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ACTING IS A tough old game. For every actor who gets the part, there are several who miss the boat.
Here are some thespians who very nearly played your favourite on-screen characters before falling at the final hurdle.
1. Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Joseph Gordon-Levitt dropped out of contention for the lead role in Guardians of the Galaxy to star in Sin City 2: A Dame To Kill For and everyone’s new favourite actor Chris Pratt stepped in instead.
2. Katie Holmes as Piper Chapman in Orange is the New Black
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
This week, series creator Jenji Kohan revealed that Holmes was originally approached to play Piper Chapman. However the actress couldn’t commit as “she had other things to do.” The part subsequently went to Taylor Schilling.
3. Molly Ringwald – When Harry Met Sally
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Director Rob Reiner told The Daily Beast that he saw Molly Ringwald for the role of Sally that, of course, later went to Meg Ryan. Considered for the role of Harry? Michael Keaton, Richard Dreyfuss and Albert Brooks.
4. John Cusack as Walter White in Breaking Bad
Alastair Grant
Alastair Grant
Before Bryan Cranston was cast as Walter White, producers considered bigger-name actors such as John Cusack and Matthew Broderick.
5. Anne Hathaway as Alison Scott in Knocked Up
Dennis Van Tine
Dennis Van Tine
Hathaway was originally cast opposite Seth Rogen in the 2007 romantic comedy, but dropped out due to creative differences with director Judd Apatow. (Namely she wasn’t keen on using real footage of a woman giving birth.)
Hathaway was also due to star in Silver Linings Playbook, but departed the project after differences with director David O. Russell. Jennifer Lawrence replaced her in the part and won an Oscar in the process.
6. Hugh Jackman as Driver in Drive
PA Archive / Press Association Images
PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Ryan Gosling in Drive, but it turns out Hugh Jackman was originally attached to star. Weird.
7. Rachel McAdams as Cady Heron in Mean Girls
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Of course, Rachel McAdams stars in Mean Girls as queen bitch Regina George, but she was originally poised to star as Cady Heron. However, the role later went to Lindsay Lohan after McAdams was deemed to be too old.
8. John Travolta as Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Travolta was offered the role of Forrest Gump, but he turned it down. (As did Bill Murray and Chevy Chase.)
This is too odd to even contemplate.
9. OJ Simpson as The Terminator in Terminator
PA Archive / Press Association Images
PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Producers considered OJ Simpson for the role of Terminator, but ultimately it was decided he was unsuitable because he was a “likable, goofy, kind of innocent guy”.
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Sure.
10. Johnny Depp as Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Imagine Depp singing Twist and Shout on a float.
We’ve tried but we can’t.
11. Mark Wahlberg & Joaquin Phoenix as Ennis and Jack in Brokeback Mountain
Kin Cheung
Kin Cheung
Wahlberg was reportedly approached by Ang Lee to star in Brokeback Mountain opposite Joaquin Phoenix. However the script “creeped him out” so he declined and the parts ultimately went to Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger. Thank heavens.
12. Jim Carrey as Buddy in Elf
Charles Sykes
Charles Sykes
We don’t want to imagine a world where Will Ferrell isn’t Buddy, but Jim Carrey was attached to this project back in the early 1990s when the script was initially bouncing around the place. However, it didn’t get off the ground and Carrey left the project.
[Wipes sweat from brow, thanks God for Will Ferrell]
13. Gwyneth Paltrow as Rose DeWitt Bukater in Titanic
Doug Peters / EMPICS Entertainment
Doug Peters / EMPICS Entertainment / EMPICS Entertainment
Paltrow turned down the role saying it wasn’t her “cup of tea”. Clever move, Gwynnie. Not.
14. Tom Cruise as Tony Stark in Iron Man
Ian West
Ian West
Tom Cruise really wanted to play Tony Stark and lobbied hard for the role, but lost the job to Robert Downey Jr. We’re sure there’s no bitterness there.
15. Britney Spears as Allie in The Notebook
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Britney Spears was among several actresses that auditioned for the part of Allie, including Ashley Judd and Reese Witherspoon.
And who was considered for the role of Noah? None other than Spears’ ex Justin Timberlake.
BOOM.
16. Will Smith as Neo in The Matrix
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Will Smith passed up the lead role in The Matrix trilogy to do Wild Wild West. He later said, “I watched Keanu’s performance – and very rarely do I say this – but I would have messed it up. I would have absolutely messed up The Matrix.”
17. Reese Witherspoon as Cher Horowitz in Clueless
Witherspoon auditioned to play Cher Horowitz, but failed to get the part with Alicia Silverstone taking on the part instead. Witherspoon did go on to play another iconic teen in the form of Election’s Tracy Flick, so you know. Swings and roundabouts.
(Another actress who auditioned to play Cher? Zooey Deschanel.)
