Actors/Actresses Who Turned Down Major Roles (Or Had To Be Recasted)

[Mentor B]

Angela Bassett could have played the role of Storm in the movie X-Men but she declined. The movie role went to Halle Berry.

 

[itzmotto]

Wow some Great Info

 

[Dragonfly Jones]

Planet of the apes over Harry potter?

U dumb muthafucka

 

[kenbgco68]

Halle Berry as Annie
Speed

Halle Berry turned down the lead role of Annie, and a starring role opposite uber-thespian Keanu Reeves, in 1994′s “Speed.” The thrilling part went to Sandra Bullock instead.

“We offered it to everybody but Keanu Reeves. We desperately wanted Billy Baldwin and Halle Berry,” producer Mark Gordon revealed at a conference.

"Speed" would go on to launch Sandra Bullock's career.

I had to check Halle's IMDB page. You know what she chose to do instead of Speed?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109813/

The fuck?!?

 

[BenQ]

I had to check Halle's IMDB page. You know what she chose to do instead of Speed?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109813/

The fuck?!?

halle would of been perfect for gravity too

 

[Sampson]

I had to check Halle's IMDB page. You know what she chose to do instead of Speed?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109813/

The fuck?!?

I literally did lol when I clicked that link.

I hope she fired her agent after Speed's success.

 

[geechiedan]

in a lot of cases the original picks would have worked as well or there wouldn't have been that significant a change

sam jackson in training day?? please thats a no brainer..hell you could have cast Wesley Snipes in a come back role in that flick and it would have worked just as well.

 

[hardcore_legend]

in a lot of cases the original picks would have worked as well or there wouldn't have been that significant a change

sam jackson in training day?? please thats a no brainer..hell you could have cast Wesley Snipes in a come back role in that flick and it would have worked just as well.

Snipes would have killed in Training Day like he did New Jack City as Nino Brown.

 

[nworba]

terrance howard's contract dispute caused don cheadle to get the roady gig in the iron man 2 and 3 movies.

 

[hardcore_legend]

the fonz didn't want to be typecast

 

[Lord T]

Jada Pinkett Smith as Alex Munday
Charlie's Angels

Jada Pinkett- Smith was the original choice to play an angel alongside Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore. She turned down the role to star in Spike Lee’s “Bamboozled”.

That’s when Lucy Liu stepped in for the part, and "Charlie's Angels" led to openings in other films such as "Payback" and "Kill Bill".

It’s no surprise Liu is so famous for her fierce fighting characters; she trained a whopping eight hours a day, five days a week for the film. “I thought I was fairly fit when I started [the project], but I wasn't. The kind of moves we were doing with all the kicking—oh my god! I couldn’t even lift my legs afterward,” she's said.

 

[kenbgco68]

This thread is depressing as shit. Can't say these dumb fucks didn't a swing at bat.

 

[Lord T]

Angel Bassett And Jada Pinkett-Smith Both Turned Down Storm

Jada Pinkett-Smith, who will eventually get to play a part in a comic book screen event when she appears as Fish Mooney in the upcoming Gotham TV show, was considered for the role. Getting offered a role in a franchise based on a comic book is now like a badge of honor, but back in the year 2000, it was less so. It is perhaps only a little surprise that Pinkett was not quick to snap up the role of Storm for the “X-Men” film when it was first offered to her. Pinkett turned down the role and instead it went to Halle Berry, who had impressed Bryan Singer in "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge".

Even before the wife of Will Smith was considered, back at the time that Glenn Danzig was probably thinking about ways to make Wolverine not seem gay, Angela Bassett – who famously played Tina Turner in 1993 biopic "What’s Love Got to Do with It" and less famously played opposite Eddie Murphy in "Vampire In Brooklyn", was attached to the role.

Bassett was actually attached to play Storm in the abandoned 1995 film that never was but pre-production took so long that she was too busy filming "Supernova" to continue and an early rewrite of the script lessened Storm’s role in a way the actress thought a step backwards.

 

[Lord T]

I guess he was destined to play the part

Channing Tatum: I almost played Gambit in ‘X-Men: The Last Stand'

When longtime "X-Men" franchise producer Lauren Shuler Donner last week confirmed that Channing Tatum has been cast as Gambit, it wasn’t the announcement that was so surprising — she and the actor have long made their interests clear — but rather the way it was made. When’s the last time plans for a film, and a potential franchise, were trotted out on a press line?

However, what perhaps is surprising is that Tatum came close to playing the Cajun mutant eight years ago.

In the June issue of "GQ," he reveals he was nearly cast as Gambit early in his acting career, in 2006′s "X-Men: The Last Stand," but then the role was written out of the film. When it came time for the character to make his big-screen debut in 2009′s "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," Tatum was busy with "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," so the part went to Taylor Kitsch.

“We’re talking about it. I’m proactively sort of going after it,” Tatum tells the magazine in an interview conducted before last week’s announcement. “And I feel bad, because I really love Taylor Kitsch as an actor and what he did with the part, but you know, you’ve got the things that you would really love to do and see.”

