Christopher Reeve supposedly was offered $1 million to play the lead and turned it down. John Travolta turned down the lead role (which went to Richard Gere). Reportedly, one of the reasons Travolta turned it down was because he wanted final cut and director Paul Schrader would not give it to him. See also An Officer and a Gentleman (1982). Julie Christie originally was to play the role of the politician's wife when Richard Gere was attached to the project, but she backed out when Gere wa ...[Read Story ]