John Travolta nearly played Forrest Gump

Hollywood's ultimate game of musical chairs left a disco legend out in the cold. Travolta was originally offered the part of the slow-witted, ping-pong-playing runner, but passed to star in Pulp Fiction instead. After Pulp Fiction revived his career, he desperately tried to get the Gump role back, but the studio had already secured Tom Hanks. In the end, both actors snagged Oscar nominations the same year.