Hollywood history is filled with “what if” scenarios of actors who nearly landed iconic roles before they went to someone else.
Here are 10 fascinating examples of stars who came close to playing legendary characters:
1. Tom Selleck as Indiana Jones
Harrison Ford made Indiana Jones an iconic action hero, but Tom Selleck was actually Steven Spielberg’s first choice for the role.
Selleck even did screen tests in full Indy costume.
However, he had to turn it down due to his commitment to the TV show Magnum P.I.
Luckily for movie fans, Harrison Ford stepped in, and the rest is cinematic history.
2. Will Smith as Neo in The Matrix
Will Smith was offered the role of Neo in The Matrix before Keanu Reeves but turned it down to star in Wild Wild West instead.
Smith later said he was “not mature enough as an actor” to understand and take on the complex role fully.
Reeves ended up being the perfect choice to play the reality-bending hero.
3. Leonardo DiCaprio as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho
Christian Bale’s chilling performance as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho is now legendary, but Leonardo DiCaprio was initially cast in the role.
DiCaprio ended up dropping out, reportedly after feminist activist Gloria Steinem urged him not to do the violent film.
This allowed Bale to step in and deliver his career-defining turn.
4. John Travolta as Forrest Gump
It’s hard to imagine anyone but Tom Hanks as the lovable Forrest Gump, but John Travolta was actually offered the role first.
He turned it down, later calling it a “stupid mistake.”
Hanks went on to win an Oscar for his heartwarming performance as the slow-witted but wise Forrest.
5. Molly Ringwald as Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman
The role of Vivian in Pretty Woman launched Julia Roberts to superstardom, but it was first offered to Molly Ringwald.
The Brat Pack icon passed on the part, feeling uncomfortable with the film’s content.
Roberts stepped in and delivered her star-making performance as the charming prostitute.
6. Sean Connery as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings
Ian McKellen brilliantly embodied the wise wizard Gandalf, but Sean Connery was initially offered the part in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Connery turned it down, saying he “never understood the script.”
The role went to McKellen, who received an Oscar nomination for his iconic portrayal.
7. Gwyneth Paltrow as Rose in Titanic
Kate Winslet’s turn as Rose in Titanic is now legendary, but Gwyneth Paltrow was James Cameron’s first choice for the role.
Paltrow turned it down, later saying she was “really in contention for it” but ultimately passed.
This opened the door for Winslet to deliver her star-making performance opposite Leonardo DiCaprio.
8. Matt Damon as Jake Sully in Avatar
Sam Worthington shot to fame playing Jake Sully in James Cameron’s Avatar, but Matt Damon was originally offered the role.
Damon had to turn it down due to his commitment to the Bourne films.
He later joked that this decision cost him “a bunch of money,” given Avatar’s massive box office success.
9. Mel Gibson as Maximus in Gladiator
Russell Crowe won an Oscar for his intense performance as Maximus in Gladiator, but Mel Gibson was initially offered the role.
Gibson, feeling he was too old for the physically demanding part, passed and suggested Russell Crowe to director Ridley Scott instead.
It worked out well for all involved.
10. Emma Watson as Mia in La La Land
Emma Stone danced and sang her way to an Oscar win as Mia in La La Land, but Emma Watson was originally cast in the role.
Watson had to drop out due to her commitment to Beauty and the Beast.
This allowed Stone to step in and deliver her acclaimed performance opposite Ryan Gosling.
Hollywood casting is often a game of musical chairs, with actors passing on roles that then go to others who make them iconic.
These 10 examples show how close we came to seeing very different versions of beloved movie characters.
While it’s fun to imagine the “what ifs,” in most cases it seems the right actor ultimately landed in the right role.
[…] it’s crucial to remember that an actor‘s role does not necessarily reflect their personal life or […]