De Niro, Nicholson, Hanks & Hoffman Turn Woody Allen Down Over Money

Woody Allen is regarded as one of the finest directors in the world, ever, and many actors and actresses would give their eye teeth for a chance to work with him. He’s not my cup of tea you understand, but then again, I’m a big budget blockbuster loving gimboid, so my opinion doesn’t really count on such matters.

However, it seems that not all of the Hollywood elite are all that keen on working with Allen, and in an interview with Empire magazine, reported here via Digital Spy, he revealed that many big names have turned down parts in his films over the years.

“There are plenty of actors and actresses that have said - even after saying ‘I’m dying to work with you so I’d do anything’ - that they’re not available or they can’t work for the pay I’m offering because they have a chance to make a movie for $8 million (£4m) or $10 million (£5m) and they need the money.”

He even went on to name the big stars who chose bucks over artistic pleasure. For Deconstructing Harry, he tried to get Robert De Niro, then Dustin Hoffman, and even Elliot Gould. Jack Nicholson and Tom Hanks meanwhile, turned down roles in The Curse Of The Jade Scorpion.

As I say, I’m no fan of Woody Allen, but the decision of these actors to turn down a role just because $10 million isn’t enough money rankles with me, someone who probably won’t earn that amount in his whole life.