Contrary to popular belief, not every actor cast in a film was chosen by the director or the production company. Any movie’s casting has the potential to make or ruin it. Many Celebrities Turned down these Iconic.
Occasionally, some of the most prominent actors in the world are offered roles. Still, they eventually decline them for several reasons, such as disliking the part, being unhappy with the pay provided, needing to understand the idea of the movie, and others. Some actors turned down even oscar winning roles.
Here are some of Hollywood’s finest celebrities who turned down major movie roles and later regretted it when those roles were wildly popular and successful. And sometimes, some actors turn down major roles for bad ones.
So here are 25 Celebrities Who Turned down these Iconic Roles
Anne Hathaway in Silver Linings Playbook
The role that Anne Hathaway was supposed to play gave Jennifer Lawrence her Oscar. Tiffany was supposed to be played by Hathaway in Silver Linings Playbook. Still, she quit the film due to “creative issues” with David O. Russell.
Matt Damon as Jake Sully in Avatar
Due to a schedule clash with The Bourne Ultimatum, Damon turned down the starring part in Avatar. The movie Avatar went on to earn the most money ever globally.
Matthew McConaughey as Ego in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2
McConaughey stated in a Playboy interview that he declined significantly in the Guardians of the Galaxy movie in favor of the Stephen King adaption of The Dark Tower.
Emma Stone in Ghostbusters
The internet was swamped with articles imagining the ideal cast once it was revealed that Paul Feig would be directing an all-female Ghostbusters. Even the original star, Bill Murray, chose Stone to voice one of his choices. Feig concurred after learning that Stone had declined a part in the picture after appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man flicks.
Emma Watson as mia in La La Land
Due to her commitment to Beauty and the Beast, Watson could not take the role.
Tom Cruise as Edward in Edward Scissorhands
Tim Burton, the filmmaker, refused to give the movie a brighter conclusion. Thus Tom Cruise rejected the part of Edward Scissorhands.
Gwyneth Paltrow as Rose Dewitt Bukater in Titanic
Paltrow made an effort to avoid talking about turning down the legendary role of Rose in Titanic after admitting to Howard Stern in 2015 that she had turned down a part in Boogie Nights too.
Hugh Jackman as James Bond in Casino Royale
Jackman received a call asking if he would be interested while casting was underway for a new James Bond to replace Pierce Brosnan in Casino Royale. Not at all. He was also concerned that I wouldn’t have time for anything else between Bond and X-Men.
Benicio Del Toro as Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness
Del Toro was a contender for the 2013 Star Trek sequel renowned for Khan. According to Vulture, the conversations diverted because the actor and the producers couldn’t agree on the compensation. In the end, Benedict Cumberbatch received the spotlight-grabbing role.
Charlie Hunnam as Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey
Hunnam reportedly declined the lead role in the eagerly awaited Fifty Shades of Grey adaptation; Jamie Dornan eventually got the part. Hunnam declined the role because of the scheduling conflicts between the film, his series Sons of Anarchy, and the Guillermo del Toro film Crimson Peak.
Emily Blunt as Black Widow in Iron Man 2
Blunt came close to portraying one of the Avengers, Black Widow, but the role ultimately went to Scarlett Johansson. Due to scheduling issues with the movie Gulliver’s Travels, Emily resigned.
Leonardo DiCaprio as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game
According to a 2011 article from Deadline, Leonardo DiCaprio had “the inside track” on the role of Alan Turing in The Imitation Game. Later, Benedict Cumberbatch took up the part of the mathematician and received an Oscar nomination.
Mark Wahlberg in a lead role in Brokeback Mountain
Wahlberg admitted being “a bit frightened” after reading the homosexual romance Brokeback Mountain’s script to Premiere magazine. He said, “It was incredibly vivid and detailed.” “I like you; you’re a talented man, if you want to talk about it further,” I told director, Ang Lee. Thank goodness he didn’t.”
Will Smith as Neo in The Matrix
Smith declined the starring part of Neo in The Matrix; Keanu Reeves subsequently won the role. He told Wired that he “simply didn’t see it in the pitch.” Rarely do I say this, but I saw Keanu’s performance and thought, “I would have messed it up. At that time, I needed to be more sophisticated as an actor just to let the movie be.
John Travolta as Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump
After John Travolta chose Pulp Fiction over Forrest Gump, director Robert Zemeckis was still determining who his central character would be. Tom Hanks’ intervention saved the situation.
Leonardo DiCaprio as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho
Leonardo DiCaprio passed up the opportunity to play the title character in the cult classic American Psycho. Since he had previously appeared in the critically acclaimed films Titanic and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, and didn’t want his playboy image to ruin.
Michelle Pfeiffer as Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct
Sharon Stone’s most famous film to date is Basic Instinct. The actress thanks Michelle Pfeiffer for recommending the thriller to her first.
Jennifer Connelly as Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman
That fateful night, Richard Gere invited Julia Roberts back to Beverly Wilshire. Top contender Jennifer Connelly eventually removed her name from consideration because she believed she was too young for the role.
Rachel McAdams as Andrea Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada
In The Devil Wears Prada, Andy Sachs, who is overburdened and fashion-challenged, is played by Anne Hathaway. But the role was offered to Rachel McAdams.
Jake Gyllenhaal as Rick Flag in Suicide Squad
Warner Bros. allegedly sought out Gyllenhaal to play Rick Flag after Tom Hardy pulled out of Suicide Squad due to a busy schedule. He turned down the role that finally went to Joel Kinnaman.
Jennifer Lawrence as Daisy Domergue in The Hateful Eight
According to Entertainment Weekly, director Quentin Tarantino met with Lawrence to inquire about appearing in his film, The Hateful Eight, but the meeting was unsuccessful. He remarked, “I believe she was only courteous to me by seeing me.
Will Smith as Django in Django Unchained
Due to “creative issues,” Will Smith allegedly declined the part of Django in the Oscar-nominated Django Unchained. In the end, Jamie Foxx was cast in the film.
Al Pacino as Han Solo in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
When Harrison Ford received Star Wars, he was already well-known in Hollywood. It was nevertheless one of his most significant parts, and Al Pacino’s decision to pass on the part is what made it so. Oh, the possibilities.
Tom Hanks as Jerry Maguire in Jerry Maguire
Cameron Crowe, the film’s writer and director, admitted that he developed the screenplay with Tom Hanks in mind for the starring role.
Tom Cruise as Tony Stark in Iron Man
Before Robert Downey Jr got the role of Genius, Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist, aka Iron Man, Marvel’s first choice to cast Tony Stark was Tom Cruise.
