Some movie characters are so iconic that we can’t imagine anyone else playing them. But there are times when these roles were nearly played by someone else.
It’s hard to imagine someone besides Elijah Wood as Frodo or Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, but would you believe that was almost the case?
Chris Farley as Shrek in Shrek
Mike Myers helped make Shrek a successful animated film franchise, but he wasn’t supposed to perform the titular role.
Before his death, Chris Farley recorded most of his lines, and footage of Farley voicing Shrek appeared online in the 2010s.
Madonna as Catwoman in Batman Returns
Several actresses have portrayed Catwoman over the years, but none are as iconic as Michelle Pfeiffer’s performance in Batman Returns.
However, the role nearly went to Madonna, who turned it down. The rest was history.
Amanda Seyfried as Glinda in Wicked
Ariana Grande earned an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Glinda in the highly anticipated first part of the Wicked adaptation.
However, there’s an alternate reality in which the pop star doesn’t play the Good Witch of the South. Amanda Seyfried, who performed in several musical films herself, “went hard” for the role in auditions.
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Millie Bobby Brown as X-23 in Logan
Millie Bobby Brown’s career outside Stranger Things has been hit or miss.
If she had been awarded the part of X-23 in 2017’s Logan, which she auditioned for, it could have looked very different. It most likely wouldn’t have affected Stranger Things‘ release schedule, though; I still can’t believe we only had four seasons in nine years.
Will Smith as Neo in The Matrix
Warner Bros Pictures
Keanu Reeves is Neo, there’s no denying that. Yet there was a chance that Smith would have played the part, and it’s hard to see where the franchise would have gone should that have happened.
Instead, Smith passed on the part and made Wild Wild West instead.
Emma Watson as Mia in La La Land
If anyone doubted Emma Stone’s talent, she put those concerns to rest with her performance in La La Land, which won her an Oscar for Best Actress.
If Emma Watson hadn’t been busy filming the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, though, she would have never had that chance.
Adrien Brody in The Lord of the Rings
I’m not sure which part Adrien Brody was offered in The Lord of the Rings, but the actor admitted it a few years ago, and he regrets the decision.
“I, somehow, didn’t grasp it,” he said.
Stuart Townsend as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings
Staying in Middle-earth, Stuart Townsend was all set to play Aragorn in the acclaimed trilogy. He was even on set in New Zealand, and footage of him in the role exists.
However, director Peter Jackson felt Townsend was too young, just a few days after shooting began.
Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly in Back to the Future
Townsend isn’t the only actor to have been recast after shooting began.
The most famous example is certainly Eric Stoltz’s replacement by Michael J. Fox in the Back to the Future trilogy. Five weeks into filming, Stoltz was replaced.
If you ask me, it was the right choice.
Glenn Howerton as Star-Lord / Peter Quill
Chris Pratt was always the first choice to play Star-Lord / Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s hard to remember that Pratt was best known as a breakout side character in Parks and Recreation.
James Gunn said that if Pratt had passed, the role would have gone to Glenn Howerton, best known for playing Dennis Reynolds on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Tom Hiddleston as Thor
Let’s stick with more “what-ifs” in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Tom Hiddleston owns the role of Loki, but he very nearly played the hero.
John Krasinski as Captain America
Okay, one more MCU hypothetical.
John Krasinski was rumored to play Reed Richards in the upcoming Fantastic Four film and even played the role in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, but he almost played Steve Rogers!
Matthew McConaughey as Jack in Titanic
“Alright, alright, alright, Rose.”
I’m sorry, but I can’t see this one, but it’s true. McConaughey auditioned for the role of Jack and believed that he had won the part.
Robert De Niro as Josh in Big
Speaking of roles that I can’t picture, in what world would Robert De Niro be the lead actor of Big?
A world where Big is a horror movie, that’s where! Thanks to a scheduling conflict, Tom Hanks won the part instead, and the film morphed into the beloved family comedy it is known for today.
Michael Madsen as Vincent in Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino released a list of his original choices for parts in Pulp Fiction.
There are some cases where he obtained his first choice, most notably Tim Roth as Pumpkin. However, one that has always stood out is Michael Madsen playing Vincent, especially since Tarantino wrote the part for him.
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