26 Famous Actors Who Almost Played Hollywood’s Most Iconic Roles

Hollywood casting history is full of near misses. Some famous roles were formally offered to other actors first. Others got as far as serious discussions, screen tests, or early attachments before scheduling conflicts, contracts, or creative decisions changed everything. A few of these stories have been repeated for so long that the legend has become a little cleaner than the reality.

There are plenty of reasons a star might walk away from a potentially huge movie. Sometimes another project is already on the calendar. Sometimes a studio contract gets in the way. An actor may worry about being typecast, dislike the script, or simply have no idea that the strange movie sitting in front of them is about to become a phenomenon. Hindsight makes all of these decisions look much easier than they actually were.

That is what makes these casting stories so fascinating. Hugh Jackman as James Bond, Will Smith as Neo, or Tom Selleck as Indiana Jones would not simply have meant swapping one recognizable face for another. The movies themselves might have felt completely different. Many of the actors who missed these parts still went on to appear in some of the most influential movies of the 21st century.

Here are 26 stars who came surprisingly close to playing some of Hollywood's most famous characters, along with what actually happened before the cameras started rolling.

Actor Will Smith turned down the iconic role of Neo in “The Matrix.”

Role: Neo

Film: “The Matrix”

Will Smith really did pass on Neo. In 2019, he explained on his own YouTube channel that the Wachowskis pitched him the movie after “Men in Black,” but their explanation focused so heavily on the unusual visual effects that he did not understand what the finished film was supposed to be. Smith went on to make “Wild Wild West,” while Keanu Reeves became Neo. Smith has since said Reeves was the right choice and joked that his decision may have worked out better for everybody.

“All the Right Moves” conflicted with Tom Cruise’s potential casting in “Footloose.”

Role: Ren McCormack

Film: “Footloose”

Tom Cruise was seriously considered for Ren McCormack after producers saw the famous dance sequence in “Risky Business.” The timing did not cooperate. Cruise was committed to “All the Right Moves” and was unavailable to make “Footloose.” Rob Lowe was another strong contender before an injury complicated his chances, and Kevin Bacon ultimately won the role that became one of the defining performances of his career.

Legendary actor Al Pacino didn’t understand the “Star Wars” script.

Role: Han Solo

Film: “Star Wars”

Al Pacino has confirmed this one himself. Coming off “The Godfather,” he said he was being offered seemingly everything, including “Star Wars.” Pacino later joked that the part was his for the taking, but he did not understand the script and passed. Harrison Ford became Han Solo instead, turning a relatively small career at the time into something considerably larger.

Scheduling conflicts kept Johnny Depp from accepting the lead in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”

Role: Ferris Bueller

Film: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

Johnny Depp has said he was offered the title role in John Hughes' “Ferris Bueller's Day Off” but could not accept because of scheduling conflicts. Matthew Broderick eventually played the spectacularly confident teenager who turns one day off from school into a tour of Chicago. Depp later praised Broderick's performance, and it is difficult to argue that the final casting did not work.

Truman Capote pictured Marilyn Monroe starring in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

Role: Holly Golightly

Film: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”

Truman Capote wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly Golightly in the film adaptation of his novella, and the screenplay was developed with her in mind. Monroe ultimately did not take the part. Accounts of the decision say her acting adviser warned that playing a character associated with sex work could hurt her image. Paramount instead cast Audrey Hepburn, whose performance became permanently linked to both the movie and the character.

Actor Harrison Ford could have starred in “Jurassic Park.”

Role: Alan Grant

Film: “Jurassic Park”

Steven Spielberg has confirmed that he offered Harrison Ford the role of paleontologist Alan Grant in “Jurassic Park.” Ford declined. Spielberg later recalled being disappointed by the decision, although he has also said Sam Neill ultimately proved perfect for the part. Neill was cast shortly before production and went on to return as Grant in later films in the franchise.

Sir Ian McKellen would have portrayed an excellent Dumbledore.

Role: Albus Dumbledore

Film: The “Harry Potter” series

The familiar version of this story is a little too neat. After Richard Harris died in 2002, Ian McKellen was contacted and asked whether he would be interested in appearing in the “Harry Potter” films. McKellen has said the filmmakers did not actually tell him which character they had in mind, but he figured out that they were considering him for Dumbledore. He declined because Harris had previously criticized McKellen's acting as “passionless,” and McKellen was uncomfortable succeeding an actor he knew did not approve of his work. Michael Gambon ultimately took over the role.

It’s unclear why Molly Ringwald turned down the lead role in “Pretty Woman.”

