Actors are defined by the roles and characters they play. But the choice isn’t always an easy one to make for directors and production teams.
Below are 10+ movie roles that were almost played by other actors.
Needless to say, these films would have looked quite a lot different had things gone the other way. Let us know if you would have preferred these other actors in the comments!
1. Can you picture Lennifer Lawrence as Bella Swan in *Twilight*?
Lawrence spoke candidly about her audition:
“I didn’t really know what it was. You just get like five pages [at the audition] and they’re like, ‘Act monkey.’ And when it came out I was like, ‘Hot damn. Whoa.’”
2. At one time, John Krasinski was thought to be the next *Captain America*.
“My agent called and said, ‘They’re going to go with Chris Evans’. And I remember I said, ‘Yeah, look at him. He’s Captain America .'”
That’s OK, John will get redemption when he becomes the next Reed Richards!
3. Nicolas Cage came inches away from playing Bender in *The Breakfast Club*.
I honestly don’t know how I feel about this one. I know I’m in the minority but I actually consider Nic Cage to be an astounding actor.
I think he would have been great for the role!
4. Both Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington auditioned for *Clueless* and neither got the part.
Who in their right mind would pass on Reese as Cher? That’s utter and complete madness!
According to Reese, she auditioned hard for the part but still lost out to Alicia Silverstone.
15. Henry Cavill was author Stephanie Meyer’s first-choice to play Edward Cullen.
Not only was Henry Stephanie Meyer ‘s first choice for the role, she supposedly wrote the part specifically with him in mind!
Can you imagine if Pattinson played Superman and Henry was Edward Cullen?
5. Saoirse Ronan auditioned to play Rey in *Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens*.
Thank goodness this didn’t happen . I’m sorry, but the latest additions to the Skywalker Saga are white-hot trash.
It would have been a stain on an otherwise unblemished acting record.
6. Matthew McConaughey was shocked when he lost out on the role of Jack in *Titanic*.
“I wanted that,” Matthew stated in an interview.
“I auditioned with Kate Winslet. Had a good audition. Walked away from there pretty confident that I had it. I didn’t get it. I never got offered that.”
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8. Emma Watson chose *Beauty And The Beast* over starring in *La La Land* opposite Ryan Gosling.
Emma explained to Vanity Fair:
“It’s one of these frustrating things where names get attached to projects very early on as a way to kind of build anticipation or excitement for something that’s coming before anything is really actually agreed or set in stone.”
9. Can you imagine if Eddie Murphy had been cast as The Grinch in *How The Grinch Stole Christmas*?
No disrespect to Jim Carey; the man is a legend and did a phenomenal job.
But Eddie as The Grinch would have been over the top hilarity, the likes of which we may never know.
7. Christina Applegate was offered the role of Elle Woods in *Legally Blonde*.
“The script came along my way and it was right after I had just finished, Married…with Children , and it was a blonde who in that first script didn’t win it but ends up going to Yale, or Harvard, I don’t remember. I got scared of kind of repeating myself.”
10. Liam Hemsworth was one of the final few actors being considered to play *Thor*.
I bet this made things pretty tense around the dinner table of the Hemsworth household for months.
It’s one thing to lose out on a defining role, but to have it go to your brother ? That’s gotta sting.
11.Scar Jo auditioned to be in *Jumanji* but lost the role to Kirsten Dunst.
As it runs out, Scarlet’s audition tape is still floating around the internet, and yes, you can watch it, don’t worry.
You can watch an incredibly young (and adorable) Scarlet running lines for the film here .
12. Will Smith walked away from the role of Neo in *The Matrix* to star in *Wild Wild West*.
This one has to keep you up at night, Big Will .
You’d think since Jada was tapped to star in the second and third installments she might have helped to push Will in the right direction.
14. Britney Spears was in the running to star in *The Notebook*.
When asked about screen-reading with Britney, Ryan Gosling had this to say:
“I did, yeah. I hadn’t seen her really since she was about 12—we were both 12—so she’s grown up, but she was really good , actually. She did a really nice job.
13. Ryan Gosling was offered the role of Gotham City’s ‘Clown Prince of Crime’ in *Suicide Squad*.
I would have never pictured Ryan Gosling for the role of The Joker . Now, I can’t stop picturing him in the role!
Can you imagine how incredible he’d be starring opposite Robert Pattinson?! Make it happen Matt Reeves!