He shouldn’t feel too bad, as Kitsch gave his blessing months ago, saying, ” If they cast [Tatum], I wish him nothing but the best. I hope he kicks the [crap] out of it.”

Tatum, who reportedly will debut as Gambit in 2016′s "X-Men: Apocalypse" before getting a solo film, reiterated to "GQ" his fondness for the character, calling him “the only superhero I really followed. … He was the most real to me: smoking, drinking, women-loving, thief. He just looked cool to me. I’ve always loved him. And obviously he’s Cajun.”

 

[tajshan]

Angela Bassett could have played the role of Storm in the movie X-Men but she declined. The movie role went to Halle Berry.

Angel Bassett And Jada Pinkett-Smith Both Turned Down Storm

really? I remember reading somewhere that Mrs. Bassett said she was not even approached about being cast as Storm....

 

[kenbgco68]

^^^ Looks like Tina Turner from "Mad Max: Beyond Thundedome" on the left. :wink:

 

[Lord T]

I wonder if he had taken this role would this had saved his life? Because if he was Spider-Man he wouldn't have taken the part of The Joker

Heath Ledger as Spider-Man
Spider-Man

Late actor Heath Ledger was film bosses' first choice to play Spider-Man, according to the dead star's longtime agent.

In a U.S. magazine tribute to mark the first anniversary of Ledger's death, CAA agent Steve Alexander reveals Ledger was among those considered for the blockbuster role before Tobey Maguire stepped up to play the comic book web slinger.

Alexander tells Entertainment Weekly magazine, "Sony asked me to come over and read the script for Spider-Man. It was going to be a really cool tentpole movie.

"But as soon as I said 'Spider-Man' Heath said, 'It's not for me. I would be taking someone else's dream away.'"

At the time, Heath also didn't want to risk being typecast as a super-hero.

Maguire has gone on to taste blockbuster glory with three Spider-Man movies, while Ledger had to wait for his comic book moment - he played The Joker in Batman Begins sequel The Dark Knight, for which he won a Golden Globe last weekend.

He is hotly tipped to follow that with an Oscar next month.

 

[PliggaNease]

Check out the list of roles that Mickey Rourke has turned down.

48 Hrs.
Mickey Rourke turned down the part of Jack Cates
Actor who got the part: Nick Nolte

Bad Boys
During pre-production the writer-director had Mickey Rourke and Nick Nolte in mind for the two main characters.

Beverly Hills Cop
Rourke was considered for lead role of Alex.
Actor who got the part: Eddie Murphy

The Big Chill
Mickey Rourke was offered a role by Lawrence Kasdan, but he passed.

Body Heat
Was considered for the role of shady Florida lawyer "Ned Racine," but instead seemed better suited to the role of arsonist "Teddy Lewis."
Actor who got the part: William Hurt

Caddyshack
Up and coming Mickey Rourke was almost cast as Danny Noonan, the kid who wants to win Judge Smails' caddie scholarship.
Actor who got the part: Michael O'Keefe

Dead Poets Society
It is said that Rourke turned down the lead in Dead Poets Society after director Peter Weir refused to make script changes.
Actor who got the part: Robin Williams


Great Balls of Fire!
At one time, Rourke was considered to star as Lewis with Michael Cimino directing.
Actor who got the part: Dennis Quaid

Grindhouse
Mickey Rourke was originally cast to play "Stuntman Mike" in Grindhouse.
Actor who got the part: Kurt Russel

Highlander
Turned down the lead role in Highlander.
Actor who got the part: Christopher Lambert

In the Cut
Mickey was cast in one of the main roles but Nicole Kidman stated she wouldn't work with him, even though she hadn't meet him before. She later dropped out of the lead role herself.

Inglorious Bastards
Quentin Tarantino reportedly wrote the screenplay with Mickey Rourke in mind. Tarantino changed his mind when Robert Rodriguez used Rourke in Once Upon a Time in Mexico and Sin City.
Actor who got the part: Michael Madsen

Luck of the Draw
Mickey Rourke was replaced after a complication about whether he could include his pet chihuahua in a scene.

The Outsiders
Mickey Rourke made a good impression during the casting of "The Outsiders" but wasn't quite right for any of those parts. Coppola then cast him for the follow-up "Rumble Fish."

Platoon
Was offered a part of Sgt. Elias Grodin, but passed on it.
Actor who got the part: Willem Dafoe

Pulp Fiction
Mickey Rourke was given the oppurtunity to play "Butch" in Pulp Fiction, but turned it down to continue his boxing career.
Actor who got the part: Bruce Willis

Rain Man
Turned down the part for "Charlie Babbitt", possibly due to schedule conflicts.
Actor who got the part: Tom Cruise

Revolver
Mickey was offered a role in Guy Ritchie's Revolver but turned it down to do Domino instead.

