Big Stars and Big Roles
In nearly all movies, before the lead actors are cast there are many others who are also considered for the part. And not all roles are casted through open auditions, sometimes the director has a specific person in mind and the role is offered to the actor.
But not all actors say yes. In many movies, the leading actors we see on screen was not in fact the first choice.
Here’s 42 Hollywood actors and actresses who actually turned down big roles—and why.
Leonardo DiCaprio
We all love Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), but surprisingly, he was not George Lucas’s first pick.
Lucas originally offered Leonardo DiCaprio the role, but he turned it down because he apparently “didn’t feel ready for that kind of movie.”
DFree, Shutterstock, Steven Miller, Flickr
Jack Nicholson
Could you imagine anyone other than Al Pacino for the role of Don Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy?
Well, apparently Jack Nicholson was the director’s first choice—but he declined. Nicholson later commented saying that he believed the role was better suited for Pacino.
360b, Shutterstock, Susana, Flickr
Tom Selleck
While it may seem like Harrison Ford was made for the role of Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Temp of Doom (1984), believe it or not, there was someone else in mind first—Tom Selleck.
At the time, Selleck was a huge hit in Magnum, P.I. (1980) and apparently the show was reluctant to let their star perform in a movie that was obviously destined to be a mega hit. Selleck was forced to choose between the two roles and decided to honor his original commitment to the TV show.
Kathy Hutchins, Shutterstock, John Griffiths, CC BY-SA 2.0 Wikimedia Commons
Sean Connery
Before Ian McKellen was cast for the iconic role of Gandalf in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012), the director offered it to Sean Connery.
Unfortunately, he declined because he supposedly “didn’t understand the script.”
If Connery had taken the part he would've earned around $400 million, which is more than any other actor has ever been paid for a single role—ever.
s_bukley, Shutterstock, Dennis Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
John Travolta
What about Forrest Gump (1994)? Have you ever considered anyone other than Tom Hanks for the classic role Forrest Gump himself?
Believe it or not, the role was originally intended for John Travolta. He declined the part and has since openly admitted that passing on the role was one of the biggest mistakes of his career.
DFree and Tinseltown, Shutterstock
Will Smith
As strange as it may seem, Keanu Reeves was not the top choice for the lead role of Neo in The Matrix Reloaded (2003).
Will Smith was offered the role first and turned it down because he apparently didn’t understand the movie and knew that he would not be able to give the role the respect it deserved.
DFree and CarlaVanWagoner, Shutterstock
Burt Reynolds
Harrison Ford may have done an excellent job playing the role of Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), but he wasn’t actually the director’s first pick.
Burt Reynolds was offered the role and regretfully declined. He later said, “I think that has to be the biggest mistake of my career. I blame the agent. It was not all down to me."
Vicki L. Miller and Ga Fullner, Shutterstock
Hugh Jackman
Although Daniel Craig filled the shoes of James Bond quite well in Casino Royale (2006), he wasn’t the director’s first choice.
Hugh Jackman declined the iconic role of Agent 007 around the time of the first X-Men (2000) movie. He later said that he turned it down out of fear that he would get typecast and that it would limit his opportunities in the future.
lev radin, Shutterstock, brava_67, Flickr
Daniel Day-Lewis
While Viggo Mortensen seems like he was made for the role of Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), he wasn’t the director’s first pick.
Originally, the Peter Jackson offered the role to Daniel Day-Lewis—multiple times. But Day-Lewis declined every time.
Featureflash Photo Agency and Jaguar PS, Shutterstock
Johnny Depp
As strange as it may seem, Matthew Broderick wasn’t the first choice for the iconic role of Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986).
The role was first intended for Jonny Depp, but sadly he had to decline due to scheduling conflicts.
DFree, Shutterstock, Jeremy Gould, Flickr
Kevin Costner
Tim Robbins rocked the part of Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption (1994), but the role was originally offered to Kevin Costner.
Costner declined the role as he wanted to work on Waterworld (1995) instead. Later he said he deeply regrets letting Robbins take the role.
Kathy Hutchins and s_bukley, Shutterstock
Leonardo DiCaprio
Christian Bale did an excellent job with the role of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (2000), but he knows he wasn’t the director’s first choice.
Originally, the role was offered to Leonardo DiCaprio, but he turned it down because he felt the script didn’t have depth.
Bale has since thanked DiCaprio for stepping out.
Tinseltown and s_bukley, Shutterstock
Michelle Pfeiffer
Jodie Foster seemed quite fitting for the role of Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs (1991), but director Jonathan Demme originally wanted Michelle Pfeiffer.
Pfeiffer apparently didn’t enjoy the heavy amount of gore and dark subject matter of the film, so she turned it down.
Fred Duval and Kathy Hutchins, Shutterstock
Denzel Washington
Brad Pitt’s iconic role of Det. David Mills in Se7en (1995) was originally meant for none other than Denzel Washington.
Apparently, Washington passed it up because it was “too dark and evil.” However, he admitted later that he regretted his decision.
