10 Actors Who Were Considered for These Major Movie Roles

Actors play a crucial role in making characters iconic, making it difficult to envision someone else in the role later on. However, actors can be fired, leave due to prior commitments, or simply decline offers. Initially, it’s challenging to predict the success of a film when an offer is made. While some actors regret rejecting projects, others understand that declining can be the right decision, regardless of the film’s eventual popularity or critical acclaim.

1. James Corden in The Whale

In an interview with Deadline, James Corden revealed that he was initially set to play a part in the movie, with Tom Ford as the director. However, the project did not come to fruition as Ford desired more control over the film. Corden also mentioned that George Clooney had expressed interest in the movie but only under the condition of casting an actual 600-lb. actor to match the character’s physical appearance. Additionally, according to columnist Pete Hammond, director Darren Aronofsky confirmed Corden’s account of briefly being attached to the film.

2. Amy Schumer in Barbie

Schumer initially secured the lead role in the movie in late 2016. However, she announced her departure from the project four months later in 2017, citing “scheduling conflicts” as the reason. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Schumer disclosed the true motive behind her decision.

She explained that the filmmakers did not share her vision for the film and were unwilling to pursue it in the manner she desired. In addition to starring in the movie, Schumer had also agreed to co-write the script with her sister. The original concept revolved around a woman who is expelled from Barbieland due to not meeting their standards of perfection, resulting in a fish-out-of-water scenario. Schumer’s iteration portrayed Barbie as an ambitious inventor.

3. Bob Oderkirk in The Office

During the casting process for the U.S. adaptation of The Office, Bob Odenkirk auditioned for the role of Michael Scott. Alongside him, several other actors, including Patton Oswalt, Rick Moranis, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, were also considered for the part. While Odenkirk’s portrayal of the character differed from Steve Carell’s, it’s not difficult to envision a version of the character resembling his future role as Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad.

Although he didn’t secure the role, Odenkirk left a lasting impression, leading to a cameo appearance in the show’s final season. In the episode titled “Moving On,” Pam interviews at a new office where Odenkirk’s character is the boss. To her dismay, she realizes that her potential boss is essentially an alternate version of Michael Scott, a humorous twist that becomes even more amusing when considering the actor’s earlier connection to The Office.

4. Rob Lowe in Grey’s Anatomy

In a recent interview with Variety, the actor reflected on his decision to decline the role of Dr. Derek Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy, expressing that he believes everything unfolded as it was meant to. He emphasized the significance of longevity, experience, and personal growth in shaping his perspective. According to Lowe, when decisions are made with sincerity, they can never be deemed wrong. At the time, he opted out of the role in the ABC medical drama to pursue a different opportunity starring in the short-lived series Dr. Vegas.

Ultimately, Patrick Dempsey was cast as Dr. Shepherd, affectionately known as “McDreamy,” and portrayed the character from 2005 to 2015 until his on-screen demise in a tragic car accident. Lowe acknowledged that Dempsey brought a unique and captivating quality to the role, stating that if he had taken the part, fans would have simply referred to him as “Rob Lowe,” rather than bestowing the endearing nickname “McDreamy” upon the character.

5. Emilia Clarke in Fifty Shades of Grey

In an interview, the actress discussed her decision not to take on the role in the film adaptation of E.L. James’ Fifty Shades, despite being impressed by director Sam Taylor-Johnson’s artistic vision. She explains that her main reason for declining the project was to avoid being typecast and confined to a specific image. Ultimately, Dakota Johnson was cast in the role. The actress expresses frustration over the focus on nudity in her previous work, particularly her past experiences on Game of Thrones.

She states that despite it being a long time since she was last seen naked on camera, it remains the predominant question she receives as a woman. She finds this line of questioning bothersome and expresses her weariness with it, as her decision to do those scenes was based on her dedication to the character rather than for the purpose of being objectified.

Given her prior experiences and the scrutiny she faced, the actress felt that accepting the role in Fifty Shades, where sensuality, and nudity were integral to the story, would only perpetuate the issue. She decided against voluntarily entering a situation where she would be continuously asked about those aspects, making it difficult for her to assert herself and deny such questions in the future.

6. Taylor Momsen as Hannah Montana

The casting director of Hannah Montana, Lisa London, shared on TikTok that Taylor Momsen was a contender for the role of Hannah Montana. Momsen reached the final stages of the casting process, along with Miley Cyrus and Daniella Monet from Victorious.

It’s intriguing to consider the alternate path the show might have taken if Momsen had been chosen for the iconic role.

7. Ryan Gosling as Doctor Strange

It was previously unknown how much Marvel desired Ryan Gosling to portray Doctor Strange. Concept artist Court Chu has revealed new concept art that depicts Gosling in the role, stating, “Years ago, I spent just a short amount of time creating some versions of Doctor Strange, and at that time, they were interested in Gosling.”

Rumors of Gosling’s potential casting emerged in October 2014, shortly after discussions with Joaquin Phoenix fell through. During that period, Jared Leto, Justin Theroux, Ethan Hawke, and Keanu Reeves were also being considered. However, Marvel’s interest in Gosling was significant enough to commission concept art featuring the actor as the character.

8. Britney Spears in The Notebook

Although Britney Spears achieved immense fame as the biggest pop star of the 2000s, it turns out she could have been considered for the lead role in The Notebook as well. Recent revelations indicate that the “Toxic” singer did a screen test for the character of Allie Hamilton, a role that eventually went to Rachel McAdams.

Casting director Matthew Barry disclosed that it was a “close call” between Spears and McAdams. However, he ultimately selected McAdams because she delivered an outstanding audition.

9. Gwen Stefani in Mr. and Mrs. Smith

During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Gwen Stefani disclosed that she had auditioned for the lead role in the 2005 blockbuster Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Stefani revealed that she nearly had the opportunity to deliver the famous line “Who’s your daddy now?” to Brad Pitt’s character. However, the role ultimately went to Angelina Jolie.

When DeGeneres asked Stefani about surprising audition experiences, the 53-year-old singer shared that she had lost the role to Jolie. The audience reacted with surprise, and Stefani jokingly remarked that the movie would have taken a different turn if she had been cast alongside Pitt as the central couple, who live a double life.

10. Madonna in Batman Returns

During her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Madonna expressed regret for declining a role in the film Batman Returns. The Grammy award-winning singer, revealed that out of three movie opportunities she turned down, she particularly regrets not taking on the role of Catwoman in Batman Returns, which was eventually portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer.

Reflecting on her decision, Madonna stated, “I saw the movie, and I regret not accepting the role of Catwoman. It would have been pretty fierce.” Additionally, she mentioned being offered a part in Showgirls but expressed no regrets in declining that particular opportunity.

It’s incredible to imagine how Twilight would’ve turned out if both Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson weren’t in it. Or what if it wasn’t Courteney Cox who played Monica Geller?