Hollywood is rife with stories of what might have been: actors who were in line for roles that went on to become box office hits, only for them to slip through their fingers. Here, we unveil 7 luminaries who came close to such iconic roles.
Rachel McAdams, best known for her roles in The Notebook and Mean Girls, recently told Bustle about the era between 2006-2008 when she passed on a handful of roles that later became box office gold. These films include The Devil Wears Prada, Casino Royale, the first Iron Man, Get Smart, and Mission: Impossible III. Despite the occasional pang of regret, McAdams believes each role found its perfect match. Her career hasn’t suffered, boasting roles in films like Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, About Time, The Vow, and Wedding Crashers.
Nicholas Hoult shared with The Guardian that he auditioned for Robert Pattinson’s role in The Batman and a part in Top Gun, but missed out on both. He was set to join Mission Impossible 7 but had to bow out due to scheduling issues. Despite these misses, he’s showcased his talents in films like Renfield, Warm Bodies, The Menu, and Mad Max: Fury Road.
Christian Bale is no stranger to missing out on roles. Though he eyed the role of Jack in Titanic, which eventually went to Leonardo DiCaprio, Bale expressed gratitude for his own career trajectory and acknowledged DiCaprio’s immense influence on Hollywood roles. Bale’s filmography remains impressive with titles like American Psycho, The Dark Knight series, The Machinist, and The Pale Blue Eye.
Claire Danes was another potential candidate for Titanic, eyed for Kate Winslet’s role of Rose. Having just co-starred with DiCaprio in Romeo + Juliet, she decided she wasn’t ready for the limelight that such a major role would bring.
Even Leonardo DiCaprio missed out on some roles! He chose The Beach over The Talented Mr. Ripley, which later saw Matt Damon in the lead. He also turned down Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights, a role that Mark Wahlberg eventually clinched.
Amanda Seyfried, Rachel McAdams’ co-star in Mean Girls, declined the opportunity to play Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy, doubting the film’s potential success. Seyfried’s decision was rooted in her fear of being associated with a potential flop, but she continues to shine in films like Mamma Mia, Letters to Juliet, and Hulu’s The Dropout.
Lastly, Viggo Mortensen had the chance to play Wolverine in X-Men before Hugh Jackman took on the iconic role. Mortensen expressed hesitancy about committing to the character over a series of films. His decision led him to memorable roles, including the famed Lord of the Rings series.
It goes to show that in Hollywood, one door’s closing often leads to another’s opening.