rejecting them.
Gary Oldman Did Not Connect With Edward Scissorhands Script
It is impossible to imagine anyone other than Johnny Depp playing the role of the quirky titular protagonist in Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands. The film catapulted Depp into the big leagues and made him the ideal contender to portray similar eccentric characters in films. Interestingly, he was not the first choice for the role.
Gary Oldman in the Happy Sad Confused podcast
British star Gary Oldman was initially approached to play the part by Burton. Oldman, though, did not take up the offer as he could not connect with the narrative and the director’s fantastical vision for the script. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the Harry Potter star recalled his first impressions about the narrative and said,
”I didn’t get the script. I read it and I thought, there’s a castle on a hill, this guy’s got scissors, there’s an Avon lady, I just don’t get it.”
A year later, when Oldman saw the film, he completely understood Burton’s thought process and praised the director’s vision and talent that made the movie a huge blockbuster.
