The Rom-Com Classic That Burt Reynolds Regretted Passing On

Burt Reynolds is truly a Hollywood icon. He starred in classic '70s films like "Smokey and the Bandit," "The Longest Yard," and "Deliverance," quickly becoming known as a hunky action star with a charming smile and a habit of doing his own stunts. Reynolds is also a director, best known for the '90s series "Evening Shade," which he also starred in. Also, he was thought by many to be the physical embodiment of American masculinity, with a lot of people seeing him a sex symbol (via Vulture). 

Reynold's legacy in American cinema could be felt most back in 2018 when he passed away at the age of 82 (via The Hollywood Reporter). But looking back at the decades he spent in Hollywood, the "Boogie Nights" actor did make questionable decisions when it came to picking roles. He's known for passing on major franchises like "Star Wars" and "James Bond." But he also previously said that there was one 1990s rom-com that he really regretted saying no to years later. 

Reynolds appeared on Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen" shortly before his death in 2018 to talk about his legendary career. Host Andy Cohen played a game where he asked Reynolds to explain movie parts that he'd been rumored to have been offered, but turned down for one reason or another. It's pretty well-known that Reynolds' already-impressive filmography could've been boosted if he had gotten parts in films like "The Godfather" or "James Bond." 

Cohen asked Reynolds to explain why he passed on playing the role of Edward Lewis, the love interest of Julia Roberts' Vivian Ward, in the 1990 blockbuster "Pretty Woman." The role went on to be played by Richard Gere. Reynolds was pretty blunt about his regret, saying that the reason he said no was, "Because I'm an idiot." It's hard to imagine "Pretty Woman" without the undeniably chemistry between Gere and Roberts, but it's still interesting to imagine Reynolds taking on the prolific character. The film was actually supposed to have a way darker ending, so who knows what "Pretty Woman" would've looked like if Reynolds had been the leading man.