32 Famous Roles Actors Turned Down That Shaped Hollywood
So much can change with a simple yes or no in Hollywood. The careers of the most famous actors often hinge on playing the right part at the right time. But just as frequently, actors have declined Famous Roles Actors Turned Down that later became iconic, ultimately defined by someone else entirely.
The reasons actors pass on potentially life-changing gigs vary widely. Scheduling conflicts are common, but sometimes the reasons are more personal. An actor might not connect with the material, feel they aren’t the right fit, or simply trust their intuition that a better opportunity is on the horizon. Whatever the case, the history of cinema is filled with fascinating “what-ifs” and tantalizing glimpses of what might have been. With that in mind, here are 32 instances where actors rejected iconic movie roles.
32. Sean Connery didn’t understand Gandalf in Lord of the Rings
Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf the White raises his staff in Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
Sir Ian McKellen achieved cinematic immortality as Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, in a 20th-anniversary oral history for The Independent, New Line Cinema producer Mark Ordesky revealed that other prominent actors were offered the wizard role first, including Sean Connery and Daniel Day-Lewis. Both declined. Regarding Connery’s refusal, Ordesky stated simply, “he read the material and just didn’t get it.”
31. Madonna stepped away from Showgirls
Elizabeth Berkley performs provocatively on stage in Showgirls
Paul Verhoeven’s controversial film Showgirls ultimately starred Elizabeth Berkley, who was looking to shed her wholesome sitcom image. But before Berkley landed the part, other leads were considered, including the Queen of Pop herself, Madonna. As detailed in a retrospective by The Hollywood Reporter, Madonna, fresh off filming Body of Evidence, expressed interest. However, her insistence on significant script revisions clashed with the filmmakers’ vision, leading them to part ways and eventually cast Berkley.
30. John Travolta passed on Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump runs along a country road
John Travolta, a superstar in the 1970s with hits like Grease and Saturday Night Fever, saw his star power diminish somewhat by the early 1990s. It was during this time that director Robert Zemeckis was developing Forrest Gump. Before Tom Hanks secured the role, Zemeckis approached Travolta. However, Travolta chose a different path, opting for Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, playing hitman Vincent Vega, instead of Zemeckis’s tale of a simple man navigating history. Both films became iconic, but Travolta’s choice arguably reignited his career in a drastically different direction.
29. Jennifer Hudson declined the lead in Precious
Gabourey Sidibe as Precious walks down a city street looking determined
Lee Daniels’ powerful 2009 drama Precious launched the career of newcomer Gabourey Sidibe. Yet, the title role was initially offered to Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson. In her 2012 memoir, I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down, Hudson explained she passed because she had recently played Effie in Dreamgirls, a character also dealing with body image issues, and sought a role unrelated to her weight. She later clarified to HuffPost that weight wasn’t the sole factor: “I just felt the character was doing things… that were places I did not want to go and not where I needed to go.”
28. Julia Roberts didn’t lose sleep over passing on Sleepless in Seattle
Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks meet atop the Empire State Building in Sleepless in Seattle
The beloved 1993 romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle became synonymous with the chemistry between Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks, and writer-director Nora Ephron. But the role of Annie Reed almost went to Julia Roberts. In a 2014 interview with InStyle (via Yahoo), Roberts mentioned that the role felt too similar to her breakout hit, Pretty Woman. “I’d been offered Sleepless in Seattle, but couldn’t do it… [Meg Ryan] and Tom Hanks are just such a jewel of a fit in that. I guess what they did for that moment in time is sort of what Richard [Gere] and I were doing across town, you know?”
27. Matthew McConaughey chose The Dark Tower over Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Kurt Russell as Ego greets Chris Pratt's Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2
While Kurt Russell perfectly embodied the ’80s swagger needed to play the celestial father of Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord, the role of Ego the Living Planet in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was nearly filled by Matthew McConaughey. In an interview with Playboy (via Digital Spy), McConaughey revealed he was weighing offers from Marvel and the adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower simultaneously. He ultimately chose The Dark Tower. Although the film adaptation was poorly received, McConaughey’s performance was often cited as a highlight.
26. Viggo Mortensen sheathed his claws for X-Men
Hugh Jackman posing fiercely as Wolverine in X-Men Origins Wolverine
Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine spanned decades, becoming inseparable from the character. However, before Jackman landed the career-defining role, Viggo Mortensen was considered for the part in Bryan Singer’s original X-Men film. Mortensen revealed on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that he turned it down partly on the advice of his son, Henry, an avid X-Men fan. Henry accompanied his father to a meeting with Singer and reportedly felt the script deviated too much from the source material, even debating points with the director. This, combined with Mortensen’s apprehension about being locked into playing Wolverine for potentially many years (“I was nervous about that”), led him to pass.
