Before Tom Hanks became synonymous with the role of Forrest Gump, another actor, John Travolta, was initially considered for this iconic part in the film. At the time, director Robert Zemeckis and producers viewed Travolta as a frontrunner for the lead role, required to embody innocence and strong screen presence. Travolta was experiencing a resurgence in his acting career, making his potential involvement in the film quite appealing.