In the late 1980s, a young comedian named Jim Carrey became a TV star on the sketch comedy series *In Living Color* alongside talents like David Alan Grier, Tommy Davidson, Kim Wayans, and her three brothers, Keenan, Shawn, and Marlon. Eventually, Carrey became a massive movie star, rising to become one of the most popular stars of the 1990s.
But what some may not know is that he had a movie career before *In Living Color* and had even auditioned for a leading role in an iconic ’80s fantasy that flopped in cinemas: Ridley Scott’s *Legend*.
As detailed by Vulture, Jim Carrey auditioned for the role of Jack, which director Ridley Scott was having difficulty casting. Scott was also considering several other names who, like Carrey, had yet to hit it big. This included a young Robert Downey Jr., who was still a few years away from his breakout role in *Less Than Zero*, and Johnny Depp, who had only just made his big-screen debut with a part in *A Nightmare on Elm Street*, before finding small-screen success in *21 Jump Street*.
Ultimately, Scott went with Tom Cruise, the biggest of the three names at the time. Cruise was coming off a pair of big-screen successes with *The Outsiders* and *Risky Business*, proving he had the makings of a Hollywood leading man.
Though Carrey didn’t get the part, he did get his cinematic ’80s moment with roles in *Earth Girls Are Easy*, *Peggy Sue Got Married*, and the vampire comedy *Once Bitten* — three Jim Carrey flops that are still worth watching.
Fighting for the role of Jack in *Legend* was no easy feat for the young Tom Cruise, who had to beat out several actors we now recognize as Hollywood heavyweights. Cruise took a long time to sign on, but unfortunately, the film didn’t turn out to be the career-making role he might have hoped for. It bombed at the box office, only becoming a fan favorite years later.
After the release of *Top Gun*, Cruise even expressed regret for his role in *Legend*. “I’ll never want to do another picture like that again,” he told *Rolling Stone*.
The production was far from easy, with difficulties ranging from creative differences to massive setbacks, including a set destroyed by fire. The project ultimately consumed a full year of Cruise’s life.
Despite its success with audiences today—where it enjoys cult classic status—Cruise said he felt like little more than a cog in the machine, or as he put it, “another color in a Ridley Scott painting.”
Of course, the experience on *Legend* taught Cruise one important lesson that he still heeds today: creative control is just as important as his performance on screen.
So when it came time for *Top Gun* (which was directed by Ridley Scott’s brother, Tony), Cruise made sure he had input on the script. “After coming off *Legend*, I just wanted to make sure that everything was gonna go the way we talked about it,” he explained.
This early chapter in both Carrey’s and Cruise’s careers highlights the challenges and lessons that come with breaking into Hollywood—and how setbacks can eventually lead to iconic success.
https://www.looper.com/2011271/jim-carrey-star-80s-tom-cruise-flop-legend/
