Bill Murray Says He Regrets Turning Down a Role in a Clint Eastwood Movie
Bill Murray deeply regrets turning down a chance to star in a Clint Eastwood movie, a decision he still contemplates, as revealed during his interview on "The Howard Stern Show" on March 25. The 74-year-old actor shared that his enduring regret stems from being offered a role in a service comedy by Eastwood—a large-scale Navy-themed movie—around the time he was known for "Stripes." This is prepared by SSP.
Back in the day, while watching Eastwood films like "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot," Murray was inspired by the impactful roles of Eastwood's sidekicks, which included significant death scenes avenged by Eastwood's characters. This motivated him to contact Eastwood directly. However, Murray hesitated, fearing being typecast in military comedies similar to Abbott and Costello films, ultimately declining the offer. The project in question could likely have been the 1986 dark comedy "Heartbreak Ridge."
Murray continues to reflect on the missed chance, stating, "It's one of the few regrets I have." He speculated on the opportunity to participate in grand cinematic elements, such as filming with World War II naval vessels, which piques his ongoing curiosity about what might have been.
Whenever Murray encounters Eastwood, now 94, in Hollywood, he expresses his remorse. Despite Murray's apologies, Eastwood appears unfazed, described by Murray as "a very resilient fellow."
Additionally, during the same interview, Murray touched upon the late Gene Hackman's challenging yet impressive demeanor while filming "The Royal Tenenbaums," a comment precipitated by reflecting on Hackman's recent passing. Murray admitted that Hackman's tough nature was demanding on Wes Anderson, the young director, requiring intervention to support his friend.
Together, these reflections show both Murray's lament over opportunities lost and respect for the legacy left by iconic actors like Eastwood and Hackman.
Earlier, SSP wrote that Patrick Schwarzenegger postponed wedding plans for The White Lotus.