Sometimes, an actor falls in love with a story or a character, but the movie ends up being a dud, leaving them wishing that they had said yes to a different part in another movie. That’s how it is in the business, though. Many actors actually share this feeling of regret. Keep reading to see which actors turned down which iconic roles.
Emily Blunt – Black Widow
You may think that Scarlet Johansson is perfect for playing Black Widow in the Marvel movie Iron Man 2, but the studio was actually interested in Emily Blunt first. Blunt passed on the part because of scheduling issues with the Jack Black film Gulliver’s Travels. Iron Man 2 may not be the most popular film out there, but it is definitely and significantly better than Gulliver’s Travels. What’s more, audiences loved Johansson’s Black Widow, so much so that the studio decided to give the superhero character her own movie.
Emily Blunt – Black Widow
Michael Madsen – Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino is known for casting the same people in his movies, and Michael Masen has appeared in films like The Hateful Eight and Reservoir Dogs. Supposedly, Tarantino offered Masen the part of Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction, played by John Travolta. However, Masen turned it down in order to play Wyatt Earp. His decision reportedly created tension between the actor and the filmmaker, and the two did not talk for some time. They eventually made up and Madsen appeared in the Tarantino film Kill Bill: Volume I.
Michael Madsen – Pulp Fiction
Brad Pitt – The Bourne Series
The name Brad Pitt is still huge in Hollywood to this day. The actor has appeared in some of the biggest movies in recent memory. Nonetheless, he is human and still makes mistakes. He passed on playing Jason Bourne, a role that sent Matt Damon’s career to new heights. The part Pitt chose to do over Bourne was that of a CIA agent in the movie Spy Game. The film didn’t really fail, but the Bourne franchise did much better.
Brad Pitt – The Bourne Series
Eddie Murphy – Rush Hour
Even if you haven’t watched the Rush Hour movies, you have probably heard of them. However, you might not know what the film Holy Man is. Unfortunately, actor/comedian Eddie Murphy has to live with that every day. Murphy decided to take on the movie Holy Man at a time in his career when the films that he did were bordering on terrible. Holy Man was arguably the worst. This is why it is such a shame that he passed up the opportunity to get himself out of the rut when he declined the offer of playing James Carter in the movie Rush Hour to do Holy Man.
Eddie Murphy – Rush Hour
Matt Damon – Manchester By The Sea
Matt Damon has proved that there is nothing he can’t do. From crime thrillers like The Departed to dramas like Goodwill Hunting, he has done them all. However, that doesn’t mean that the star is incapable of doing a movie that flops because Downsizing was certainly a flop. For some reason, he backed out of directing and starring in the film Manchester by the Sea. Casey Affleck got the part and his performance earned him the Best Actor Award at the Oscars. That must have been bittersweet for Matt.
Matt Damon – Manchester By The Sea
Tim Roth – Harry Potter
Before playing Severus Snape in Harry Potter, the late Alan Rickman’s career had already been incredible, but he will probably be best remembered for the role. Unbelievably, the part had been offered to Tim Roth before Rickman but he made a big mistake by agreeing to star in Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes. Believing that he could do both, Roth was proven otherwise and he fully devoted himself to the Tim Burton reboot. While Rickman went on to play one of the most unforgettable fantasy characters ever, Planet of the Apes ended up crashing and burning.
Tim Roth – Harry Potter
Brooke Sheilds – Scarface
The role of Elvira in the legendary mobster film Scarface was offered to Brook Shields, but she was pointed in the wrong direction by her own mother, who suggested that Shields avoid the gangster film and star in the adventure movie Sahara instead. Michele Pfeiffer was cast to play the role and it helped her become a star. As for Shields, she took home a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor. She is the first actress to have won the award.
Brooke Sheilds – Scarface
Jean Reno – The Matrix
French actor Jean Reno has been in a number of notable films, but one role he missed out on big time was Agent Smith in The Matrix. He didn’t want to live in Australia to film it, so Reno said no to the part. Instead, he appeared in the 1998 movie Godzilla as a French secret agent. Unfortunately, The Matrix became one of the most celebrated sci-fi psychological thrillers of all time, and critics shredded Godzilla.