Andrea Raffin and DFree, Shutterstock
Sylvester Stallone
Apparently, Brad Pitt wasn’t the second choice either for Det. David Mills in Se7en (1995). After Denzel Washington declined, the part was offered to Sylvester Stallone.
Stallone also turned it down though, and also later regretted this decision.
Joe Seer and Tinseltown, Shutterstock
Emily Browning
Believe it or not, Kristen Stewart was not the original first choice for the leading role of Bella Swan in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2012).
The role was first offered to Emily Browning. Unfortunately, Browning had just finished filming the horror flick The Uninvited (2009), and felt that she needed to take a break from acting at that point.
BAKOUNINE, Shutterstock, alfredituzz :B, Flickr
Al Pacino
The role of Dave Kujan in The Usual Suspects (1995) was not always intended for Cass Paminteri. The director had originally offered the part to Al Pacino.
Pacino declined due to scheduling conflicts, but later admitted he regretted this decision “greatly.”
Matt Damon
Before Director James Cameron cast Sam Worthington as Jake Sully in Avatar (2009), he offered the role to his number one pick: Matt Damon.
Damon turned it down, but apparently still regrets this decision.
Tinseltown and Fred Duval, Shutterstock
Michelle Pfieffer
Sharon Stone did a great job starring as Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct (1992), but she wasn’t the first choice for the leading role.
Michelle Pfieffer was offered the role first, but turned it down because she apparently found the bare-all scenes too daunting.
Meg Ryan
Who could possibly be better suited for the iconic role of Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman (1990) than Julia Roberts? Well, no one. But at first, the director had thought perhaps Meg Ryan would fit.
Ryan turned it down though because she believed the movie was degrading towards women.
Kathy Hutchins and Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Paul Giamatti
As unlikely as it may seem, was not the first choice for the role of Michael Scott in The Office (2005).
The role was first offered to Paul Giamatti, who apparently was still riding a wave of publicity after the successful movie Sideways (2004), and didn’t like the idea of appearing in a TV show.
Giamatti declined and the offer went to Carell instead, and the part became a major launching pad for him.
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
James Caan
Believe it or not, Jack Nicholson wasn’t the first choice for the role of R.P. McMurphy in the 1995 film adaptation of Ken Kasey’s novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975).
The role was first intended for James Caan who apparently says he declined because, “At the time, I thought - because I'm a genius - it wasn't visual enough. It took place in these four walls. I didn't know that [director] Miloš Forman was as good as he was. It's my opinion that I'm stuck with, unfortunately. I've made some bad choices."
s_bukley and Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Leonardo DiCaprio
Before Mark Wahlberg took the role of Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights (1997), the part was offered to Leonardo DiCaprio.
Apparently, he says he decided to pass because, “I’m a huge fan of (director) Paul Thomas Anderson but the first time I met him for that role I hadn’t really seen much of his previous work. Now I love that movie.”
Tinseltown and Eugene Powers, Shutterstock
Tom Hanks
Apparently, director Cameron Crowe wrote the 1996 sports drama, Jerry Maguire with a specific star in mind for the lead role—Tom Hanks.
Hanks declined the role though as he was too busy directing That Thing You Do! (1996). The role was then filled with the next best option, Tom Cruise.
s_bukley and DFree, Shutterstock
Julia Roberts
While we can’t possible see anyone do a better job than Sandra Bullock as the real-life, strong-headed woman, Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side (2009), the role was actually offered to Julia Roberts first.
Roberts apparently declined the role in order to star in Valentine’s Day (2010) instead.
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock, CityTalk城市通, Flickr
Katie Holmes
Sarah Michelle Gellar’s iconic role as Buffy Summers in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) was originally intended for Katie Holmes.
Holmes declined the role though as she was still young and decided to finish high school first.
Sky Cinema, Shutterstock, yellowblade67, Flickr
Jim Carrey
While Will Ferrell does a stellar job as Buddy in the iconic Christmas movie Elf (2003), he wasn’t the original leading actor.
The script was first written in 1993, and at the time, Jim Carrey was listed for the lead role. However, the movie didn’t go into production until 2003, and at that point Carrey was no longer interested.
Andrea Raffin and Ron Adar, Shutterstock
Marilyn Monroe
It's impossible to think of anyone else other than Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), but believe it or not, the original star was set to be Marilyn Monroe. The script was even written tailored to her, and the author of the original book wanted her as the star.
Apparently though, Monroe was talked out of taking the role by her acting coach as he felt that playing an escort would be bad for her image.
oneredsf1, Laura Loveday, Flickr
Claire Danes
Kate Winslet does a stand-up job as Rose DeWitt Bukater in the iconic dramatization Titanic (1997), but she wasn’t the original top choice.
Claire Danes was offered the role first and apparently had “strong interest” in it, but turned it down as she knew the movie was going to be a huge hit, and was “not ready for that.”
Harrison Ford
Steven Spielberg’s first choice for the role of Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park (1993) was not actually Sam Neill, it was none other than his good friend, Harrison Ford.
Ford apparently turned down the offer as he didn’t believe it was a good fit for him.
DFree and Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Oscar Isaac
Rami Malek made an excellent Freddie Mercury in the musical/documentary Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), but he wasn’t actually the director’s first choice.