25. Heather Graham wasn’t allowed to be a Heather in Heathers
The three Heathers and Veronica pose together in the cult classic film Heathers
The dark comedy Heathers featured a clique of characters famously sharing the same first name. Actress Heather Graham (Boogie Nights, Austin Powers) was initially cast as Heather Chandler, the role that eventually went to Kim Walker. Although Graham was eager to participate, her parents intervened, forcing the 17-year-old to withdraw because they deemed the film’s controversial themes “offensive.” Director Michael Lehmann recounted in a 2014 Entertainment Weekly oral history that despite his pleas, Graham’s parents remained firm.
24. Toshiro Mifune declined the Force in Star Wars
Obi-Wan Kenobi faces Darth Vader in a lightsaber duel in Star Wars A New Hope
Before Sir Alec Guinness embodied the wisdom of Obi-Wan Kenobi, George Lucas extended the offer to Japanese screen legend Toshiro Mifune. In 2015, Mifune’s daughter, Mika Mifune, explained at Tokyo Comic-Con that her father turned down the role partly out of concern that the nascent sci-fi genre might “cheapen the image of samurai,” which heavily influenced Lucas’s vision. “I heard from my father that he was offered the role of Obi Wan Kenobi, but he was concerned about how the film would look,” she said (via THR). Mika added that sci-fi films of the era often lacked sophisticated effects, and her father, star of classics like Seven Samurai and The Hidden Fortress (a key inspiration for Star Wars), held samurai culture in high regard. He also reportedly turned down the role of Darth Vader, even though the mask would have hidden his face.
23. Emma Watson chose Beauty and the Beast over La La Land
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone dance under streetlights in La La Land
Damien Chazelle’s acclaimed 2016 musical La La Land starred Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, who won an Academy Award for her role. However, Harry Potter star Emma Watson was initially attached to the project. During a 2017 SiriusXM Town Hall, Watson explained that her prior commitment to Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast created an insurmountable scheduling conflict. “It’s one of these frustrating things where names get attached to projects very early on,” Watson said, noting that playing Belle required extensive preparation. “I knew I had horse training, I knew I had dancing, I knew I had three months of singing ahead of me… This wasn’t a movie I could just kind of parachute into… So, you know, scheduling conflict-wise, it didn’t work out.”
22. Eddie Murphy opted for Beverly Hills Cop instead of Ghostbusters
The original Ghostbusters team stands ready with proton packs
The original concept for Ghostbusters underwent significant changes before filming began. Initially envisioned as a high-concept sci-fi comedy vehicle for Saturday Night Live alumni, the plan included roles for John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and rising star Eddie Murphy. However, Murphy passed on the ghost-catching gig, choosing instead to star in another 1984 classic, Beverly Hills Cop. The Ghostbusters script was subsequently revised, leading to the final iconic lineup of Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, and Aykroyd. While Murphy missed out on one franchise, Beverly Hills Cop launched another and cemented his status as a leading man.
21. Drew Barrymore chose the opening kill in Scream
Drew Barrymore's character Casey Becker terrified on the phone in Scream
Drew Barrymore’s shocking demise in the opening scene of Wes Craven’s Scream remains one of horror’s most memorable moments. Barrymore, transitioning from child star to adult actress, was also an uncredited producer on the 1996 film. She revealed on her talk show that she was originally slated to play the lead role of Sidney Prescott (which went to Neve Campbell). However, Barrymore proposed playing the first victim instead, believing it would subvert audience expectations. “You kind of always have this tension, but you kind of know that your hero is going to make it,” Barrymore explained. “And I thought ‘What if I die?’, and then it’ll be like all bets are off… and would take away that cliché safety net.”
20. Joaquin Phoenix exited talks for Doctor Strange
Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange stands within the Sanctum Sanctorum
Before Benedict Cumberbatch donned the Cloak of Levitation, Joaquin Phoenix was in discussions with Marvel Studios to play the Sorcerer Supreme in Doctor Strange. Phoenix, who later won an Oscar for playing the Joker, confirmed his brief involvement in a 2018 interview with Little White Lies. He didn’t elaborate on why talks fell through, stating only that “everybody was really happy with how things turned out.”