Jean Reno – The Matrix
David Schwimmer – Men In Black
The cast of the revolutionary TV show Friends has definitely become larger-than-life. David Schwimmer, who played Ross on the series, must have been hoped to advance his career after the series ended. However, he made some bad judgment calls, one of which is choosing to do the romantic comedy Pallbearer instead of Men in Black. As we all know, Men in Black became a hit and Will Smith’s reached greater heights when after he played Agent J in the movie. Schwimmer, on the other hand, won a Razzie Award for Worst New Star. Sad.
David Schwimmer – Men In Black
Will Smith – Django Unchained
It is mistake to turn down a part in a Quentin Tarantino movie, which tend to be super successful because of his name alone. However, that is exactly what Will Smith did. The role of Django was offered to him and he refused. He chose to star in the underwhelming After Earth, together with his son Jaden Smith. There was a rumor that Smith passed on Django Unchained because Django does not kill the bad guy. It was rumored that Smith would rather be in a film about love than a movie about revenge.
Will Smith – Django Unchained
Tom Cruise – Footloose
Another actor in Hollywood who has impressed audiences over the years for his range. Tom Cruise seems capable of playing any role, but there are some that he has missed out on too, one of them being Footloose. His outstanding performance in Risky Business got the attention of Footloose‘s casting directors, who wanted him to play Ren McCormack. However, Cruise opted to star in All the Right Moves. Footloose went on to become a symbol of the ’80s.
Tom Cruise – Footloose
Will Smith – The Matrix
Will Smith had already made a name for himself before 1999. He had already starred in multiple box office hits, so it’s not a surprise that the Wachowskis offered him the role of Neo in The Matrix. However, the actor was unsure about the special effects which would be used and ultimately backed out. Keanu Reeves took on the role, and the rest is history. Smith, on the other hand, did Wild Wild West, an all-around failure that earned him a Razzie for Worst Screen Couple and another Razzie for Worst Original Song. That must have been tough.
Will Smith – The Matrix
Christina Applegate – Legally Blonde
Most people know of the comedy Legally Blonde, which stars Reese Witherspoon. She plays the seemingly ditzy blonde Ellen Woods, who takes on law school. Apparently, Christina Applegate was first in line for the role but she had her reservations about portraying another typical “blonde” character. She had concerns about getting typecast, especially since she just finished doing Married with Children. She decided on Just Visiting, a failed French film remake.
Christina Applegate – Legally Blonde
Kevin Costner – Shawshank Redemption
In case you didn’t know, Waterworld is still regarded as one of the biggest blunders in movie history. Its budget is one of the biggest of all time, but both the film’s production and reception turned out to be absolute disasters. Kevin Costner could have spared himself this humiliation had he taken the part that he was offered in The Shawshank Redemption. However, he decided to decline the offer to play Andy Dufresne, and instead went with Waterworld. Now, The Shawshank Redemption is regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.
Kevin Costner – Shawshank Redemption
Leonardo DiCaprio – American Psycho
There was a rumor that the studio’s first choice for lead role of the psychological horror movie American Psycho was Leonardo DiCaprio. They were reportedly willing to go against the wishes of director Mary Harron, who wanted Christian Bale. Harron was actually replaced by Oliver Stone. However, Stone and DiCaprio had difficulties with direction, and the actor DiCaprio chose to walk away and do The Beach. Bale got cast as Bateman and Harron returned to the project. American Psycho has become a cult classic while The Beach remains forgotten.
Leonardo DiCaprio – American Psycho
Julia Roberts – The Blind Side
The highest-paid Hollywood actress at one point, Julia Roberts became an A-list actor after she starred in the 2000 film Erin Brockovich. Hrr performance in the movie earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. However, she said no to another role that was potentially Oscar-worthy. She passed up the chance of portraying Leigh Anne Tuohy in the sports movie The Blind Side (2019). Instead, Roberts decided to do the rom-com Valentine’s Day, which was quite abysmal compared to the other films she has starred in.