Role: Vivian Ward

Film: “Pretty Woman”

Molly Ringwald was connected to the project that eventually became “Pretty Woman,” although even she has offered slightly different recollections of exactly how far things went. In a 2012 Reddit AMA, Ringwald said she remembered seeing an early draft titled “$3,000” but did not specifically remember turning it down. Years later, she said she did not like the story and felt there was something “icky” about it. Julia Roberts ultimately played Vivian Ward and received an Academy Award nomination for the performance.

A younger actor than Mel Gibson took the iconic role of Maximus in “Gladiator” after Gibson turned it down.

Role: Maximus

Film: “Gladiator”

Mel Gibson has confirmed that he passed on playing Maximus in Ridley Scott's “Gladiator,” but the commonly repeated explanation that he thought he was too old is not the reason Gibson now gives. Speaking about the decision in 2025, he said the problem was scheduling because he was committed to making “The Patriot.” Russell Crowe ultimately took the role of Maximus.

Henry Winkler didn’t want to be a typecast actor.

Role: Danny Zuko

Film: “Grease”

Henry Winkler has repeatedly confirmed that he turned down Danny Zuko in “Grease.” At the time, he was already famous for playing leather-jacketed greaser Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on “Happy Days,” and he feared another similar character would lock him into that type of role. Winkler has also acknowledged one other fairly important factor: John Travolta could sing and dance in ways Winkler says he could not. Travolta got the part and “Grease” became one of the biggest hits of his career.

It’s hard to picture John Travolta as Forrest Gump.

Role: Forrest Gump

Film: “Forrest Gump”

John Travolta was an early choice for the title role in “Forrest Gump” and passed on the opportunity. Instead, he appeared as Vincent Vega in Quentin Tarantino's “Pulp Fiction,” which was released the same year and helped revive his career. Tom Hanks played Forrest and won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Travolta has since spoken philosophically about roles he passed on, noting that other actors' careers were created by opportunities he did not take.

“Game of Thrones” no doubt influenced Emilia Clarke to turn down the lead role in “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

Role: Anastasia Steele

Film: “Fifty Shades of Grey”

Emilia Clarke met with director Sam Taylor-Johnson about playing Anastasia Steele in “Fifty Shades of Grey” and ultimately turned the role down. Clarke later explained that her concern was not simply nudity itself. After doing nude scenes on “Game of Thrones,” she had become frustrated by how frequently those scenes overshadowed discussion of her acting and did not want to reinforce that association. Dakota Johnson ultimately starred as Anastasia.

“Spy Game” interfered with Brad Pitt taking the role of Jason Bourne.

Role: Jason Bourne

Film: “The Bourne Identity”

Director Doug Liman met with Brad Pitt several times about playing Jason Bourne in “The Bourne Identity.” Liman later said Pitt ultimately chose to make the espionage thriller “Spy Game” instead. Matt Damon got the role, and “The Bourne Identity” launched a successful action franchise that helped reshape the spy genre in the 2000s.

The legendary Jack Nicholson turned down the role of Michael Corleone.

Role: Michael Corleone

Film: “The Godfather”

Jack Nicholson was among the actors considered for Michael Corleone in “The Godfather,” and he chose not to pursue the role. Nicholson later explained that he believed Italian characters should be played by Italian actors. He also gave the final casting the highest possible compliment, saying Al Pacino simply was Michael Corleone. Pacino's performance earned him an Academy Award nomination and became one of the roles most closely associated with his career.

Bette Midler didn’t want to wear a nun costume in “Sister Act.”

Role: Deloris Van Cartier

Film: “Sister Act”

Bette Midler has said “Sister Act” was written with her in mind, but she turned it down because she did not think her fans wanted to see her dressed in a nun's wimple. Whoopi Goldberg stepped into the role of lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier instead. The movie became a major hit in 1992 and produced a sequel, a stage musical, and decades of affection for Goldberg's performance.

Despite a lucrative offer, Sean Connerty turned down the role of Gandalf.

Role: Gandalf

Film: “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy

Sean Connery was offered Gandalf in Peter Jackson's “The Lord of the Rings” films, but he declined. New Line executive Mark Ordesky later confirmed that an offer was made, while accounts from Connery's side said he read the material but simply did not understand it well enough to commit to the project. Reports have attached enormous salary and profit-sharing figures to the offer over the years, but the precise terms are less firmly documented than the fact that Connery said no. Ian McKellen ultimately became Gandalf.

Can you picture Gwyneth Paltrow as Rose in “Titanic?”

