'Janet Jackson made a surprise appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, where she opened up about turning down iconic movie roles in her career.
Jackson revealed that she had been offered the role of Storm in the X-Men film franchise but had to decline due to scheduling conflicts with her music tour. She shared, 'I couldn't because I was just embarking on the Janet tour.'
Halle Berry eventually took on the role of Storm in the X-Men movies, a decision that propelled her to greater fame. Jackson admitted that she couldn't quite recall the name of the movie she had passed on but remembered that it was a significant project when it was released.
'It was... this is horrible. I can't remember the film, but Halle Berry played Storm,' Jackson stated. She further clarified, 'It wasn't The Matrix.'
During their conversation, Barrymore also shared her own experience of turning down a major movie role early in her career. She confessed that she had rejected a role in the 1997 film Boogie Nights, a decision she attributed to her desire to pursue a different creative direction.
'I think it's when I went and did Ever After. I went in a very different direction,' Barrymore explained.
In a 2021 interview with Vanity Fair, Barrymore expressed her willingness to revisit her role as Storm in the X-Men franchise if the right opportunity arose. She said, 'I loved playing Storm, and people love Storm. If we could find a version that would make sense or a storyline that would make sense, I would absolutely do that, for sure.'
Despite passing on some notable movie roles, both Jackson and Barrymore have enjoyed successful and diverse careers in the entertainment industry.'
