14 Famous Actors Reveal The Ultimate Dream Roles They've Never Gotten To Play

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Vote up the actors you'd love to see get their dream role.

It just seems like an A-list actor can score any role they want. However, these actors waiting for their dream job may or may not ever land their desired role of a lifetime. 

It takes a lot of work to cast a movie. First, there has to be a script - hopefully filled with interesting characters. Then, a director needs to believe in an actor. Just because Scarlett Johansson always wanted to play a Disney princess or Jennifer Aniston wants to be a superhero, doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.

Find out which actress thinks it’s about time for a female James Bond. Which former child star turned chart-topping singer has been perfecting his impression of Barack Obama in hopes to one day portray the 44th president of the United States? And, which MCU superhero is chomping at the bit to show off his musical side?

Photo: Lionsgate / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures

  • Chris Evans Is Practically Begging To Show Off His Musical Side As The Evil Dentist From 'Little Shop of Horrors'
    Photo: Avengers: Infinity War / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

    Chris Evans has played the heroic and noble role of Steve Rogers/Captain America in seven different movies in the MCU. After hanging up his shield, the actor stepped away from the blockbuster superhero world to tackle more dramatic endeavors like Apple's Defending Jacob and the sleeper hit whodunit Knives Out

    Evans has always had a desire to showcase a different side - his musical one. During an interview in 2019, he specifically pointed to Steve Martin's hilarious and sadistic dentist character from the 1986 black comedy horror musical Little Shop of Horrors

    "I want to do a musical so badly, man," revealed Evans. "Someone told me they’re [remaking] Little Shop of Horrors, and I was like, ‘Oh, can I be down? Please? Can I be the dentist?’ When I first came out here - early 2000s - there were rumblings about Spielberg maybe doing West Side Story. That’s one of my favorite musicals. I did it when I was in high school. And obviously, he’s doing it now, and I called my team and they were like, 'Chris - maybe Krupke. You can’t. You’re too old.' It’s so hard to hear.”

    Evans may have missed out on his chance to be in Spielberg's remake of West Side Story. However, the actor may just get his wish to play Orin Scrivello. There is a Little Shop of Horrors remake in the works, with rumors swirling that Evans will appear as the dentist with a "talent for causing things pain."  

    223 votes
  • Margot Robbie Dreams Of Playing A Villain In A Wes Anderson Film, And She May Just Get Her Wish
    Photo: Suicide Squad / Warner Bros. Pictures

    Margot Robbie catapulted onto the Hollywood scene as Jordan Belfort's (Leonardo DiCaprio) trophy wife in Martin Scorsese's epic black comedy The Wolf of Wall Street. The Australian actress has proven over the years that she can shine as superhero Harley Quinn in the DC Extended Universe and rack up Academy Award nominations in movies like I, Tonya and Bombshell

    Robbie clearly has an affinity for taking on complex/quirky/interesting characters crafted by A-list directors, and no one does quirky-interesting better than Wes Anderson. When asked about her dream performance during a 2017 interview, Robbie responded, "To play a villain in a Wes Anderson film on a tropical island somewhere."

    It looks like Robbie is going to get her chance at her dream role. In August 2021, the actress signed on to play a character in Wes Anderson's upcoming untitled new movie. It is still unknown if Robbie is playing an Anderson villain. However, she will not be filming on a tropical island. Instead, production is scheduled to take place in Spain.

    156 votes
  • Idris Elba Is Interested In Playing The Complex Character Of A Legendary Jazz Musician Afflicted With Mental Health Problems 
    Photo: The Suicide Squad / Warner Bros. Pictures

    Idris Elba introduced himself to the TV world as the stylish drug kingpin Stringer Bell in HBO's The Wire. The English actor has gone on to have an incredibly successful career on the big screen, showing off his superhero abilities as Heimdall in the MCU and Bloodsport in The Suicide Squad. The five-time Emmy nominee also starred as the titular Luther in the long-running Netflix series.

    However, Elba is looking for the opportunity to take on the relatively unknown jazz musician Thelonious Monk. He said:

    Thelonious Monk. He was a legendary jazz musician. When jazz was popular in the early '50s, Monk came along and just did something weird with it, and everyone was like, "He’s a bit odd." He had mental health issues he didn’t realize he had for a long time, but he was an absolute genius because he just came in and broke all the rules. He was kind of like the Skrillex of his day. You know when Sonny came out and just DJ’d a different way to everyone else? When he’s nutting it out playing a bit of d’n’b, a bit of dubstep, and everyone’s going, "What the front door?" Monk was a bit like that.

    He added, "I’m interested in the idea of someone battling mental health but being able to express himself with music. You know, the last 10 years of his life, he never touched a piano again."

    150 votes
  • Scarlett Johansson Has Been Asking To Play A Disney Princess For Years, But Has Never Been Offered The Part
    Photo: Iron Man 2 / Paramount Pictures

    Scarlett Johansson has enjoyed one of the most varied careers in Hollywood. She flexed her superhero strength as Black Widow in the MCU. Johansson also keeps her independent film side well-polished. She earned an Oscar nod for her heartbreaking performance in Marriage Story and received another Academy Award nomination for the irreverent dramedy Jojo Rabbit.

    Despite her impressive filmography, the actress has never been asked to be a Disney princess.

    "My daughter is still young,” said Johansson. “Right now, I think we both share the dream that I will someday be a Disney princess, but it’s probably not going to happen. I’ve been asking for that job for the past 20 years, and nobody has booked me.”

    183 votes
  • Tom Holland Is Totally Game To Play A Younger Version Of James Bond
    Photo: Spider-Man: Homecoming / Sony Pictures Releasing

    Tom Holland scored the superhero role of a lifetime when he was cast as Spider-Man in the MCU. However, the British actor would love the chance to play a younger version of 007.

    "Oh, mate, it would be an actual dream come true," Holland said. "I've got to remind myself that I'm lucky enough as it is. Spider-Man is an absolute delight and privilege to play, but you know, should they want to do a younger James Bond, you best believe I would be there."

    205 votes
  • Halle Berry Wants To Bring Diversity To The Big Screen In The Role Of Political Activist Angela Davis
    Photo: Monster's Ball / Lionsgate Films

    Halle Berry proved she is more than just a pretty face when she tackled the gritty indie role as a grieving widow in Monster's Ball. Berry became the first woman of color to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the heartbreaking 2001 drama.

    Berry would love the opportunity to star in a biopic about prolific author and political activist Angela Davis. 

    “There’s one woman that I’d really like to play before I die, and I’m not so sure it’s going to happen,” said Berry. “I’d really love to play Angela Davis.”

    116 votes