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15 Actors Who Were Almost Cast In Iconic Roles

April 12, 2021

Sometimes, it turns out that super-famous roles very nearly ended up being played by someone else, and the only reason they didn’t is because of a scheduling conflict, a last-minute change of plans, or something of that kind - in other words, an oddball event happening at the right time changed how a pop culture icon turned out. Here are 15 stories of that very thing happening:

15

They wanted Roseanne Barr to play Peggy Bundy. They based the character on her, so they offered her the role first - but she said no. — Source: Vulture

14

Russell Crowe was the first choice to play Wolverine in the X-Men movies. They offered him the role, but he passed on it and suggested Hugh Jackman instead. — Source: ContactMusic

13

David Tennant nearly became the lead in Hannibal. He auditioned and was the second choice - Mads Mikkelsen just barely edged him out. — Source: List

12

Nicolas Cage almost played Aragorn. He said no because he couldn't be away from home for the three years it would take to shoot the Lord of the Rings movies. CRACKED.COM — Source: Newsweek

11

David Schwimmer could have been in Men in Black. They offered him the role of Agent J, but he said no because he was filming a movie with his friends and there was no way to make the schedule work. — Source: Elle

10

Eddie Murphy almost starred in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. He was supposed to play Eddie Valiant, but he thought What? Animation and people? That sounds like bulls* to me. He says, Now every time !I see it I feel like an idiot. CRACKED.COM — Source: NME

9

In another universe, Edward James Olmos is Captain Picard. They offered him the role, but he said no. Science fiction wasn't really where I wanted to be, not since Blade Runner. — Source: LATimes

8

Liam Neeson could have played the role of James Bond, but he said no. His then-girlfriend said If you play James BOnd we're not getting married, and he chose her over Bond. — Source: The Independent

7

The first choice to voice Captain Planet was Tom Cruise. It didn't work out only because of a scheduling conflict. — Source: LATimes

6

Liam Hemsworth, not Chris, nearly became Thor. Liam was one of the top five choices, but then Chris' manager said If you liked Liam, maybe you'll also like his older brother, and the rest is history. CRACKED.COM — Source: ABCNews

5

Daniel Day- Lewis really wanted to play Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction. But Quentin Tarantino insisted on John Travolta, and got his way in the end. CRACKED.COM — Source: Vanity Fair

4

Leonardo DiCaprio could have played Anakin Skywalker in the prequel trilogy. I don't think I was ready for anything like that, he says, adding he just didn't feel ready to take that dive. At that point. — Source: Vanity Fair

3

Liam Aiken was nearly Harry Potter. I think I had this feeling that it wouldn't work out,' he says, But it was fine. I would have just been Harry Potter from then on. — Source: New York Magazine

2

Toshiro Mifune could have been Obi-Wan Kenobi. The Seven Samurai star turned down the offer because he thought it would cheapen the image of samurai, his daughter says. CRACKED.COM — Source: The Hollywood Reporter

1

lan McKellen turned down the opportunity to play mbledore. They wanted to give him the role after Richard Harris died, but Harris called him technically brilliant, but passionless,' and McKellen said he couldn't take over the part from an actor who I'd known didn't approve of me. CRACKED.COM — Source: Variety

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