Owen Wilson Rejects $12M To Star In OJ Simpson Movie Showing He Is Innocent Of Murder
Owen Wilson was offered millions to star in an O.J. Simpson film, but he turned it down, according to the director.
British director Joshua Newton spoke about his new film "The Juice," which was originally titled "Nicole and O.J." He said that about 30 minutes of the movie was already complete, and it was mostly flashback scenes.
He has been working on the "satirical thriller" for nearly 10 years since he started it in 2015. Newton said that among the reasons for its delay was finding the right actor to play Douglas McCann, a real-life attorney who was sucked in various conspiracy theories during Simpson's 1995 criminal trial. He offered the role to Wilson because he was convinced that the "No Escape" actor was perfect for the character, but he rejected it.
"Owen Wilson was perfect for the role," Newton told Rambling Reporter.
"I actually had a meeting with him in Santa Monica. Everybody loved the script. His agent wanted him to do it. We offered him $12 million. But at the end of the lunch, Owen stood up and said, 'If you think I'm going to take the lead role in a movie about how O.J. didn't do it, you've got to be kidding me.'"
Newton is still pushing through with the project. According to him, he has already found another "spot on" actor for the role. However, he declined to name him. The director hopes to complete the movie by Oct. 3, 2025, for the 30th anniversary of Simpson's not-guilty verdict.
Boris Kodjoe will portray Simpson, the NFL star turned acquitted murderer, and Charlotte Kirk will play Nicole. The other cast members include Catherine Bailey, Bryce Lorenzo, Chris Moss, Ja'Siah Young, Charlotte Beckett, Oliver Walker and more.
The report about Wilson rejecting the project received mixed responses. Some supported his decision, while others wondered why he declined when Simpson was acquitted in the murder trial.
"Good for him," one commented.
Another added, "First of all, making this movie itself is ridiculous."
"This is huge, why the decline?" another asked.
A fourth person opined, "O.J. was found not guilty."
Simpson was tried and acquitted for the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend Ronald Goldman. They were stabbed to death outside her condominium in the Brentwood neighborhood in Los Angeles on June 12, 1994.
Simpson was formally charged with murder after investigators found a blood-stained glove on his property. He was represented by the Dream Team, initially led by Robert Shapiro.
They convinced the jury that there was reasonable doubt concerning the DNA evidence and claimed that the blood sample had been mishandled by lab scientists. They also alleged that the case against Simpson was tainted by the LAPD's misconduct related to racism.