Julia Roberts – The Blind Side
Tom Selleck – Indiana Jones
After Harrison Ford played Han Solo in Star Wars, director Steven Spielberg wanted the actor to play Indiana Jones, but George Lucas, one of the producers of Raiders of the Lost Ark, didn’t want Ford in another movie of his, so it was agreed Tom Selleck would protray Jones. However, Selleck had to drop out because of contract issues related to the TV show Magnum, P.I. The show was a success in its own right, but it’s far from what the Indiana Jones franchise has become.
Tom Selleck – Indiana Jones
Hugh Jackman – James Bond
Hugh Jackman recently revealed that there had been an offer for him to play the iconic James Bond in Casino Royale. Jackman was interested but was forced to turn the role down because he needed to fulfill contractual obligations for the movie X2: X-Men United. Daniel Craig was cast as Agent 007 and starred in several James Bond films. Jackman admitted he would seriously consider the part if he had the chance again.
Hugh Jackman – James Bond
Katie Holmes – The Dark Knight
Released in 2005, Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins arguably revolutionized the superhero genre and spawning the following movies, The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012). In Batman Begins, Bruce Wayne’s love interest Rachel Dawes is portrayed by Katie Holmes, but Maggie Gyllenhaal plays the character in the next two movies. During this time, Holmes spent her time making the failure that is Mad Money. The other two Batman movies, on the other hand, have become two of the most successful movies of their time.
Katie Holmes – The Dark Knight
Marilyn Monroe – Breakfast At Tiffany’s
Author of the book “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, Truman Capote wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly Golightly in the film. However, Monroe’s agent convince the actress not to accept the role because of the kind of job that Golightly’s character had. So, Monroe passed on Breakfast at Tiffany’s and starred in The Misfits, which was written and directed by Arthur Miller, her husband. Production of The Misfits was a disaster and there were rumors that the script led to the end of their marriage. Breakfast at Tiffany’s is now considered a classic.
Marilyn Monroe – Breakfast At Tiffany’s
Benicio Del Toro – Star Trek: Into Darkness
Can you imagine turning down a role in Star Trek? Benicio Del Toro was the top choice for the role of Khan in Star Trek: Into Darkness. However, he let the part slip by after he and the film’s production team couldn’t agree on his pay. That year, the actor played a minor role in Thor: The Dark World as The Collector. Actor Benedict Cumberbatch took on the role of Khan, and Into Darkness has become the highest-grossing movie in the Star Trek franchise, with box-office earnings of more than $467 million worldwide.
Benicio Del Toro – Star Trek: Into Darkness
Brad Pitt – The Bourne Identity
It may be hard to believe but Brad Pitt actually turned down the lead role in The Bourne Identity to be in two episodes of the reality series on MTV called Jackass. When the Bourne franchise producers reached out to the actor for the role, Pitt’s agent replied that he had a lot going on at the moment. As we all know, Matt Damon took the role, and it became his career’s breakout role. That year, aside from Jackass, Pitt only did a cameo appearance in the George Clooney film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.
Brad Pitt – The Bourne Identity
Michelle Pfeiffer – The Silence Of The Lambs
The classic film The Silence of the Lambs earned seven Academy Awards nominations in 1995. Jodie Foster won Best Actress for her portrayal of Clarice Starling, but did you know Michelle Pfeiffer had turned down the role? After Pfeiffer read the script, she thought the movie was too dark and passed on the role. Instead, she portrayed LouAnne Johnson in the drama Dangerous Minds and cameoed in Coolio’s music video for “Gangsta’s Paradise.”
Michelle Pfeiffer – The Silence Of The Lambs
Jennifer Connelly – Heathers
The 1998 hit film Heathers starred Winona Ryder as Veronica, but when screenwriter Daniel Waters was writing the script, he wanted actress Jennifer Connelly to play the lead role. At the time, most people knew Connelly from Labyrinth, where she played the character Sarah. Heathers could have taken her career to new heights but the actress decided to do the Italian film Etoile instead. She played a ballet student in the movie.
