Tom Hanks was cast in the film instead of Chevy Chase. Hanks embodied Gump’s character perfectly and it’s a good thing for the film’s sake that he was cast. Hanks was not only awarded by being cast in an award-winning film, but it also opened the door for him to become a dramatic actor. The role was a significant turning point for Hanks, to say the least.
While Tom Hanks was already pretty big at the time of the film, his career skyrocketed after that. The actor went on to nab up roles in pretty much everything, from heavy and action-packed dramas like the Spielberg classic Saving Private Ryan to animated childhood favorites like Toy Story and even some of our most beloved rom-coms like You’ve Got Mail.
The Lead Role
A few well-known actors turned down the role of Forrest Gump. Tom Hanks was given the role after John Travolta, Bill Murray and Chevy Chase did not accept, and they definitely had regrets about it later on. John Travolta turned down the role in order to film Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece Pulp Fiction, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.
While Chase might be still kicking himself, Travolta certainly made the right decision. The film revived his career, put him back on the A-list, and subsequently landed him roles in other films. Still, Forrest Gump dominated the 67th Academy Awards and Travolta surely had his regrets. Who doesn't love Pulp Fiction though?
Sally Field
Sally Field, who you may remember as Forrest Gump’s mother, was actually only 10 years older than Tom Hanks at the time, despite their seemingly physical age difference. That's the magic of a grey wig and some skillfully applied makeup. In fact, just a few years prior to Forrest Gump, Sally Field, and Tom Hanks starred in the 1988 film Punchline, where Sally acted as Hanks’ love interest.
We wonder what poor Sally must have thought when she was called to reunite with her former on-screen love interest. We suppose it makes sense, seeing as Field is the mother throughout the film, starting from when Gump was just a young boy all the way to him being a full-grown man.
Blue Checkered Shirt
If you thought you were having Déjà vu every time Forrest was wearing a blue checkered shirt, think again. We see Forrest grow up in front of our eyes throughout the film. We see him as a child, then as a young teenager, at the end of high school, and finally as an adult. And that blue checkered shirt is with him every step of the way. But there's a reason for that.
Gump wears this shirt during every age transition that it starts to become symbolic. When you find something that is fitting for you, you stick to it. At the end of the film, we see Forrest Gump’s son, Forrest Jr. also wearing a blue plaid shirt.
Closed eyes
Did you notice that in every picture taken of Forrest Gump throughout the movie, he had his eyes closed? While it might look a little funny, there is a reason why this keeps happening, and it had to do with Hanks and the director formulating a very believable character with strange quirks and habits. According to Hanks, he was trying to convey someone focusing hard on being "normal."
The quirky character trait was ultimately Hanks' decision. This, like many of the small details we see throughout the film, is just an example of another easter egg that we notice throughout the movie. It's also a testament to the actor's character building.