19. Brian Cox passed on playing King Robert Baratheon in Game of Thrones
Mark Addy as King Robert Baratheon surveys his men in Game of Thrones
Succession star Brian Cox, known for his commanding presence and memorable F-bombs, revealed in his memoir Putting the Rabbit in the Hat that he turned down a role in another HBO epic, Game of Thrones. Cox was offered the part of King Robert Baratheon, eventually played by Mark Addy. “I’m often asked if I was offered a role in Game of Thrones… and the answer is, yes, I was supposed to be a king called Robert Baratheon, who apparently died when he was gored by a boar in the first season,” Cox wrote. “I know very little about Game of Thrones… I turned it down.” He humorously added that the pay wasn’t great either, though his later success on Succession certainly compensated.
18. Rachel McAdams took a break instead of The Devil Wears Prada
Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly and Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada
Following her breakout success with Mean Girls and The Notebook, Rachel McAdams received numerous offers for high-profile projects, including Casino Royale and Iron Man. However, feeling overwhelmed, she took a hiatus from acting and returned to Canada. During this time, the role of Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada was seeking its lead. Director David Frankel told Entertainment Weekly that the studio offered the part to McAdams three times, but she declined. The role ultimately went to Anne Hathaway. McAdams later reflected on her break in a Bustle profile, stating, “I felt guilty… But I also knew it wasn’t quite jiving with my personality… It’s taken years to understand what I intuitively was doing.”
17. Henry Golding initially rejected Crazy Rich Asians
Henry Golding as Nick Young stands thoughtfully in a kitchen in Crazy Rich Asians
Jon M. Chu’s 2018 romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians was a cultural phenomenon and launched Henry Golding’s acting career. Before the film, Golding was primarily known as a television host. Surprisingly, when offered the lead role of Nick Young opposite Constance Wu, Golding turned it down multiple times. He explained on The View that he felt unqualified: “It’s for someone else who is going to bring the A-game, who is a legitimate actor.” It took persistent convincing from director Chu for Golding to accept the role that would make him a star.
16. Liam Neeson turned down James Bond to marry Natasha Richardson
Pierce Brosnan as James Bond looks suave in a tuxedo in GoldenEye
Liam Neeson possesses a particular set of skills, but playing James Bond isn’t among them – by choice. The Irish actor was considered for the role of 007 for the film GoldenEye. However, as he revealed on the Conan Needs a Friend podcast in 2023, his then-fiancée, the late Natasha Richardson, gave him an ultimatum. “Natasha and I weren’t married at the time,” Neeson recalled discussions with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli. “[Natasha] said, ‘If you are offered James Bond, we are not getting married.’” Neeson humorously speculated about her reasoning, imagining her frustration with him working closely alongside glamorous co-stars. The role went to Pierce Brosnan, and Neeson married Richardson.
15. Harrison Ford declined Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park
Sam Neill as Dr Alan Grant holds a flare amidst dinosaurs in Jurassic Park
Harrison Ford already had iconic roles like Han Solo and Indiana Jones under his belt when Steven Spielberg approached him for another blockbuster: Jurassic Park. Spielberg revealed during a 30th-anniversary screening Q&A for Raiders of the Lost Ark in 2011 (reported by Slashfilm) that he offered Ford the part of paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant. When Ford jokingly complained Spielberg only hired him for Indiana Jones, Spielberg retorted, “Do you know who I offered Jurassic Park to? This guy.” Ford declined, though his specific reasons remain unclear, and the role famously went to Sam Neill.
14. Halle Berry passed on Speed
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock try to control a speeding bus in Speed
The 1994 action thriller Speed solidified Keanu Reeves’ action hero status and made Sandra Bullock a household name. But the role of Annie Porter, the passenger forced to help drive the bomb-rigged bus, was first offered to Halle Berry. In a 1995 Movieline interview (via Far Out), Berry explained her disinterest stemmed from the script’s lack of dialogue for the character. “I turned down Speed because I thought, ‘I don’t want to drive that bus,'” she said, adding that she struggled to visualize the action sequences from the script. Berry also acknowledged the potential difference in career impact, suggesting that even if she had taken the role, systemic issues might have prevented her from achieving the same level of stardom Bullock did from the film.