Jennifer Connelly – Heathers
Burt Reynolds – On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Did you know that Burt Reynolds as James Bond almost happened? In 1969, Reynolds was one of the top contenders for the role of Agent 007 in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service but he turned down the part because he felt that an American couldn’t play a Brit properly. Instead, he played a few roles in Western films, such as 100 Rifles. “I spent the entire time refereeing fights between Jim Brown and Raquel Welch,” Reynolds was later quoted saying.
Burt Reynolds – On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
John Travolta – Forrest Gump
Arguably one of the well-known and most quoted films ever made, Forrest Gump became the highest-grossing movie of 1994, with Tom Hanks winning Best Actor at the Academy Awards for his performance in the movie. Interestingly, John Travolta was first approached for the role but he turned it down. Rather than play Forrest Gump, the actor acted in Pulp Fiction instead. Some might argue that the film is not as good as Forrest Gump, but fans of cult film would disagree.
John Travolta – Forrest Gump
Emily Browning – Twilight
Best known for the movie Sucker Punch, Emily Browning is one of the first actresses who were considered to play Bella Swan in the Twilight series. However, Browning read the script and decided to pass. Kristen Stewart was cast for the role while Browning starred in the horror movie The Uninvited, a remake of a South Korean film. The Twilight series has become an international sensation while The Uninvited has been forgotten.
Emily Browning – Twilight
Matthew Broderick – Breaking Bad
AMC television series Breaking Bad is about a meek man who teaches high school chemistry. After discovering he has lung cancer, he starts making and selling crystal meth so that he could provide for his family. Breaking Bad is now considered one of the greatest television shows ever, especially because of Brian Cranston’s portrayal of Walter White. However, the role was offered to Matthew Broderick at first. Tragically, Broderick turned it down and made the animated movie The Tale of Despereaux.
Matthew Broderick – Breaking Bad
Paul Schaffer – Seinfeld
In his 2009 memoir titled, “We’ll Be Here the Rest of Our Lives,” Paul Schaffer admits that prior to filming for Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld got in touch with him about the character George Costanza. As a matter of fact, Jerry said that Schaffer didn’t need to audition as the part was his. Schaffer declined the offer because he was “too busy” making music. He had no idea that Seinfeld would go on to become one of the greatest television shows in history.
Paul Schaffer – Seinfeld
Tom Hanks – Jerry McGuire
Cameron Crowe, the director of Jerry McGuire, has said that they approached Tom Hanks first for the lead role, but Hanks was too busy with directing That Thing You Do. The actor had to turn down the project, so Tom Cruise was offered the part. Hanks later admitted that he could not have done the job as well as Cruise did. Hanks also said no one else could play Jerry McGuire.
Tom Hanks – Jerry McGuire
Ray Liotta – The Sopranos
After Ray Liotta starred in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, he became big in the gangster genre, so when casting for HBO’s The Sopranos was ongoing, Liotta’s name was number one on the list. However, he passed up the chance to play Tony Soprano. The role went to James Gandolfini, whose performance is now considered one of the best ever in TV show history. As for Ray Liotta, he was in noteworthy projects like Forever Mine and Muppets from Space.
Ray Liotta – The Sopranos
Henry Winkler – Grease
Grease is considered a classic today and the character Danny Zuko helped John Travolta become a household name. However, before Travolta got the part, Henry Winkler had been offered the part of Zuko. Winkler declined the role since he didn’t want to get typecast. For so many years, he played The Fonz on the show Happy Days. Instead of playing Danny Zuko, Winkler did The One and Only. He later admitted that he regretted turning down the part.
Henry Winkler – Grease
Mel Gibson – Gladiator
It’s hard to picture the film without Russell Crowe shouting orders at his soldiers or fighting in the Colosseum. However, that’s exactly what almost happened. Mel Gibson had been offered the role of Maximus first but he turned it down. According to the actor, he was getting too old for those types of action roles. He decided to act in What Women Want instead. Crowe, on the other hand, earned an Oscar for his performance.
