[Whedonesque] Sarah Michelle Gellar turned down 'Stardust'

[David]

After being offered the lead role in the upcoming film adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Stardust, she turned it down for the sake of her relationship with Freddie Prinze Jr.

More... (http://www.whedonesque.com/comments/13911)

[Mr. Pointy]

Here's the original article -
Buffy the vampire slayer actress turned down Stardust role..
From PR-Inside.com:

Actress SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR turned down a lead role in STARDUST - because she didn't want to be apart from husband FREDDIE PRINZE JR.
The Buffy The Vampire Slayer star married Prinze Jr. in 2002 and the couple made a vow to avoid conflicting work schedules so they could spend more time together.
But the promise meant Gellar missed out on a part in the new fantasy adventure movie starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer - because the film was being shot in Scotland when Prinze Jr. was filming in the U.S.
She explains, "I turned it down because it was Freddie's turn in New York. I would have loved to have done it - are you kidding? But it was Freddie's turn."

Source (http://www.stardustnews.info/2007/08/buffy-the-vampi.html)

Shame...I think she would've been good in it...I'm looking forward to this film a lot.

[Panda]

damn it! i wanna see this and now that i know that she turned it down it makes me sad!!! ugh freddie.

[TabulaRasa]

When I read that I was like damn big mistake. You have to do well for your marriage but that kind of roll. It's only a few months, you just shouldn't turn that down. Man, I am blown away. What a roll to turn down.

[crabby patty]

I'm gutted, altough at least her marriage is more important to her then her career.

But I am still gutted, this would of been really good for her.

[TabulaRasa]

I'm gutted, altough at least her marriage is more important to her then her career.

But I am still gutted, this would of been really good for her.


It would have been very good for her career. But good that her marriage is most important. Although I can't see how it would hurt the marriage to go ahead and take a roll like that. Then again, we don't know anything about their relationship. It's good that they have a system. :)

[Mortal]

If giving up huge career opportunities like this can keep her marriage stable and happy then I suppose it's worth it. On the other hand, if she just ends up divorced in a few years like so many Hollywood stars then it will have been for nothing. Then again, the movie may just bomb completely scarring everyone involved for life...

[Mr. Pointy]

Then again, the movie may just bomb completely scarring everyone involved for life...
I kinda think the likes of De Niro, Pfeiffer, Gaiman are pretty much bombproof, whatever happens to the film...I hope it's a resounding success though :)

[nerd4hire]

Wait a minute. They wanted SMG, but they had to settle for Michelle Pfeiffer. Uh...yeah...all right. Sure, and Joss Whedon is going to write a Buffy movie, then wait for SMG's OK. Sometimes I wonder how she comes up with this stuff.

[Mortal]

Wait a minute. They wanted SMG, but they had to settle for Michelle Pfeiffer. Uh...yeah...all right. Sure, and Joss Whedon is going to write a Buffy movie, then wait for SMG's OK. Sometimes I wonder how she comes up with this stuff.

No, Michelle Pfeiffer was cast for another role. They apparently had to settle for Claire Danes to take SMG's role, which I presume is for the main female lead.

[Hexaphim]

Having read and loved Stardust, I think SMG would have been wonderful in the role as the Star. I wish she'd said yes.

[Lily]

this is so bizarre - i just saw the previews for stardust at the movies and my friend and i were sitting there saying to each other how we thought it was weird that claire danes was playing star andwho we would have preferred
after reading this i'm now REALLY disappointed that it's not SMG

but good for her and freddie that they are actually sticking to marriage saving rules that they put in place

[bucky01403]

What a waste of talent.

[Jone]

Freddie should have supported her and told her to take the role. That's what I would have done if I were in the same situation and my husband (my FUTURE husband, that is!) wanted to take a role he really wanted. Even though it was his turn, he still should have said something like, "Baby, you really want this role and I don't want to stand in the way of your dreams and I would be so sad if you didn't take it because of me." Or something like that!

I never liked Freddie anyway...he always seemed to control Sarah....

[Randy Giles]

I'm glad that they're thinking of their marriage first.

I *loved* this movie! It was freaking amazing, two and a half hours (yes, it's that long) of pure fun and entertainment. Sarah would have been alright as the Star, but to be honest Claire Danes did it perfectly and I think she might have had a lot more chemistry with the guy she falls in love with than Sarah would have.

Anyway, despite the fact that Sarah's not in it, I suggest you all go see this because it's awesome.

[nerd4hire]

Interesting little factoid about Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Clair Danes. This would be the third movie SMG has turned down that Danes got. Previously there was Mod Squad, and Romeo and Juliet.

http://www.notstarring.com/actors/gellar-sarah-michelle

I see Danes is getting some rave reviews. Won't it be interesting if this one takes her to the A list. Every future role you'll have to wonder if it would originally have been offered to SMG first.

[Mortal]

Interesting little factoid about Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Clair Danes. This would be the third movie SMG has turned down that Danes got. Previously there was Mod Squad, and Romeo and Juliet.

http://www.notstarring.com/actors/gellar-sarah-michelle

I see Danes is getting some rave reviews. Won't it be interesting if this one takes her to the A list. Every future role you'll have to wonder if it would originally have been offered to SMG first.

The Mod Squad was nominated for the "Worst Screenplay" in 1999 Golden Raspberry Awards, so nothing lost there, but Romeo + Juliet was both a box office success and it won a bunch of awards - I wonder why SMG turned that down, especially back in 1995 or 1996 (pre-Buffy) when she didn't have much of a name yet.

[Panda]

wow she turned down romeo + juliet? i never knew that.