13. Emily Blunt missed out on Black Widow due to contractual obligations
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow strikes a heroic pose
Emily Blunt showcased her action prowess in Edge of Tomorrow, but she nearly joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe much earlier. Blunt was the initial choice to play Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, starting with Iron Man 2. However, a contractual obligation to star in the film Gulliver’s Travels prevented her from accepting the Marvel role. “I was contracted to do Gulliver’s Travels. I didn’t want to do Gulliver’s Travels,” Blunt candidly told Howard Stern in 2021. Calling the situation “a bit of a heartbreaker,” she expressed pride in her career choices but lamented missing the chance to originate the iconic Avenger role, which ultimately went to Scarlett Johansson.
12. Claire Danes felt Titanic was too similar to Romeo + Juliet
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet embrace on the bow of the ship in Titanic
James Cameron’s Titanic became a global phenomenon, cementing Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as an unforgettable romantic duo. But the role of Rose DeWitt Bukater almost went to Claire Danes. Speaking on Dax Shepherd’s Armchair Expert podcast in 2020, Danes confirmed she was offered the part shortly after starring opposite DiCaprio in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. Feeling that Titanic, another epic romance filmed partly in Mexico City (like R+J), was too similar, the then-17-year-old Danes declined. “I had just made this romantic epic with Leo… and I just didn’t have it in me,” she explained, expressing no regrets and citing a desire for different creative challenges.
11. Matt Damon regrets passing on Avatar
A Na'vi warrior looks out over the landscape of Pandora in Avatar
Matt Damon has starred in numerous acclaimed and successful films, but he missed out on headlining the highest-grossing film of all time. In a 2023 Entertainment Tonight interview, Damon reiterated his regret over turning down the lead role of Jake Sully in James Cameron’s Avatar, a part that went to Sam Worthington. Cameron had reportedly offered Damon not just the role but also a percentage of the film’s profits. Damon called the decision “the dumbest thing an actor ever did in the history of acting,” lamenting, “I’ve probably done, like, 50 movies. I’ve never been in a movie that made one billion.”
10. Jack Nicholson turned down The Godfather citing ethnicity
Al Pacino as Michael Corleone sits contemplatively in The Godfather
Jack Nicholson was already a rising star when Francis Ford Coppola was casting The Godfather. In a 2004 Movieline interview, Nicholson revealed he was considered for the pivotal role of Michael Corleone. Despite recognizing the project’s potential greatness, he turned it down. His reasoning was straightforward: “Back then I believed that Indians should play Indians and Italians should play Italians,” Nicholson stated. The iconic role, of course, went to Al Pacino, launching his legendary career.
9. Robert Redford, Steve McQueen, and Paul Newman passed on Superman
Christopher Reeve as Superman flies above the Earth
Casting Superman for Richard Donner’s 1978 film involved considering many of Hollywood’s biggest stars before settling on the relatively unknown Christopher Reeve. Reports suggest that superstars like Robert Redford, Steve McQueen, and Paul Newman were all approached or considered for the role of the Man of Steel. While the specific reasons each actor declined aren’t widely documented, their potential involvement highlights the massive cultural significance of the character and the filmmakers’ initial aim to attach a major established star to the project. Ultimately, Reeve’s earnest portrayal became the definitive cinematic Superman for a generation.
8. Will Smith didn’t understand the pitch for The Matrix
Keanu Reeves as Neo stops bullets mid-air in The Matrix
At the height of his ’90s stardom, Will Smith was offered the lead role of Neo in The Matrix. However, Smith famously turned it down, later admitting he didn’t fully grasp the Wachowskis’ complex vision during their pitch meeting. In a 2019 YouTube video, Smith humorously explained his confusion and ultimate decision to star in Wild Wild West instead – a choice he readily admits wasn’t his best. He has praised Keanu Reeves’ performance as Neo, acknowledging Reeves was the perfect fit for the groundbreaking role.
7. Sandra Bullock was considered for Neo (and Trinity) in The Matrix
Keanu Reeves' Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss' Trinity in a virtual training program in The Matrix
As the Wachowskis and producer Joel Silver searched for their Neo, the pressure from Warner Bros. to cast a major star led them down unconventional paths. Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura revealed to TheWrap in 2019 that desperation led them to consider gender-swapping the role and offering it to Sandra Bullock, with whom Silver had worked on Demolition Man. “We went to Sandy Bullock and said ‘We’ll change Neo to a girl,'” di Bonaventura recalled. Bullock herself confirmed in earlier interviews (like one on NBC’s Today) that she was also approached for the role of Trinity (which went to Carrie-Anne Moss) but passed on the project altogether.
