15 Actors Who Missed Out on Cult Movie Roles

Surely many actors would prefer to have a special device that could help them know in advance whether the role they were offered would be successful. If a machine like that really existed, then we could see completely different actors in the roles of many different cult characters.

1. Will Smith turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix.

2. Leonardo DiCaprio turned down the role of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho.

3. Jim Carrey turned down the role of Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean.

4. Rachel McAdams turned down the role of Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada.

5. Christian Bale turned down the role of James Bond in Casino Royale.

6. Sean Connery turned down the role of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings.

7. Matt Damon turned down the role of Jake Sully in Avatar.

8. Michelle Pfeiffer turned down the role of Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct.

9. Tim Roth turned down the role of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films.

10. Reese Witherspoon turned down the role of Sidney Prescott in Scream.

11. Henry Cavill turned down the role of Carlisle Cullen in Twilight.

12. Marilyn Monroe turned down the role of Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

13. John Travolta turned down the role of Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump.

14. Kevin Hart turned down the role of Alpa Chino in Tropic Thunder.

15. Michael Keaton turned down the role of Phil Connors in Groundhog Day.

Do you think these roles would have become as iconic if they were played by other actors? Share your thoughts in the comments!