Mel Gibson – Gladiator
Bruce Willis – Ghost
Patrick Swayze is the face of the film Ghost, but Bruce Willis almost played the role of Sam Wheat. Aside from being part of a film which would become incredibly successful, Willis would have also had the opportunity to work alongside his then-wife, Demi Moore. However, he turned down the part and did the film The Bonfire of the Vanities. This means he had to watch Patrick Swayze romancing his wife at the time.
Bruce Willis – Ghost
Dana Delaney – Sex And The City
Those who have seen the HBO series Sex and the City probably agree that Carrie Bradshaw can only be played by Sarah Jessica Parker and no one else. Nevertheless, Dana Delaney almost got the role. She had already played similar roles in films like Live Nude Girls and had starred alongside Kim Cattrall, who portrays Samantha Jones in the show. Unfortunately for Delaney, she declined the role and did TV movies that failed, including Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Couples.
Dana Delaney – Sex And The City
Molly Ringwald – Pretty Women
The name Molly Ringwald became pretty big in the ‘80s. The actress starred in notable films like The Breakfast Club,Sixteen Candles, and Pretty in Pink, among others. While she was offered the lead role in Pretty Women, Ringwald wasn’t interested in the part and passed up the opportunity. She took on a role in Betsy’s Wedding instead. This ended up being a good thing for Julia Roberts, who played Vivian Ward in Pretty Women. She became an A-list actress because of the role.
Molly Ringwald – Pretty Women
Lindsay Lohan – The Hangover
It may seem like The Hangover came into existence after a bunch of Hollywood actors got bored, the movie ended up becoming a major hit, even spawning two sequels! During the casting process for the stripper whom Stu weds in the first movie, Lindsay Lohan was first approached for the role. The actress said she turned it down because she was too young at the time (she was 20 back then). She decided to take on the lead role in the rom-com Labor Pains instead. The part in The Hangover went to Heather Graham, and she was in the third film as well.
Now that we’ve covered the movie roles that actors should have taken, we move on to actors who auditioned for one role in a particular project but got cast in another role!
Lindsay Lohan – The Hangover
Iwan Rheon – Game Of Thrones
Iwan Rheon was so effective on Game of Thrones that his character became one of the most hated in the series. He portrayed the manipulative and sadistic Ramsay Bolton, but he initially auditioned to play Jon Snow, one of the well-loved characters in the show and was played by Kit Harrington. Nevertheless, Rheon made an impression when he auditioned, so he was invited back to audition for the role of Ramsay Bolton. “I think they made the right choice. It would’ve been a very different Jon Snow if I played him,” Rheon commented.
Iwan Rheon – Game Of Thrones
Alexander Ludwig – The Hunger Games
In the Hunger Games, Alexander Ludwig was fantastic as Cato, the tribute from District 2 who was bred to compete. Ludwig showed bloodthirsty attitude and physical prowess, making him perfect for Cato, but he actually wanted to play the role of Peeta Mellark. Although he had hoped to play Peeta, looking back, the actor said, “It’s fun playing the bad guy once in a while. I got to really experiment with a side of me that I’ve never seen before.”
Alexander Ludwig – The Hunger Games
Eddie Redmayne – Fantastic Beasts
It may be hard to imagine anyone else portraying the magizoologist Newt Scamander but Eddie Redmayne almost took a completely different direction. Originally, the star auditioned to play Tom Riddle, the teenage Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Redmayne told Empire in 2016, “I properly failed and didn’t get a callback,” adding that he also had his hopes set on playing a member of the Weasley family. Finally, Redmayne successfully joined the Harry Potter universe with a much larger role.
Eddie Redmayne – Fantastic Beasts
James Franco – Spider-Man
James Franco portrays Harry Osborn in the Toby McGuire-led Spider-Man trilogy. Franco’s character is Mary Jane’s boyfriend, Norman Osborn’s son, and Peter Parker’s best friend who becomes a bad guy in Spider-Man 3, when he takes on the role of his father as the new Green Goblin. Franco portrayed his role well, but he had actually wanted to play Spider-Man himself. Supposedly, Franco got far enough in the audition but Tobey McGuire was chosen for the role in the end. However, Franco’s talents weren’t overlooked and he was called in by director Sam Raimi to play Harry.
