10+ Actors Who Had a Chance to Portray a Legendary Character but Missed It

Sometimes, for actors, a decision to play a certain role in a movie can make or break their careers. For many actors, the decision to refuse or even get rejected for a role turns out to be a blessing because there are better movies in store for them. But a few of them do regret not being a part of certain movies. 5-Minute Crafts listed a few of those actors down below who missed out on legendary roles.

1. Jake Gyllenhaal in Zoolander

Owen Wilson was surely the first choice for the role of Hansel in Zoolander. But since Owen Wilson was busy, Ben Stiller had to audition other actors. The next choice was Jake Gyllenhaal. Ben Stiller remembered Gyllenhaal’s performance of a wide-eyed version of Hansel, which he found very funny. Eventually, Jake didn’t score the role because Owen Wilson’s schedule cleared up, and he grabbed the spot.

2. Madonna in The Matrix

Madonna is surely one of the most celebrated celebrities in the industry, but she does regret one movie role that she said no to. It was for the movie The Matrix. She didn’t mention which role she was offered, but she still wishes she didn’t pass up on it. “That’s like one of the best movies ever made,” she added. “A teeny-tiny part of me just regrets that one moment in my life,” she mentioned in an interview.

3. Anne Hathaway in Silver Linings Playbook

Jennifer Lawrence won an Academy for her role as Tiffany in Silver Linings Playbook. The role was previously offered to Anne Hathaway, but she rejected it because there were some creative differences between her and the director David O. Russell.

4. Adrien Brody in Lord of the Rings

Adrien Brody was offered the role of one of the Hobbits in Peter Jackson’s masterpiece, but he refused to take it. When the role was offered, he said, “I, somehow, didn’t get it, I don’t know what part I would have been right for, but it was some Hobbit-like character. I was looking for something else.” Later he deeply regretted saying no to it.

5. Eddie Redmayne in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Eddie auditioned for the role of Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. His reading for this role was “catastrophically bad.” In his own words, “They gave me like a Star Trek scene — or like something from Pride and Prejudice. It was one of those films. With films that top secret, they don’t give you the actual lines. So they give you a scene from Pride and Prejudice, but then they tell you you’re auditioning for the baddie. If you’re me, you then put some ridiculous voice on.”

He made multiple attempts to deliver different variations of the role, but he couldn’t. The role of Kylo Ren was then offered to Adam Driver.

6. Emma Watson in La La Land

Emma Watson was supposed to star opposite Miles Teller in La La Land. But Watson had to let it go because she didn’t have enough time. She had already said yes to playing Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. And to get ready she had to do horse training, dancing, 3 months of singing, and be in London.

7. Matt Damon in The Dark Knight

Matt Damon was offered the role of Harvey Dent, the Two-Faced man in Christopher’s Nolan, The Dark Knight. He had to refuse because of a scheduling problem. He is a big fan of the director, but he never spoke to Christopher Nolan about it. Then, Aaron Eckhart grabbed the role, and no one could’ve played it better.

8. John Krasinski in Captain America: The First Avenger

Chris Evans has surely won our hearts by playing Captain America, but many actors auditioned for this role. One of them was John Krasinski. When he was half-suited, Chris Hemsworth saw it and said he looked good. But Krasinski was aware that he’d never be able to match up with Hemsworth’s physique as a fellow actor. Hence, for the same reason, or maybe he couldn’t leave The Office, he passed on this role.

9. Tom Hiddleson in Thor

Tom Hiddleson originally auditioned for the role of Thor, instead of Loki. He even built his body, beefing up from 180 pounds to 198 pounds. But he couldn’t get the role. The moviemakers were looking for Loki as well. The closer he got, they said, “Actually, you should play the bad guy.” Hence, he ended up in the role of Loki.

10. Sir Ian McKellen in Harry Potter movies

After Richard Harris, the original Dumbledore, passed away, the movie producers contacted McKellen to ask if he’d be interested in being in Harry Potter movies. They didn’t say which part, but McKellen figured it out. He rejected this offer because, once, Harris claimed him and other British actors as “technically brilliant but passion-less.” According to McKellen, “I couldn’t take over the part from an actor who I know disapproved of me.”

11. Matthew McConaughey in Titanic

Matthew was one of the top picks for playing Jack in the movie Titanic. Everyone praised his performance while he auditioned with Kate Winslet. There were rumors around back then that McConaughey refused to take the part. In fact, the truth was that he never got it.

James Cameron then clarified that when Matthew was reading for the part, they met Leo, who was there for an interview. Every woman in the building showed up in that meeting: even the accountant and the female security guard. James Cameron realized the impact Leo had on women back then, so he went ahead, casting him as Jack.

12. Jennifer Lawrence in Twilight

Before Jennifer Lawrence became famous because of Hunger Games, she was offered the role of Bella Swan in the Twilight Saga. If she starred as Bella, the Hollywood industry would’ve looked a lot different. This role would’ve prevented her from starring as Mystique in the X-Men franchise and Katniss in the Hunger Games series. Lawrence had no idea that Twilight would be such a big deal when she auditioned for the role.

13. Joaquin Phoenix in Doctor Strange

Before Benedict Cumberbatch was selected for the role of Doctor Strange, it was originally offered to Joaquin Phoenix. While he is a fan of blockbusters, he couldn’t really see himself in one, where he ended up saying, “All parties were satisfied.”

Marvel lawyer, Peter Sarker believed that Phoenix’s case was unique because the deal was already about to be finalized, but it couldn’t proceed further.

14. Beyoncé in A Star is Born

Before Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, the main roles in the movie A Star is Born were offered to Clint Eastwood and Beyoncé. According to the movie producer, this was the best version of the movie, but suddenly, Beyoncé got pregnant. Later, Clint passed up on the role too for another movie. Then the roles were offered to Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga.