Michael Douglas reveals Warren Beatty and Richard Gere almost played Gordon Gekko
Douglas is preparing to release a memoir covering his five-decade career
Michael Douglas’ iconic role as Gordon Gekko in Wall Street nearly went to two other A-list actors.
Speaking at the TCM Classic Film Festival on February 15, the 81-year-old actor reflected on the making of the 1987 film and revealed that director Oliver Stone originally offered the role to Warren Beatty, who declined, and then to Richard Gere, who also passed.
“I must say, we were talking just before and doing a little preparation for this, since I have not seen the movie fully in about 40 years… But I saw an article recently said that Oliver first went to Warren Beatty, who passed on it, and then to Richard Gere, who passed on it,” Douglas said.
Douglas admitted he never realised he wasn’t Stone’s first choice. “But saying that, those poor b—–ds,” he joked. “I mean, how do you think they feel? You know, with a picture they turned down.”
The role ultimately earned Douglas an Academy Award for Best Actor, cementing his place in Hollywood history.
He reprised Gekko in the 2010 sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, which follows the character’s return to power after prison.
Douglas is also preparing to release a memoir covering his five-decade career, his battle with stage four cancer, and his personal life with actress Catherine Zeta-Jones.
The couple, who met in 1998 and married in 2000, recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and share two children, Dylan and Carys.