The Silence of the Lambs
Was considered for the role of Jack Crawford.
Actor who got the part: Scott Glenn

The Thin Red Line
Mickey Rourke shot a segment of the film that was deleted in the final cut. He was in the credits with a special thanks. Also cut were Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Sheen, Viggo Mortensen, Gary Oldman, Bill Pullman and Lukas Haas.

Tombstone
In a documentary on the special edition DVD of Tombstone, Michael Biehn (who played Johnny Ringo) mentions that the role of Ringo was first offered to Rourke.
Actor who got the part: Michael Biehn

Top Gun
Mickey Rourke was offered a role, but turned it down.

The Untouchables
Rourke was offered the role of Elliot Ness but turned it down.
Actor who got the part: Kevin Costner

 

[phanatic]

Mickey Rourke was a go to guy...why did he turn down so many roles?

 

[darth frosty]

Mickey Rourke was a go to guy...why did he turn down so many roles?

Yeah really

 

[Lord T]

Paul Shaffer as George Costanza
Seinfeld

He made his career out of playing David Letterman's sidekick on late night television but Paul Shaffer could've been one of television's most well-known sitcom sidekicks. Shaffer was the first choice for "Seinfeld's" George Costanza. Jerry Seinfeld was interested in having Shaffer play the part because of his strong resemblance to the show's co-creator Larry David and the inspiration behind Costanza. Jerry Seinfeld personally left a message stating that the role of George Costanza on his upcoming pilot was Shaffer's if he wanted it. But Shaffer was preoccupied with his other work and said he never got around to returning Seinfeld's call.

 

[Lord T]

Marlon Wayans as Robin
Batman Forever

There was a time when Tim Burton planned to do a third “Batman” film. Prior to that, however, Marlon Wayans was considered for the role of Robin in “Batman Returns,” but was omitted due to the film already having too many characters. Once the third film finally rolled around, Wayans had officially signed on as the Caped Crusader’s partner. But when the director of the film changed mid-production from Tim Burton to Joel Schumacher, so did the decision to cast Wayans. He was still paid in full and still gets residual checks from the film, but was replaced by white actor Chris O’Donnell. We have to say, of all the actors to miss out on the opportunity to play a superhero, Wayans ended up with the sweetest deal.

 

[Lord T]

Bette Midler as Deloris Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence
Sister Act

I’ve made so many (mistakes). Oh my God, it’s all so tragic. But it’s best to forget those and put them behind me. Unfortunately, my husband never lets me forget them. There was Sister Act, which was written for me, but I said: "My fans don’t want to see me in a wimple playing a nun!" I don’t know where I got that from. Why would I say such a thing? So Whoopi [Goldberg] did it instead and, of course, she made a fortune. Then she went on and did Sister Act 2. A Broadway musical was even spawned from the films. I also didn’t do Misery and Kathy Bates won an Oscar for it. That’s not to say I would have. It was so violent and I had no relation to it. I was afraid. – Bette Midler

 

[D24OHA]

Marlon Wayans for the win, all the money and non of.the public backlash from how horrible that movie was!!!!

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[jack walsh13]

Great post!!!

 

[shaddyvillethug]

Wowsers

 

[Lord T]

Vanessa Williams as Jane Toussaint
School Daze

For obvious reasons, Vanessa Williams was originally considered for the role of Jane Toussaint. Not only was Williams the right complexion for the leader of the “wanna-be” squad. She also had the voice the role required.

However, due to her recent dethroning from her Miss America title because of controversy over nude photos published in Penthouse (magazine), Williams turned down the role. She cited a sex scene between Jane and Julian (Dean Big Brother Almighty...which became well known) and said she wanted to distance herself from that image.

Spike Lee was so impressed by Tisha Campbell's singing performance in Little Shop of Horrors (1986) that he cast her for the part of Jane.

 

[Lou_Kayge]

Don Cheadle as John Shaft
Shaft

This would have been better since there's a bigger age gap between Cheadle and Richard Roundtree. Jackson(while he doesn't necessarily look like he's pushing 70) is too close in age to Roundtree. It looks ridiculous. Granted, uncles and nephews can be close together in age, but come on.

 

[Bad Andy]

Will Smith as Django
Django Unchained


The only being on planet Earth who didn't think Django was the lead.

Watch the movie again. Shultz buys Brumehildas’ freedom freedom from Calvin Candie for $12,000. Shultz dies after buying her freedom on behalf of Django. Django still needs her freedom papers that were signed by both Candie & Shultz after both of them are dead.

 

[Winslow Wong]

Vanessa Williams as Jane Toussaint
School Daze

Yeah the role would have had more pop if Vanessa Williams in her prime would have played the role. I like Tisha Campbell but she would not have had guys going crazy over her like Vanessa Williams would have on a college campus - oh well still a good movie

 

[doug777]

en

What's worse turning down Speed to do B.A.P.S. or turning down Forest Gump to do Robin Hood: Men In Tights?

 

[Flawless]

Selleck could have done Indiana Jones and Gibson could have done Gladiator

I must have made this post before Mel Gibson's racist rant.