James Franco – Spider-Man
Tom Hiddleston – MCU
In the MCU, Tom Hiddleston plays Loki but he initially had not intended to portray one of the main villains. As a matter of fact, he auditioned for the role of Thor. On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Hiddleston was there to react to the footage of his audition for the role of Thor. The actor said, “I think we can all agree, they cast the right actor.” We also think that everyone can agree that Hiddleston is perfect for the role of the trickster god.
Tom Hiddleston – MCU
Ashley Greene – Twilight
Ashley Greene portrays Alice Cullen, the likable vampire that can see the future in the Twilight series. Throughout the movies, it seems like Alice is always on the right side, with Greene playing the character convincingly. However, Greene actually had her sights on playing Bella. Even though the actress was called back in order to audition for Alice, it was still a lengthy audition process. Greene recalled, “I came in probably like five times before I actually got the role — and then I went home for Christmas and literally just had to wait and wait.”
Ashley Greene – Twilight
Rainn Wilson – The Office
The Office is that kind of show where the cast plays their character so well that audiences assume that is who they are. Rainn Wilson portrays Dwight Schrute, one of the show’s most beloved characters, but he actually auditioned for Michael Scott! When Wilson talked about his audition tape, he said that he was embarrassed by it. “I just basically did my Ricky Gervais impression because I didn’t really know what to do with the character,” he added. Luckily for us, he ended up playing Dwight because he nailed it.
Rainn Wilson – The Office
Rachel McAdams And Lindsay Lohan – Mean Girls
The popular high school girl’s perfect representation, Regina George is attractive and a clique leader. People may not admit it, but they want to be like her. Rachel McAdams pulls off playing Regina George with seeming ease, but it was revealed by director Mark Waters that the actress originally auditioned for the role of Cady and Lindsay Lohan for George. Waters claims that the girls fit the part that they initially wanted but he thought it was best that their roles were switched for the film.
Amanda Seyfried – Mean Girls
Norman Reedus – The Walking Dead
After Norman Reedus read The Walking Dead’s pilot script in 2010, he had his sights on becoming part of the project. While he auditioned to play Merle Dixon, Michael Rooker got the role in the end. However, Reedus’ audition was so impressive that his character Daryl was specifically created for him. Reedus was also given plenty of creative control over his character. We’re pretty sure not a lot of people were disappointed.
Norman Reedus – The Walking Dead
Lee Pace – Guardians Of The Galaxy
In 2012, Lee Pace said that he was going to audition for the role of Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy. He also admitted that he was really eager about it. However, Chris Pratt ended up getting the part instead. Pace wasn’t entirely booted from the project as he was offered the role of the villain Ronan the Accuser. In the end, this worked out seeing as Chris Pratt is amazing as Star-Lord.
Lee Pace – Guardians Of The Galaxy
Charisma Carpenter And Sarah Michelle Gellar – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Charisma Carpenter may be known for portraying Cordelia Chase on the popular TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but Carpenter actually wanted to play the role of Buffy. Sarah Michelle Gellar, on the other hand, had her sights on playing Cordelia Chase. Both of their auditions went well, but creator Josh Whedon felt it was best if Gellar played Buffy. Would the show have been such a hit if the ladies never switched roles?
Charisma Carpenter And Sarah Michelle Gellar – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
John Krasinski –The Office
John Krasinski’s big break came when played the lazy and in-love character Jim Halpert on The Office. His career definitely took off afterward, but when he auditioned for the show, he actually wanted to play the character Dwight Schrute. During the audition process, the actor convinced the casting directors to let him read for Jim as he felt that he and Jenna Fisher had natural chemistry. This worked out and their relationship became important to the show.
John Krasinski –The Office
Carice Van Houten – Game Of Thrones
The Red Woman, also known as Melisandre, in the epic show Game of Thrones is played by Carice Van Houten. The actress was initially asked to audition for the role of Cersei Lannister but she was unable to do it because of a scheduling conflict. This ended up working out for Lena Heady as she got the part and her performance in the series is regarded as her best ever. Houten later admitted, “Lena couldn’t be a better Cersei.”
