Before becoming a household name in the 1990s, Jim Carrey was a rising comedian who gained attention on the sketch comedy show In Living Color in the late 1980s. While Carrey’s breakout fame came later, he had auditioned for a major part in the 1985 fantasy film Legend, directed by Ridley Scott. Carrey was considered for the lead role of Jack, which the director initially struggled to cast.
Carrey wasn’t the only actor vying for that part; other future stars like Robert Downey Jr. and Johnny Depp also auditioned. At the time, Downey Jr. was not yet famous and Depp was just starting out after his film debut in Nightmare on Elm Street. Eventually, the role went to Tom Cruise, who was gaining momentum following successes like The Outsiders and Risky Business. Despite missing out on Legend, Carrey went on to appear in several films during the 1980s, including Earth Girls Are Easy, Peggy Sue Got Married, and Once Bitten, none of which achieved major commercial success.
Tom Cruise’s Challenging Experience Filming ‘Legend’
Landing the role of Jack in Legend was a significant step for Tom Cruise, who had to compete against other talented actors for the part. The production, however, was fraught with difficulty. Cruise delayed signing on to the project, and once filming began, the process was plagued by setbacks such as a devastating fire that destroyed the set. Despite the film’s eventual cult status, it was a box office failure upon release, hindering Cruise’s hopes that it would solidify him as a leading man.
Reflecting on the experience, Cruise told Rolling Stone,
“I’ll never want to do another picture like that again,”
expressing clear regret about the project. The actor felt the film was creatively restrictive, describing his role as
“another color in a Ridley Scott painting.”
This suggests he felt more like a small part of a larger vision rather than an influential collaborator.
How ‘Legend’ Influenced Cruise’s Approach to Future Projects
Despite the disappointment, the challenges Cruise faced on Legend taught him a valuable lesson about the importance of creative control. When he later worked on Top Gun, directed by Tony Scott, Ridley Scott’s brother, Cruise insisted on having input on the script and production decisions. He explained,
“After coming off ‘Legend’, I just wanted to make sure that everything was gonna go the way we talked about it.”
This shift toward seeking more influence over his projects marked a turning point in Cruise’s career strategy.
Jim Carrey’s near casting in Legend and Tom Cruise’s later reflections reveal how the film’s legacy extends beyond its initial failure. The production difficulties and box office disappointment pushed Cruise to advocate for greater creative involvement, impacting the trajectory of his future work. Meanwhile, Carrey’s early untapped opportunities remind fans of how different careers might have unfolded had casting choices gone another way. Both tales underline the unpredictable nature of Hollywood and the importance of perseverance in show business.