6. Laurence Fishburne declined Pulp Fiction over heroin depiction
Samuel L Jackson, John Travolta, and Harvey Keitel stand together in Pulp Fiction
Samuel L. Jackson’s portrayal of Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction is legendary, but Quentin Tarantino initially wrote the part with Laurence Fishburne in mind. Fishburne, however, turned down the role. In a 2020 interview with Vulture, he explained his refusal stemmed from discomfort with the film’s portrayal of heroin use. “I just had a problem with the way the heroin use was dealt with,” Fishburne said. “I felt like it made heroin use attractive. For me, it’s not just my character. It’s, ‘What is the whole thing saying?’… It was about the way in which the heroin thing was delivered.”
5. Christina Applegate feared typecasting post-Married… With Children for Legally Blonde
Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods smiles confidently in Legally Blonde
Reese Witherspoon’s performance as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde is iconic, but the role was first offered to Christina Applegate. Fresh off her long run as Kelly Bundy on Married… With Children, Applegate worried about being typecast. In a 2023 Vanity Fair interview, she explained, “I wouldn’t toy with the idea of Legally Blonde because it felt too fresh getting out of Married… With Children. It was very similar on paper.” Applegate candidly called the decision “a big f-cking mistake,” while also humbly admitting Witherspoon was perfect and she likely would have “completely screwed it up.”
4. Clint Eastwood believed James Bond should be British
Roger Moore as James Bond explores a cave in Live and Let Die
During the transition period after Sean Connery initially stepped away from the James Bond role (and after George Lazenby’s single outing), American screen legend Clint Eastwood was approached to take over as 007, potentially starting with 1973’s Live and Let Die. Eastwood confirmed this long-standing rumor in interviews, including one with the L.A. Times in 2010 (via Collider). He turned down the lucrative offer primarily because he felt the character should remain British. “I thought James Bond should be British,” Eastwood stated in a 2009 Indie London interview (via The Clint Eastwood Archive). “I thought that it should be more of the culture there, and also, it was not my thing.” The role eventually went to Roger Moore.
3. Montgomery Clift passed on On the Waterfront and other classics
Marlon Brando as Terry Malloy looks troubled on the docks in On the Waterfront
Montgomery Clift, a contemporary of Marlon Brando and James Dean and a pioneer of method acting, starred in several acclaimed films like From Here to Eternity and A Place in the Sun. However, he became almost as famous for the major roles he turned down. His list of rejected parts includes seminal films like Sunset Boulevard, High Noon, and East of Eden. Perhaps the most significant role Clift passed on was Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront. Offered the part before Brando, Clift declined for reasons that remain somewhat unclear. Brando’s subsequent performance earned him an Oscar and became one of cinema’s most enduring portrayals of conflicted masculinity.
2. Al Pacino couldn’t understand the script for Star Wars
Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia stand together in Star Wars
Fresh off his star-making turn in The Godfather, Al Pacino found himself inundated with offers for virtually every major film project in Hollywood. One surprising offer was the role of the charming smuggler Han Solo in George Lucas’s space opera, Star Wars. Pacino recalled to MTV in 2014 that he simply didn’t comprehend the script. “It was mine for the taking but I didn’t understand the script,” he admitted. The role, of course, went to Harrison Ford, launching him into superstardom and defining the iconic character for generations.
1. Leonardo DiCaprio: A History of Passing on Major Franchises (American Psycho, Spider-Man, Star Wars, Batman)
Leonardo DiCaprio stands amidst collapsing buildings in a dream sequence in Inception
Leonardo DiCaprio has navigated Hollywood stardom for decades, building a career focused on prestigious dramas and collaborations with acclaimed directors. While no stranger to blockbusters like Titanic and Inception, he is famously selective and has turned down numerous roles in major franchises and potential cult classics. Among the most notable Famous Roles Actors Turned Down by DiCaprio are Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (which went to Christian Bale), Peter Parker in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire), Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels (Hayden Christensen), and Robin in Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever (Chris O’Donnell). His choices reflect a consistent focus on specific types of challenging roles over guaranteed franchise paychecks, shaping a unique and highly respected filmography.
The landscape of cinema is constantly shaped by these casting decisions. An actor’s “no” can inadvertently pave the way for another’s iconic performance, forever altering film history and leaving audiences to forever ponder the intriguing “what ifs.” These instances remind us that behind every beloved character is a complex web of choices, timing, and sometimes, sheer luck.
