That's Showbiz, BabyExposing all the weird, expensive, political, ego-driven stuff that happens behind the scenes before and after films and TV series hit the screens.
Updated September 23, 2021 1.9k votes 496 voters 46.9k views
List Rules
Vote up the actors you wished you could've seen in those roles.
Every actor knows the pain of auditioning. It's a constant cycle of hope, fear, and inevitable rejection for even the most talented of stars. However, for some actors, there reaches a point where auditions are no longer necessary and we can hardly imagine anyone turning them down for a part. There are some roles that we so closely associate with an actor (James Bond, Indiana Jones, Iron Man) that they're now iconic, and it's nearly impossible to picture anyone else in the role.
On the flip side, though, it may shock you that some actors who didn't get iconic roles went on to be big stars. These are examples of actors who didn't get the part. While normally the footage from auditions or screen tests are hidden from the public (sometimes for good reason) there are a few gems to be found online. Here are some screen tests from actors almost...but not quite...cast in major Hollywood roles.
This is an interesting case of things working out for everyone involved. Cillian Murphy is well known in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy for his portrayal as the Scarecrow, however, that particular notoriety wasn't his goal. It may surprise some that before Christian Bale donned the cowl, it was Cillian Murphy who auditioned to be the Bruce Wayne himself. After Nolan saw 28 Days Later, Murphy was able to score a meeting and eventual audition for Batman Begins. As Murphy has put it:
"In fact, I did an awkward audition in the Batsuit. I think he saw something interesting in that screen test somehow, though, because he said, 'Hey, would you be interested in playing this other part?'"
Everything worked out though, as Murphy not only got a great role as a villain, he was put in all three of films and several of Nolan's other films (Inception and Dunkirk).
Back in 1977, Star Wars was released. But no one knew just how mammoth the mega-hit would become, least of all Hollywood actor Kurt Russell. Russell was in the running for both Luke Skywalker as well as Han Solo. The competition was closing in and Russell was one of the finalists for film, however the actor was offered a role in an ABC western series. He asked creator George Lucas if he was going to be cast and the role was still up in the air. Russell made a choice claiming " got to go to work, so I did the western. Clearly, made the right choice." That last part was a joke by the way, but The Thing/Big Trouble In Little China/Escape from New York/Guardians of the Galaxy 2/Hateful Eight star has done just fine for himself, after all.
Jumanji was an instant classic when it came out in 1995. It also marked a big moment in the career of young Kirsten Dunst. However, Hollywood now A-lister Scarlett Johansson had auditioned for the role as well. The role went to Dunst, but don't feel bad for Johansson; being the highest grossing actor of 2016 is a decent enough trade-off.
Age: 38
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States of America
Baby-faced Leo Dicaprio auditioned for a role in The Outsidersin the early 1980s when he was still trying to make it in Hollywood. While the part went to C. Thomas Howell, Leo ended up winning an Oscar down the road...and where is C. Thomas Howell these days? So it all worked out in the end.
The Amazing Spider-Man sporting Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone front and center promised to be star-studded success. However, before Garfield was cast, Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson threw his hat into the ring. The actor didn't get the part despite going through an elaborate self-taped demo reel. But he still had hopes after a commercial dive split the movie rights with Marvel.
"Yeah, of course I’d think about doing it: It’s Spider-Man, that’d be really cool. There’s not been any conversations about that, but who knows what would happen?"
Robert De Niro won an Oscar for his role as young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II. However, he had originally auditioned for both the role of Sonny Corleone and Michael Corleone in the first film, roles that went to James Caan and Al Pacino respectively. Hey -- if he only had to wait a few extra years to win an Oscar, he probably doesn't mind.
Age: 79
Birthplace: Greenwich Village, New York City, New York, USA
