13 Actors Who Lost Multi-Million Dollar Roles

Reese Witherspoon could've been the Gone Girl

Damjan

• Published in Film & TV
• February 13, 2023

The presence of famous actors in movies is often seen as essential to the success of a movie. It's no wonder movie companies are willing to pay actors large sums of money for their services.

Iconic characters can be made thanks to the actors who bring them to life, making it difficult to imagine anyone else performing the role. When it comes to movies, most of us have a pretty good idea of who we want to see play certain roles.

It's almost impossible to imagine some movies with different casts, as certain actors and actresses have become so tightly associated with certain characters. For example, it would be hard to imagine the Avengers series without Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man or the Harry Potter series without Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter.

Nevertheless, some actors still need to take advantage of the opportunity to make it big. Some celebrities have had to turn down a part due to scheduling conflicts or other commitments, only to see someone else take their place.

This is the case for 13 famous actors who almost missed out on their most significant roles, some of whom were OK with it and others feeling bitter. It's hard to fathom what these movies would have been like with a different actor in the part, but it's certainly interesting to think about.

It goes to show that if one actor doesn't accept a role, another could take their place, and the movie could still be a success.

1. Amy — “Gone Girl”

Reese Witherspoon produced the movie and planned to star in it. But her colleagues persuaded her against it. “David Fincher said I wasn’t right for the role, and I actually completely agreed with him,” Witherspoon explained in an interview. Eventually, Rosamund Pike took on the lead role.

2. Lestat — “Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles”

In the 1970s, John Travolta was set to portray the iconic vampire Lestat in the film version of the novel, but the project was eventually put on hold due to the high amount of vampire movies at the time.

By the time the movie was in preproduction, Travolta was no longer young enough for the role, and Tom Cruise was cast instead. Cruise went on to give an amazing performance.

3. Marilyn — “Blonde”

Speculation had been growing prior to the pre-production stage of “Blonde” that Jessica Chastain would take on the lead role as Marilyn Monroe. However, it was eventually announced that Ana de Armas would be playing the iconic part. When Chastain was asked about it in an interview, she revealed that she had declined the offer due to her lack of interest in creating another biopic about Marilyn Monroe.

4. Jane — “The Legend of Tarzan”

The producers initially had Emma Stone in mind to play Jane in "The Legend of Tarzan," but she turned down the role. Thus, Jane has become yet another noteworthy character in Margot Robbie's filmography.

5. Kevin — “The Devil’s Advocate”

Joel Schumacher was initially slated to direct “The Devil’s Advocate” and Brad Pitt as the young attorney, but Pitt was eventually left out of the project, and Taylor Hackford stepped in to take Schumacher’s place. Keanu Reeves eventually obtained the role of Kevin, who made the decision to star in “The Devil’s Advocate” instead of “Speed 2”, despite being offered a hefty sum of money for it.

6. Mary — “The Other Boleyn Girl”

Despite Jessica Biel's audition, Scarlett Johansson was ultimately chosen to play Mary in "The Other Boleyn Girl". Biel was left disappointed as she had been eager to take on this role. In an interview, she bemoaned the fact that "movie directors want that top tier of girls".

7. Rosalind — “The Gentlemen”

Two weeks into the filming process of the movie, Kate Beckinsale was originally cast as the main character's wife. Unfortunately, she had to withdraw from consideration due to personal reasons. Thankfully, Michelle Dockery of "Downton Abbey" fame stepped in as an excellent replacement.

8. Napoleon — “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”

Henry Cavill has long been up against Robert Pattinson for various coveted roles. Both actors have gone head to head for roles such as Cedric Diggory in the Harry Potter series and Edward in The Twilight Saga, but Pattinson was ultimately cast in both.

However, Cavill was able to finally come out on top and land the role of Napoleon Solo in “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”, making this role a personal triumph for him.

9. Selina — “The Batman”

Several aspiring actresses auditioned to play Catwoman in the upcoming “Batman” movie. Among those being considered was “Game of Thrones” star Nathalie Emmanuel. Ultimately, it was Zo Kravitz who got the role. It is noteworthy that the previous Catwoman performers, Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, and Anne Hathaway, endorsed her casting.

10. Megan — “The Girl on the Train”

The producers of the movie had initially wanted Margot Robbie to play the attractive woman that Emily Blunt's character observed from the train window. However, Robbie wasn't able to join the project for unspecified reasons, so Haley Bennet, who was relatively unknown at the time, was given the part instead.

The director of the movie acknowledges his colleagues' suggestions and says he has never regretted it.

11. Jane — “Becoming Jane”

Keira Knightley was considered for the role of Jane Austen in a movie, likely due to her performance in "Pride & Prejudice," which was based on another one of Austen's works. In the end, Anne Hathaway was cast and received much appreciation for her portrayal.

12. Rick — “The Mummy”

Sources report that Leonardo DiCaprio asked for the production of "The Beach" to be postponed so he could star in "The Mummy," which he was very excited about. Unfortunately, the producers turned down his request, and Brendan Fraser was ultimately cast in the role, performing it admirably.

13. Adaline — “The Age of Adaline”

When the part of Adaline was offered to Natalie Portman, she turned it down without giving a reason. Fortunately, Blake Lively stepped in to take on the role, and it proved to be a great success. Her performance earned her many award nominations, although she didn't win any of them.

It is clear that Lively was the perfect choice for the part of Adaline, and it is hard to imagine anyone else playing the part as well as she did.

It can be fun to imagine what movies would look like with different casts. For example, what if the beloved romance movie, The Notebook, starred Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone instead of Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams?

Or what if the classic movie Ghostbusters starred a different group of leading actors? It's fun to think of what would be different and how the movie might take a different path if it starred different actors.

Damjan