Carice Van Houten – Game Of Thrones
Tom Felton – Harry Potter Franchise
Tom Felton is best known for his role in the Harry Potter franchise as the arrogant, and at times cruel, wizard Draco Malfoy. However, before landing his part, he auditioned for other major characters. He tried out for Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, the arch-nemesis of Draco Malfoy while attending Hogwarts. Felton was initially disappointed, but he was happy that Daniel Radcliff and Rupert Grint got the parts respectively because he thinks no one could play them better.
Tom Felton – Harry Potter Franchise
Christian Bale And Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
Considered one of the best superhero movies ever made, The Dark Knight is commended for its acting, especially the leads Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. It has been argued that Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker is untouchable, but he actually wanted to be Batman at first. The role went to Bale, and Ledger’s performance as the Joker is regarded as one of the best in history. Ledger won a posthumous award for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars for his performance.
Christian Bale And Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
Sebastian Stan – Captain America
Initially, Sebastian Stan wanted to play Captain America but Chris Evans beat him out during the casting process. Stan played Bucky Barnes Instead, a United States Army sergeant and the best friend of Captain America. Stan said that he prepared for the role by watching plenty of documentaries and movies about World War II. He also admitted that he knew little about the comic books in the beginning but made sure to try capturing the relationship between his character Barnes and Captain America.
Sebastian Stan – Captain America
Stephanie Beatriz – Brooklyn Nine-Nine
When Stephanie Beatriz auditioned for Brooklyn Nine-Nine, she came in to read for the character Amy Santiago. By the end of Beatriz’s audition, however, she was told to try again and read for the role of Rosa instead. Beatriz was understandably nervous about auditioning again after having been turned down, but when she got cast as Rosa, she was convinced Melissa Fumero was supposed to get the role of Amy.
Stephanie Beatriz – Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Amanda Seyfried – Mean Girls
Amanda Seyfried auditioned for the role of the infamous Regina George in Mean Girls. Of course, we know Rachel McAdams got the part, but that doesn’t mean Seyfried didn’t come close. Director Mark Waters said Seyfried was excellent during the audition. He said, “She played it in a much more ethereal, but still kind of scary way. She was more frightening, but oddly, less intimidating.” Therefore, she was hired to portray Karen Smith instead.
Amanda Seyfried – Mean Girls
Isaiah Washington – Grey’s Anatomy
Before the beginning of the show, Isaiah Washington had his heart set on playing the character Derek Shepherd. However, Patrick Dempsey ended up getting the role instead. Nevertheless, Shonda Rhimes said that she liked his audition a lot and when the original actor who was set to play Preston Burke dropped out, she cast Isaiah Washington in the role. Unfortunately, Washington was written off from the series after he had on-set incidents with Patrick Dempsey and T.R. Knight.
Isaiah Washington – Grey’s Anatomy
Jeremy Strong – Succession
A great actor, Jeremy Strong auditioned for the character Roman Roy in Succession. There was no question he would get it. Jesse Armstrong, one of the show’s creators, said that Strong would have been great as Roman but Kieren Culkin just suits the role better. As a matter of fact, Armstrong said Culkin is a “slam dunk” and “is the character.” Nevertheless, Strong was offered the role of Kendall Roy.
Jeremy Strong – Succession
Colin Donnell – The Affair
Colin Donnell had wanted to play Cole Lockhart when he auditioned for The Affair, but Joshua Jackson ended up getting the part. Donnell got close, though. He actually auditioned for Cole a number of times occasions. However, Sarah Treem, the series co-creator, admitted “he wasn’t quite right.” Treem liked him enough, though. In fact, she created the character Scotty Lockhart just for Donnell. While he wasn’t able to play Collin, he did get to portray his brother!
