10 Things You Didn't Know About Forrest Gump

Travolta and Murray Turned down Gump

Before Tom Hanks made the character of Forrest Gump a household name, both John Travolta and Bill Murray were considered for the part. Travolta admits it was a mistake to turn down the role. The author of Forrest Gump always pictured John Goodman as the ideal Forrest Gump.

Chappelle and Ice Cube Turned down Bubba

The second most popular character in "Forrest Gump", Bubba, was offered to both Dave Chappelle and Ice Cube. Both turned down the role. Chappelle admits he turned down the role because he thought the movie was not going to be successful and that it was a huge mistake.

Paintings Were Inspirations for Movie Scenes

Two scenes in the movie had painting inspirations. The scene of Forrest sitting in the school hallway is a replication of Norman Rockwell's "Girl with a Black Eye." Jenny is throwing rocks at her home and collapsing on the ground mimics the painting "Christina's World" by Andrew Wyeth.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Now Exists

The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. talked about in the film was a fictional place created for the film. After the popularity of Forrest Gump, there are now Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurants in Florida, California, Hawaii, and even Japan.

Producers Used Special Effects for Sinise's Legs

In order to make Gary Sinisie look like he had lost his legs in the war, producers had a special wheelchair created that allowed him to tuck his legs under him for a more realistic look. For scenes on the shrimp boat, parts of the boat were cut to allow him room to move his legs. Computer editing then added in the parts of the boat that were missing. In other areas of the film, computer editing erased all noticeable areas of his legs.

The Watergate Security Guard Was Named Frank Wills

When Forrest calls security to report a burglary, the security guard who answers says his name is Frank Wills. This is the actual name of the security guard on duty who discovered the Watergate burglary the day after it happened, in 1972.

Strip Club Is a Catfish Restaurant

The club where Jenny plays the guitar nude is an actual catfish restaurant in Savannah, Georgia. Love's Catfish was the backdrop for the club. The bridge Jenny stands were an old entry to the restaurant and were demolished about a year after filming that scene.

Vietnam Is a Golf Course

The scenes filmed to look like the characters were fighting a war in Vietnam were a location on Fripp Island, South Carolina. Ocean Creek Golf Course was the location for many of the war scenes. Another location was the marshes at Hunting Island State Park.

Fans Can See the Shrimp Boat in Florida

During part of the move, Forrest lives and works on a Bubba's shrimp boat as a promise to Bubba. Producers created the hurricane scene by using jet engines to stir up the water and create waves. Fans can see the boat at Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney in Orlando, Florida.

Hanks Doesn't Want a Sequel

Although the movie raked in more than $250 million, Tom Hanks is not keen on creating a sequel. The author wrote a follow-up book to Forrest Gump, but at the time Hanks refused to take part in any sequels and the production company knew no other actor could play Gump. Talks to film a sequel took place in 2010, but so far, nothing has come of it.