We are all tasked with making decisions daily, from waking up at a certain time and selecting what we'll have for breakfast to where we'll go to school and what jobs to take. Many of these choices are easy and aren't likely to have an impact on our lives in the long run. But others can have serious repercussions on not only those making the decision but those who are ultimately involved.
What career path to embark on may be one of the hardest decisions we have to make. Some of us are blessed with knowing what we were meant to do from a young age, while others don't discover it until later in life. Even when we know what path we wish to travel down, it still isn't always easy or clear-cut. We might opt to take on a certain project that doesn't turn out so well or we might opt to turn it down, a decision that can haunt us for years to come, regretting not taking what was presented to us.
Regret is something just about everyone lives with. These missed opportunities are a part of life, and it can sometimes be a challenge not to dwell on them. But for some actors and actresses, it's probably a bit harder to not dwell on missed opportunities to star in major blockbuster films, not because they didn't get cast in the role, but because even though they get cast in the role, they decided to turn it down.Once you reach a certain level of celebrity, offers to star in a particular role come around rather steadily, unlike when you were an up-and-coming thespian, and it affords them the ability to pick and choose what they star in, or, due to their schedules, doesn't allow them the time to accept them all.
Even the best actors (and their agents) can't predict how well a film will or won't do at the box office, and those who pass on the chance to star in any particular film, likely have good reasons. It could be due to a scheduling conflict; either they've already booked a film or TV show that was slated to be filmed at the same time, or they had the choice between starring in two films and choosing the other. They also may not want to be typecasting and become stuck in the same type of role for their careers. Other times they might not understand the script or simply think the film won't do well.
Regardless of why they passed, it generally opens up the doors to other actors who have gone on to win accolades and awards for their performances, and in many instances, launched their careers. Many of these performers who accepted the part may not have been the first choice, but for the viewers, they are the only choice and it's hard to picture anyone else bringing the part to life. One thing is certain is that even though these A-list actors and actresses passed up on these iconic roles, they didn't suffer for it; some of them even went on to star in movies that are so important they're studied in college.
