Michael Douglas reveals Warren Beatty, Richard Gere were eyed for Gordon Gekko first
Synopsis
For nearly four decades, Hollywood assumed Michael Douglas was always Gordon Gekko — turns out he was the third choice. Warren Beatty was first, Richard Gere second, before Douglas stepped in and won an Oscar. The revelation, timed to promote his memoir 'One Helluva Ride', rewrites a piece of cinema history.
Key Takeaways
Michael Douglas revealed he was not the first choice to play Gordon Gekko in the 1987 classic 'Wall Street' .
Warren Beatty was approached first, followed by Richard Gere , before the role went to Douglas.
The disclosure was made in a video shared on Douglas's Instagram account while promoting his memoir.
The memoir, 'One Helluva Ride' , is set to release on 6 October and promises several previously untold stories. 'Wall Street' was directed by Oliver Stone and also starred Charlie Sheen , Daryl Hannah , and Martin Sheen .
A sequel, 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' , was released on 24 September 2010 .
Hollywood legend Michael Douglas has disclosed that he was not the original choice to portray the iconic Gordon Gekko in the 1987 crime drama 'Wall Street', revealing that both Warren Beatty and Richard Gere were considered for the role before the part ultimately landed with him. The revelation comes as Douglas promotes his upcoming memoir, 'One Helluva Ride', due on shelves on 6 October.
The Casting Revelation
Douglas shared the behind-the-scenes story in a video posted to his Instagram account, offering fans a glimpse into Hollywood history that has remained untold for nearly four decades. In the clip, he said: 'So there's a few things in my new book, it's a hell of a ride, that have never been told before and one of those is that I was not the first choice for Wall Street.'
He then named the actors who were approached ahead of him: 'Warren Beatty was the first choice and then after that Richard Gere. So how did it all work out? Not bad, went hell of a ride, October 6th, all the bookstores.' In the post's caption, Douglas added: 'Not the first choice, but it turned out alright in the end!'
About 'Wall Street' and Gordon Gekko
'Wall Street' is a 1987 American crime drama directed by Oliver Stone, also starring Charlie Sheen, Daryl Hannah, and Martin Sheen. The film follows young stockbroker Bud Fox, played by Charlie Sheen, who becomes entangled with the ruthless corporate raider Gordon Gekko, portrayed by Douglas. The role earned Douglas the Academy Award for Best Actor and cemented Gekko as one of cinema's most enduring antiheroes.
Stone conceived the film as a tribute to his father, Lou Stone, a stockbroker during the Great Depression. The character of Gekko is reportedly a composite of several real-world figures, including Dennis Levine, Ivan Boesky, Carl Icahn, Asher Edelman, Michael Milken, and Stone himself.
The Sequel and a Long Legacy
Stone and Douglas reunited for a follow-up, 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps', which released theatrically on 24 September 2010, reviving Gekko for a new generation of audiences. The original film's cultural footprint — particularly Gekko's 'greed is good' monologue — remains a reference point in discussions of Wall Street culture and corporate ethics.
What the Memoir Promises
Douglas has positioned 'One Helluva Ride' as a collection of previously untold stories from his career, suggesting the Gekko casting anecdote is just one of several revelations. The book is set to hit bookstores on 6 October. For fans of classic Hollywood, the memoir appears to offer rare, first-person insight into the decision-making that shaped some of cinema's most memorable roles.
Point of View
Which suggests 'One Helluva Ride' is banking on nostalgia and insider access rather than controversy. The memoir market is crowded, and only genuinely fresh revelations cut through. Whether this is the first of many such disclosures — or the headline act — will determine how much cultural traction the book actually gets.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was originally considered for the role of Gordon Gekko in 'Wall Street'?
According to Michael Douglas, Warren Beatty was the first choice to play Gordon Gekko, followed by Richard Gere, before the role was ultimately given to Douglas. He disclosed this in a video shared on Instagram while promoting his memoir 'One Helluva Ride'.
What is Michael Douglas's memoir 'One Helluva Ride' about?
'One Helluva Ride' is Michael Douglas's upcoming memoir, set to release on 6 October, which he describes as containing stories from his career that have never been told before. The Gekko casting revelation is one of the disclosures he has teased ahead of the book's launch.
What is the 1987 film 'Wall Street' about?
'Wall Street' is a crime drama directed by Oliver Stone, following young stockbroker Bud Fox, played by Charlie Sheen, who becomes entangled with the unscrupulous corporate raider Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas. The film won Douglas the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Who is the character Gordon Gekko based on?
Gordon Gekko is reportedly a composite of several real-world figures, including Dennis Levine, Ivan Boesky, Carl Icahn, Asher Edelman, Michael Milken, and director Oliver Stone himself. Stone made the film partly as a tribute to his father, Lou Stone, a stockbroker during the Great Depression.
Was there a sequel to 'Wall Street'?
Yes. Oliver Stone and Michael Douglas reunited for 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps', which was released theatrically on 24 September 2010, bringing the character of Gordon Gekko back to the screen more than two decades after the original.