Role: Rose DeWitt Bukater

Film: “Titanic”

Gwyneth Paltrow came very close to playing Rose in “Titanic,” but describing her as James Cameron's confirmed first choice goes farther than the evidence supports. Paltrow has said the story is that she turned the movie down, but her own firm recollection is that she was one of the final two contenders for the role. Kate Winslet aggressively pursued the part and ultimately became Rose, earning an Academy Award nomination for the performance.

Tom Selleck’s contract with “Magnum P.I.” caused him to miss out on the role of Indiana Jones.

Role: Indiana Jones

Film: “Raiders of the Lost Ark”

Tom Selleck did more than simply come close to playing Indiana Jones. He has said he screen-tested, got the part, and wanted to make “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” The problem was his commitment to CBS for “Magnum, P.I.” The network would not release him from the television series, so Selleck had to walk away. Harrison Ford replaced him, and Indiana Jones became the second enormous franchise character of Ford's career.

Actress Emily Blunt had the chance to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Role: Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow

Film: “Iron Man 2”

Emily Blunt was lined up to play Black Widow in “Iron Man 2,” but she did not simply decide another movie sounded better. Blunt has explained that an existing deal with Fox contractually obligated her to make “Gulliver's Travels.” The conflict forced her to give up the Marvel role, something she later described as a heartbreaker. Scarlett Johansson was cast as Natasha Romanoff and continued playing the character throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Burt Reynolds turned down the iconic role of James Bond.

Role: James Bond

Film: “Live and Let Die”

Burt Reynolds said longtime Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli approached him about becoming James Bond as the series prepared to move on from Sean Connery. Reynolds declined because he believed an American should not play the very British secret agent. Roger Moore became the next Bond instead, beginning with 1973's “Live and Let Die” and eventually playing 007 in seven official films.

Scheduling conflicts prevented Emma Watson from starring in “La La Land.”

Role: Mia Dolan

Film: “La La Land”

Emma Watson was attached to “La La Land” during its long development, although Watson has cautioned that casting reports sometimes appear before anything is actually finalized. She had already committed to Disney's live-action “Beauty and the Beast,” a demanding production that required months of singing, dancing, and horseback-riding preparation. Watson said the schedules simply could not be made to work. Emma Stone eventually played Mia Dolan.

It’s hard to imagine Michael Keaton starring in “Groundhog Day.”

Role: Phil Connors

Film: “Groundhog Day”

Michael Keaton was approached about playing cynical television weatherman Phil Connors in “Groundhog Day,” but he did not connect with the material. Keaton later recalled thinking the character sounded like the sort of sarcastic, glib young man he had already played and admitted he simply did not understand what the movie was going for. Bill Murray took the role instead, and Keaton later conceded that nobody could have done it better.

Actor Bruce Willis had the chance to star alongside Demi Moore in “Ghost.”

Role: Sam Wheat

Film: “Ghost”

Bruce Willis later freely admitted that he passed on “Ghost” because he did not understand how a romantic story could work when the male lead was dead. Willis was married to Demi Moore at the time, so accepting would also have put the couple together on screen. Patrick Swayze got the role of Sam Wheat instead. Looking back in a 1996 interview, Willis called himself a “knucklehead” for not seeing how the idea could work.

Hugh Jackman declined the role of James Bond in “Casino Royale.”

Role: James Bond

Film: James Bond franchise / “Casino Royale” era

Hugh Jackman's situation was closer to an invitation to discuss Bond than a signed offer for “Casino Royale.” Jackman has said that while he was preparing to make “X2,” his agent called to ask whether he would be interested in taking over as James Bond. Jackman felt the Bond movies had become too unbelievable and wanted a grittier approach, only to be told he would not have creative input. He was also worried that carrying both Bond and Wolverine would leave no time for other kinds of work. Daniel Craig eventually became the new 007.

Playing another ditzy blonde did not appeal to Christina Applegate.

Role: Elle Woods

Film: “Legally Blonde”

Christina Applegate has said the “Legally Blonde” script came her way soon after she finished playing Kelly Bundy on “Married... with Children.” She worried that taking another role built around a blonde character who initially appears ditzy would feel like repeating herself, so she passed. Applegate later jokingly called the decision a stupid move. Reese Witherspoon became Elle Woods, turning the character into one of the most recognizable roles of her career.

Tom Hanks couldn’t star in “Jerry McGuire” thanks to a directing obligation.

Role: Jerry Maguire

Film: “Jerry Maguire”

Cameron Crowe developed “Jerry Maguire” with Tom Hanks in mind for the lead. By the time the script was ready, however, Hanks was preparing to direct his first feature film, “That Thing You Do!” Hanks liked Crowe's script but chose to focus on his own movie instead. Crowe then sent the screenplay to Tom Cruise, who enthusiastically accepted and turned Jerry Maguire into one of his signature roles.