Career mistake avoided: the iconic role Morgan Freeman almost turned down
Naturally lilted and undeniably smooth, Morgan Freeman‘s speaking voice is so beguiling that he could have easily retired simply providing the narration for countless movies, documentaries and commercials. Combining this natural magnetism with a supremely dedicated work ethic and younger years spent treading the theatre boards, it would appear that Freeman’s position as a gifted Hollywood star was almost impossible to avoid.
Morgan Freeman’s impressive career is littered with culturally important roles. Whether he starred alongside Brad Pitt in Seven, became the face of God in Bruce Almighty, or had his Oscar-winning turn in Driving Miss Daisy, Freeman’s position as one of Hollywood’s acting greats has been ratified time and time again. But the star hasn’t always got the roles he wanted.
The star famously failed to impress Miloš Forman enough to cast him as Coalhouse Walker in Ragtime, as he explained to SAG-AFTRA Foundation: “I interviewed for a Miloš Forman for Ragtime. I read the book, and when I read the book—’Coalhouse Walker, that’s me!’ I got that going away.” The star had enjoyed some success already, so he thought he might be a shoo-in: “I had just gotten all kinds of accolades for Broadway play that I had done. I was the talk of the town,” he explained, “Surely, you’ve heard of me? Haven’t you?” Forman clearly hadn’t heard enough, and he missed out.
Roles come and go, and few are worthy of chasing too long. However, Freeman almost made a huge misstep when he initially turned down the role that arguably confirmed his legacy forever, the portrayal of Red in Shawshank Redemption, the 1994 picture that would confirm him as a star.
Freeman has always been a lover of books, and his commitment to the original text written by Stephen King, the novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, upon which the movie was based, almost saw him turn down the role of a lifetime. In the King’s original, Red was described as an Irishman, and this didn’t sit well with Freeman.
The actor proclaimed, “I can’t play an Irishman!” when speaking about the role in Role Recall back in 2014. With the chance to cast Freeman seemingly dead in the water, Darabont stepped in and decided to change the script and make Red a Black American, thus changing the face of cinema and gaining Freeman another Oscar nomination. While Freeman still notes, “I didn’t play an Irishman,” when talking about the role, in the movie, the characters have a little fun with the casting as, after being asked why he is called Red, the prisoner replies with a smirk: “Maybe it’s because I’m Irish.”
Despite the accolades and adoration, Freeman has never considered the picture a favourite: “They’ll say that because it’s maybe one of the best films made. But it never quite made my best list, no.” This is perhaps more keenly a reflection of his time on set than the movie’s reception.
In truth, it is hard to see the flick as anything other than Freeman’s crowning moment. His delicately poised, utterly charming, and undeniably emotional performance as Red is a flourish added to an already impressive career—and he almost gave it up.
