Ethan Hawke still regrets rejecting the chance to star in 'Independence Day'.
Ethan Hawke
The 47-year-old actor was offered the opportunity to appear in the 1996 action movie, but Ethan turned down the chance because he thought to the script sounded silly.
Recalling rejecting the movie during a road trip from Texas to New York, Ethan said: "I'm driving cross-country with a friend of mine.
"I got the script to 'Independence Day', and there's like dollar bills attached to it. And I'm reading it to my buddy in the car like, 'Isn't this a bad line? E.T. phone home ... that's stupid'.
"And I'm going through it [the script] to the point where I literally throw it out onto the Texas highway."
The part of Captain Steven Hiller was eventually handed to Will Smith, and it remains one of his most famous roles.
Ethan admitted he came to regret his decision the moment he walked into a cinema to watch 'Independence Day' for himself.
Speaking to chat-show host Conan O'Brien, the Hollywood star recalled: "Everyone wants to go see 'Independence Day' and I'm like, 'Alright, this'll be amusing to see how bad it is!'
"I walk into the theatre, it's obviously sold out. Will Smith says, 'E.T. phone home ...' and the place roars. I mean they basically give a standing ovation in the movie. And I'm sitting there going, 'Oh my God'. I really didn't get the joke!"
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