Before J.K. Rowling made the stipulation that only British actors were to star in the Harry Potter series, Robin Williams was considered for the role of friendly giant Hagrid, a part which was then won by Robbie Coltrane.
Saturday 9 November, 2024
Saturday 9 November, 2024
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18 actors who NEARLY got those iconic parts
ACTING IS A tough old game. For every actor who gets the part, there are several who miss the boat.
Here are some thespians who very nearly played your favourite on-screen characters before falling at the final hurdle.
1. Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy
Joseph Gordon-Levitt dropped out of contention for the lead role in Guardians of the Galaxy to star in Sin City 2: A Dame To Kill For and everyone’s new favourite actor Chris Pratt stepped in instead.
2. Katie Holmes as Piper Chapman in Orange is the New Black
This week, series creator Jenji Kohan revealed that Holmes was originally approached to play Piper Chapman. However the actress couldn’t commit as “she had other things to do.” The part subsequently went to Taylor Schilling.
3. Molly Ringwald – When Harry Met Sally
Director Rob Reiner told The Daily Beast that he saw Molly Ringwald for the role of Sally that, of course, later went to Meg Ryan. Considered for the role of Harry? Michael Keaton, Richard Dreyfuss and Albert Brooks.
4. John Cusack as Walter White in Breaking Bad
Before Bryan Cranston was cast as Walter White, producers considered bigger-name actors such as John Cusack and Matthew Broderick.
5. Anne Hathaway as Alison Scott in Knocked Up
Hathaway was originally cast opposite Seth Rogen in the 2007 romantic comedy, but dropped out due to creative differences with director Judd Apatow. (Namely she wasn’t keen on using real footage of a woman giving birth.)
Hathaway was also due to star in Silver Linings Playbook, but departed the project after differences with director David O. Russell. Jennifer Lawrence replaced her in the part and won an Oscar in the process.
6. Hugh Jackman as Driver in Drive
It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Ryan Gosling in Drive, but it turns out Hugh Jackman was originally attached to star. Weird.
7. Rachel McAdams as Cady Heron in Mean Girls
Of course, Rachel McAdams stars in Mean Girls as queen bitch Regina George, but she was originally poised to star as Cady Heron. However, the role later went to Lindsay Lohan after McAdams was deemed to be too old.
8. John Travolta as Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump
Travolta was offered the role of Forrest Gump, but he turned it down. (As did Bill Murray and Chevy Chase.)
This is too odd to even contemplate.
9. OJ Simpson as The Terminator in Terminator
Producers considered OJ Simpson for the role of Terminator, but ultimately it was decided he was unsuitable because he was a “likable, goofy, kind of innocent guy”.
Sure.
10. Johnny Depp as Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Imagine Depp singing Twist and Shout on a float.
We’ve tried but we can’t.
11. Mark Wahlberg & Joaquin Phoenix as Ennis and Jack in Brokeback Mountain
Wahlberg was reportedly approached by Ang Lee to star in Brokeback Mountain opposite Joaquin Phoenix. However the script “creeped him out” so he declined and the parts ultimately went to Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger. Thank heavens.
12. Jim Carrey as Buddy in Elf
We don’t want to imagine a world where Will Ferrell isn’t Buddy, but Jim Carrey was attached to this project back in the early 1990s when the script was initially bouncing around the place. However, it didn’t get off the ground and Carrey left the project.
[Wipes sweat from brow, thanks God for Will Ferrell]
13. Gwyneth Paltrow as Rose DeWitt Bukater in Titanic
Paltrow turned down the role saying it wasn’t her “cup of tea”. Clever move, Gwynnie. Not.
14. Tom Cruise as Tony Stark in Iron Man
Tom Cruise really wanted to play Tony Stark and lobbied hard for the role, but lost the job to Robert Downey Jr. We’re sure there’s no bitterness there.
15. Britney Spears as Allie in The Notebook
Britney Spears was among several actresses that auditioned for the part of Allie, including Ashley Judd and Reese Witherspoon.
And who was considered for the role of Noah? None other than Spears’ ex Justin Timberlake.
BOOM.
16. Will Smith as Neo in The Matrix
Will Smith passed up the lead role in The Matrix trilogy to do Wild Wild West. He later said, “I watched Keanu’s performance – and very rarely do I say this – but I would have messed it up. I would have absolutely messed up The Matrix.”
17. Reese Witherspoon as Cher Horowitz in Clueless
Witherspoon auditioned to play Cher Horowitz, but failed to get the part with Alicia Silverstone taking on the part instead. Witherspoon did go on to play another iconic teen in the form of Election’s Tracy Flick, so you know. Swings and roundabouts.
(Another actress who auditioned to play Cher? Zooey Deschanel.)
18. Robin Williams as Hagrid in Harry Potter
Before J.K. Rowling made the stipulation that only British actors were to star in the Harry Potter series, Robin Williams was considered for the role of friendly giant Hagrid, a part which was then won by Robbie Coltrane.
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