Oscar Isaac was offered the role first but apparently turned it down because he thought at the time that nobody would “want to see somebody pretend to be Freddie Mercury.”
He goes on to regret this decision saying, “sure enough, everybody wanted to see someone do Freddie Mercury.”
Even still, sends high praise to Malek claiming he “could never have done what Rami Malek did.”
Kathy Hutchins and Loredana Sangiuliano, Shutterstock
Julia Roberts
Meg Ryan fit perfectly with Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle (1993), but the role of Annie Reed was originally intended for Julia Roberts.
Roberts told InStyle that she had been offered the part, but that she “couldn’t do it.” While she regrets not making it work, she also said that Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks were both a "jewel of a fit in that film.”
Kathy Hutchins and Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Halle Berry
Sandra Bullock rocked her role as Annie Porter in the action flick Speed (1994), where she even did her own stunts (including driving the reckless bus at immense speeds)—but the original leading role was meant for Halle Berry.
Berry turned down the role, and this is what she told Entertainment Tonight about why: “I stupidly said no. But in my defense, when I read the script, the bus didn’t leave the parking lot. I was like no, no, no, no. Then, I see the movie, and I’m like, 'Arrrrghh.'”
DFree and Fred Duval, Shutterstock
Viggo Mortensen
Hugh Jackman couldn’t possible be replaced as main character Wolverine in the 2013 action/sci-fi flick The Wolverine, but he wasn’t actually the only one considered for the iconic character.
Viggo Mortensen was also offered the role, however he apparently turned it down because he didn’t like the idea of having to commit to playing the same character for the next several years.
Denis Makarenko, Shutterstock, Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Reese Witherspoon
Main character Sidney Prescott in Scream (1996) was apparently first cast by Drew Barrymore, who then decided instead to play the role of Casey Becker in the now-iconic opening scene.
That decision left producers in a scramble to recast the role. They offered it to Reese Witherspoon—who then declined. Apparently, she thought it was “just another horror movie” and did not expect it become a cult-classic.
Neve Campbell took the role, and now we can’t see it any other way.
Daniel Day-Lewis
Steven Spielberg’s first choice to play Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln (2012) was always Daniel Day-Lewis—but strangely, he declined.
Spielberg cast Liam Neeson instead, however Neeson never truly felt right for the role and had just recently gone through an unspeakable personal tragedy (the death of his wife). Neeson wasn’t performing well and asked Spielberg to recast it.
Luckily, he somehow convinced Day-Lewis to take the part, and Neeson said he couldn’t be any happier with how the film turned out.
DFree and Tinseltown, Shutterstock
Madonna
Michelle Pfeiffer’s portrayal of Catwoman in Batman Returns (1992) is arguably one of the best comic book performances in cinematic history—but the role wasn’t originally intended for her.
The director’s first choice was actually Madonna, who turned it down. Madonna has spoken about her decision, and while she doesn’t provide much reason, she deeply regrets declining the role.
Featureflash Photo Agency and DFre, Shutterstock
Amanda Seyfried
Zoe Saldana truly fits her role as Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), but the original choice for the role was actually Amanda Seyfried.
Seyfried apparently declined the role because didn’t foresee the film being any good, and didn’t want to be “part of the first Marvel movie that bombed.” She also apparently said that while the script was great, she didn’t think audience would want to see a movie “about a talking tree and a racoon.”
Kathy Hutchins and Tinseltown, Shutterstock
Robert Redford
Christopher Reeve rocked the iconic role as Clark Kent in Superman (1978), but the director’s first choice was actually Robert Redford.
Redford apparently turned it down because the script wasn’t finished yet—and he wanted more money.
Kathy Hutchins and Vicki L. Miller, Shutterstock
Jennifer Hudson
Gabourey Sidibe seamlessly fit the role of Precious in the 2009 indie drama Precious. And while it may be hard to picture anyone else for the role, the director apparently offered it to Jennifer Hudson first.
Rumors claim that Hudson declined the role because it required her to gain weight, but she’d like to clear that up. In an interview with Huff Post, Hudson claims that int eh draft of the script she read, the character was “going places she didn’t want to go.”
Fred Duval and Everett Collection, Shutterstock
Jennifer Lopez
Diane Lane was a perfect fit for the role of Connie Sumner in the thriller romance Unfaithful (2002). However, the original choice for the lead role was Jennifer Lopez.
Lopez turned it down because apparently “the script wasn’t all the way there” when she got the offer. She went on to tell Vanity Fair that, “Diane Lane was so perfect for it, and it was obviously meant to be her, but when I think about that…I want to literally, like, shoot my toe off. I do.”
Tinseltown, Shutterstock Jianella Lee, Flickr
Rachel McAdams
We all love Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada (2006), but she wasn’t the first choice for the role.
Director David Frankel wanted Rachel McAdams for the part, so much so that he asked her three separate times—and she declined each time.
It gets worse though. After McAdams, several other actresses turned it down too. Hathaway was the ninth choice, and accepted with pleasure.
.jpg){kind=link}