17 Iconic Movie Characters That Could Have Been Played by Other Actors

Actors don’t always get the roles they audition for. And sometimes, they turn down the roles even when very famous directors asked them. It’s pointless to try and understand the reasons why. But every time certain stars say that they almost had some popular role, movie fans start imagining what the films would have been like.

We at Bright Side could not just ignore the confessions of Hollywood stars and decided to find out what famous actors almost got some really iconic roles.

Cillian Murphy almost became Batman in Nolan’s The Dark Knight

• Who got the part: Christian Bale

On a late-night show, actor Cillian Murphy said that he auditioned for the part of Batman and was quite good at it. But it was already pretty clear that Christian Bale would get the role. However, director Christopher Nolan couldn’t ignore Murphy’s talent and offered him the role of Scarecrow, one of the main villains of the trilogy.

Nicole Kidman wanted to be in Notting Hill with Hugh Grant

• Who got the part: Julia Roberts

Nicole Kidman said that she’d dreamed of getting the main part in the romantic comedy Notting Hill and working with Hugh Grant. But, according to the actress, she was not famous or talented enough for that film. In the end, Julia Roberts got the role.

Ashley Greene auditioned for the part of Bella in Twilight

• Who got the part: Kristen Stewart

In her MTV interview, the actress said, “I originally auditioned for Bella, and so I read the first book and kind of fell in love with it. I went in and auditioned and actually, they called me back in and said, ‘No, you’re not right for Bella,’ so I was bummed, and then they brought me back for Alice.”

Mary Streep dreamed of portraying Patsy Cline in Sweet Dreams but it didn’t happen

• Who got the part: Jessica Lang

Even as a 21-time Oscar nominee, Meryl Streep thinks that there are roles that she could have gotten, but didn’t. She really wanted to get the main part in Karel Reisz’s Sweet Dreams about country singer Patsy Cline. The actress shared, “Karel was a friend of mine who I adored, and he was making a film about Patsy Cline, who is a singer I adored.”

But the director decided that a different actress, Jessica Lang, would look better in this role. This decision didn’t influence the friendship between Streep and Reisz.

Kate Winslet turned down a part in Shakespeare in Love and Paltrow got an Oscar for the role

• Who got the part: Gwyneth Paltrow

After the success of Titanic, Kate Winslet had a lot of different offers. She was one of the first candidates for the role of Viola in Shakespeare in Love. But the actress turned it down because she wanted to focus on independent movies at that time. So, Gwyneth Paltrow got the role and the Oscar for it.

Paul Rudd turned down the role of Phil Wenneck in The Hangover

• Who got the part: Bradley Cooper

Before Cooper, Helms, and Galifianakis portrayed friends that did all sorts of crazy stuff in Las Vegas, Todd Phillips considered other actors for their roles. For example, school teacher Phil could have been portrayed by Paul Rudd, but he turned it down, so Bradley Cooper got it.

Johnny Depp couldn’t appear in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off because of his tight schedule

• Who got the part: Matthew Broderick

Even after so many years, actor Matthew Broderick is still mostly famous for his part in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. And things could have been very different if Depp, who was originally offered the role, didn’t have such a busy schedule at the time. But Broderick got the part, and Depp said that his colleague did a great job.

Chadwick Boseman auditioned for the part of Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy but became Black Panther instead

• Who got the part: Dave Bautista

A law of life says that when one door closes, another one opens, and this is what happened to Chadwick Boseman. After he didn’t get the role of Drax the Destroyer, Marvel Studios casting director Sarah Finn said she would keep him in mind when it was time to cast an actor for the main role in Black Panther.

Leonardo DiCaprio chose What’s Eating Gilbert Grape over Hocus Pocus

• Who got the part: Omri Katz

Career-wise, young Leonardo DiCaprio made the right choice when he chose Lasse Hallström’s drama. But we would love to see him in the comedy fantasy Hocus Pocus that millions of viewers loved. Omri Katz ended up getting the part, and he hasn’t appeared in any new projects since the beginning of the 2000s.

Reba McEntire had to turn down the role of the unsinkable Molly Brown in Titanic

• Who got the part: Kathy Bates

American country singer Reba McEntire was supposed to debut on the big screen in the role of the unsinkable Molly Brown in James Cameron’s Titanic. But she had to turn the part down due to her schedule. So, Oscar winner Kathy Bates got the role.

James Franco wanted to become Spider-Man but got the role of Harry Osborne

• Who got the part: Tobey Maguire

In superhero movies, it happens frequently that when an actor auditions for the part of the hero they end up becoming a villain: Tom Hiddleston auditioned for the part of Thor but became Loki, Cillian Murphy was considered for the part of Bruce Wayne but became Scarecrow, and the same happened to Heath Ledger, who became Joker. But long before these situations, James Franco auditioned for the role of Peter Parker, but was offered the role of Harry Osborne.

Kim Basinger was offered the part of Catherine in Basic Instinct

• Who got the part: Sharon Stone

Most people remember the film Basic Instinct thanks to the iconic interrogation scene. But it might not have happened if Kim Basinger had accepted the offer to be in the film. Michael Douglas recommended her for the role, but she turned it down.

Liam Hemsworth wanted to portray Peeta Mellark in Hunger Games

• Who got the part: Josh Hutcherson

Before getting the role of Gale Hawthorne in the Hunger Games franchise, Liam Hemsworth wanted to portray Peeta Mellark, a tribute from District 12.

Brad Pitt turned down a role in Almost Famous due to creative differences

• Who got the part: Billy Crudup

According to the writer and director of the Oscar-winning Almost Famous, Cameron Crowe, the role of rock star Russell Hammond was originally meant for Brad Pitt. The actor was interested in the role and even took part in several rehearsals, but had to leave the project due to creative differences. So, Billy Crudup got the role.

Reese Witherspoon turned down the part of Sidney Prescott in Scream

• Who got the part: Neve Campbell

Nobody could have known that Wesley Craven’s Scream about Sidney Prescott would become iconic. Maybe, if Reese Witherspoon had known this in advance, she wouldn’t have turned down the main part. Neve Campbell woke up famous after the movie was released.

Katniss Everdeen in Hunger Games could have been played by Shailene Woodley

• Who got the part: Jennifer Lawrence

Around 30 different actresses auditioned for the main part in Hunger Games: Emma Roberts, Saoirse Ronan, Chloë Moretz, Kaya Scodelario, and Shailene Woodley.

Shailene Woodley later said that she wasn’t good enough at the audition and Jennifer Lawrence was the perfect choice. It’s interesting that soon after this audition, Woodley almost turned out her breakthrough work in Divergent.

Many people thought Amanda Seyfried would portray Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby

• Who got the part: Carey Mulligan

Many different actresses were candidates for the part in The Great Gatsby: Blake Lively, Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Michelle Williams, and Keira Knightley. But when the film was still in production, there were many rumors that Amanda Seyfried would get the main part. But finally, the role went to Carey Mulligan.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s illustrious career is peppered with intriguing facts. Named after Leonardo da Vinci, he faced early career challenges due to his unique name. Despite grappling with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, DiCaprio’s commitment to environmental causes led him to purchase an island for an eco-resort. His compassionate side is evident in his adoption support for a South African girl and aiding the last living Titanic survivor. His personal life, particularly his dating choices, has also garnered attention.