Classic Pop Icons

There are many classic movie roles that were originally intended for a different actor. Frank Sinatra was offered Dirty Harry, Tom Selleck was in the running for Indiana Jones and Mel Gibson turned down the chance to play the Terminator! One of the more unexpected examples came to light this week with evidence suggesting that Elvis Presley was the original choice for the lead role of Paul Kersey in the movie “Death Wish.” The role of course went to Charles Bronson, who Elvis had worked with a decade before in “Kid Galahad.”

A member (HoneyTalkNelson) of the popular FECC Elvis Presley Forum uncovered an old edition of the “Hollywood Reporter” from September 1973 which outlined how the movie’s producers, Hal Landers and Bobby Roberts, wanted Elvis for the role:

It’s unclear how far this progressed. If an offer was made, there’s no evidence that Elvis was aware of it. Did his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, turn the role down on Elvis’ behalf because he thought it would be unsuitable? That’s a possibility, but the years of less than stellar cinematic efforts had left Elvis disillusioned with Hollywood, so it’s possible that he simply did not want to get back into acting at this stage of his career.

Other hit movies that Elvis has been linked with include “West Side Story,” “Midnight Cowboy” and “A Star is Born.”

Had Elvis taken the role, it would have reunited him with Hope Lange, who appeared with him in the 1961 movie “Wild in the Country.”

Just for fun, here’s an idea of what Elvis might have looked like in the Paul Kersey role.