Colin Donnell – The Affair
Laura Prepon – Orange Is The New Black
Orange Is the New Black stars Laura Prepon as Alex Vause, the ex-girlfriend of Piper Chapman who definitely needs to work things out. It’s difficult to imagine anyone else playing Alex, but Prepon actually auditioned to play Piper. Showrunner Jeni Kohan thought that it was better if the innocent Piper was played by someone else. When the role of Alex was created, Prepon’s natural personality helped shape Alex’s unique character.
Laura Prepon – Orange Is The New Black
Sandra Oh – Grey’s Anatomy
Sandra Oh is undeniably amazing as the stern Christina Yang on Grey’s Anatomy, but she nearly didn’t get that role. At first, the actress was invited to read for Baily, but Oh decided to try out for Christina Yang instead. Showrunner Shonda Rhimes commented on the situation, “She brought this energy that felt very fresh. From the beginning, I’ve been shaping Christina around Sandra a little bit.” The character Miranda Bailey was played by Chandra Wilson.
Sandra Oh – Grey’s Anatomy
Hank Azaria – Friends
We all know that Matt LeBlanc’s portrayal of Joey on Friends did wonders for the show and the character. Audiences may not be able to picture anyone else playing the character, but Hank Azaria was really interested in playing the role. While he didn’t get the part after he auditioned, he was cast as scientist David, one of Phoebe’s love interests. Azaria may didn’t land a lead part, but his character made several appearances on the show.
Hank Azaria – Friends
Jensen Eckles And Jared Padalecki – Supernatural
Since 2005, the Winchester brothers have been killing monsters and winning audiences’ hearts on Supernatural. Those who watch the show definitely know that Dean is the older brother while Sam is the younger one. Interestingly, Jensen Eckles actually read for Sam’s part first, though he was keener on the character Dean. After the role of Sam Winchester went to Jared Padalecki, the producers invited Eckles again to audition for Dean. Everything worked out beautifully in the end.
Jensen Eckles And Jared Padalecki – Supernatural
Paul Wesley – The Vampire Diaries
Another example of actors switching roles as brothers, Paul Wesley auditioned for the role of Damon on The Vampire Diaries at first. However, Ian Somerhalder got the part instead. Wesley didn’t give up, though. He re-auditioned to play Stefan, and we all know how that turned out. Wesley fit the role of Stefan better than he thought. Today, no one could imagine Damon and Stefan being played by other actors.
Paul Wesley – The Vampire Diaries
Jon Favreau – Friends
One of the main characters on Friends, Chandler could have looked different. The super talented Jon Favreau actually auditioned for the role before Matthew Perry. However, producers thought that Perry best fit the character. Nevertheless, they still wanted to have Favreau in the project, which is why they asked him to play Pete Becker, a love interest of Monica who is in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Favreau still achieved success later in life even though he didn’t play Chandler.
Jon Favreau – Friends
Ashley Tisdale – Zack And Cody
Young audiences fell in love with The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. The Disney Channel series launched the careers of its young cast, including Cole and Dylan Sprouse, renda Song, and Ashley Tisdale. If you followed the show, you know that Ashley Tisdale played Maddie Fitzpatrick, but the actress was initially going for the character London Tipton. Brenda Song ended up getting the role, and Tisdale got her moment as a drama queen in the popular High School Musical movies.
Ashley Tisdale – Zack And Cody
Liza Weil – Gilmore Girls
Liza Weil portrays Paris Geller on Gilmore Girls. Paris starts out as Rory Gilmore’s rival, but they eventually become friends. At first, Weil wanted to play Rory. However, showrunners though that Alexis Bledel was perfect for the part. Since show creator Amy Sherman-Palladino felt bad about rejecting Weil, so Palladino wrote the character Paris Geller for the actor as part of an arc which was supposed to run for three episodes only. However, audiences really liked the character, so Geller’s time on the show was extended.
Liza Weil – Gilmore Girls
Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman starred in Black Panther as T’Challa. Boseman was quite the presence on the screen and seemed perfect for the role. However, he initially had his heart set on playing a more comedic role – the character Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy. He didn’t land the part, and for good reason. However, Boseman gives director Sarah Finn the credit for remembering him during the casting for Black Panther.
Chadwick Boseman