Bill Murray Regrets Passing on a Clint Eastwood Role
Bill Murray has had an incredible Hollywood career, but there’s still one big regret that haunts him turning down a chance to work with Clint Eastwood. The 74-year-old actor recently revealed that he was once offered a role in Heartbreak Ridge but passed on it, fearing he would be typecast in military comedies after starring in Stripes.
Speaking with Howard Stern, Murray recalled watching Eastwood’s films like Thunderbolt and Lightfoot and being drawn to the kind of roles Eastwood’s sidekicks would play. He even reached out to the legendary filmmaker, hoping for a chance to collaborate. “I got to call this guy,” Murray remembered thinking. “His sidekick gets killed, and he avenges him, but the sidekick gets a great part, a great death scene.”
When Eastwood offered him a role in a military-themed film, Murray hesitated. At the time, he had just starred in Stripes, a military comedy that became a massive success. When Eastwood pitched him another service-themed film, Murray worried he’d get stuck in a pattern of similar roles. “He said, ‘Would you ever want to do another service comedy?’ And I thought, ‘Jeez, would I become like Abbott and Costello? Would I have to do military movies forever?’” Murray admitted. That hesitation led him to say no, and Eastwood went ahead with Heartbreak Ridge without him. Now, looking back, Murray admits he made a mistake.
Unlike most of his Hollywood decisions, this is one that Murray still thinks about. “It’s one of the few regrets I have,” he confessed. “It was a big-scale thing, and I would have gotten a great part. I don’t know if I’d have gotten a great death scene – it was more of a comedy – but it was great.” He also acknowledged the scale of Eastwood’s vision, saying, “He had access to World War II boats, and he could have made a flotilla and stuff. There was some cool stuff in it.” Even now, whenever he sees Eastwood, Murray can’t help but bring it up. “I’m sorry, I wish I’d done that, Clint. I’m really sorry,” he admitted. But he also knows Eastwood isn’t the type to dwell on it. “He’s certainly well over it. He’s a very resilient fella.”
While Heartbreak Ridge is long in the past, fans can’t help but wonder – could Bill Murray and Clint Eastwood finally team up? Eastwood, now 94, has continued directing and starring in films well into his later years, proving he still has the passion for filmmaking. Murray, on the other hand, has embraced more dramatic roles in recent years, showing that he’s more than capable of handling an Eastwood-style film. Could a late-career collaboration finally happen? Fans would love to see it.
Throughout his career, Murray has made some bold choices. He famously turned down Forrest Gump and even ignored Ghostbusters 3 for years. But missing out on Heartbreak Ridge seems to be one of the few decisions he truly regrets. Would it have changed the course of his career? Probably not. But it would have given him the chance to work with one of Hollywood’s most legendary figures.
Would you have liked to see Bill Murray in Heartbreak Ridge? Do you think he and Clint Eastwood should still work together? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
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