Following the recent death of famed NFL player O.J. Simpson, it’s now being learned that actor Owen Wilson turned down a $12 million role in a film that depicts Simpson as innocent of the 1994 double murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and 25-year-old waiter Ron Goldman.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, writer and director Joshua Newton told them that he and Owen Wilson met to discuss a new film in the works titled ‘The Juice,’ which would have seen Wilson taking on the role of Douglas McCann, the real-life attorney who represented O.J. Simpson in a civil case in 2000.
‘The Juice,’ which is described as a “satirical thriller,” stars Charlotte Kirk as Nicole Brown and Boris Kodjoe as O.J. Simpson, but is primarily focused on his attorney, Douglas McCann. Newton said he has been working on the film since 2015 and according to IMDb, the film is currently in pre-production with an expected release for October 2025.
The IMDb site also describes McCann as a “street-smart LA attorney who risks everything when conspiracy theorists draw him into the divisive O.J. Simpson saga.” It’s reported that McCann got sucked into various theories stemming from Simpson’s 1995 criminal trial, of which he was acquitted in 1996.
Speaking with THR, Newton, who has been working on this film since 2015, said, “Owen Wilson was perfect for the role. 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 added that he has finally found another “spot on” actor for the part of Douglas McCann. However, he has opted not to reveal who that person might be yet. He said he is hoping to finalize production on the movie by October 3, 2025, which is the 30th anniversary of O.J. Simpson’s not-guilty verdict.
As we previously shared, on Wednesday (April 10), former NFL star O.J. Simpson died at age 76 after a battle with prostate cancer. His family broke the news via social media. Taking to the former pro football star’s official account on X (formerly Twitter), the Simpson Family wrote, “On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”
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