Actors who Turned Down BIG Roles...

​When a film is well cast it is hard to imagine the characters being played by someone other than the actor chosen. However, sometimes these big roles are offered to different actors other than the one ultimately cast to play the part. Whether the role is rejected due to scheduling issues or a lack of interest from actors, it is interesting to explore these reasons to give  a deeper insight into the casting process. So, here is a list of 10 actors which turned down huge roles and why. 

Image Courtesy of: AFP/Getty Images

Emma Watson – La La Land
Emma Watson was originally the first choice to play lead female Mia Dolan in the Oscar Winning Film.  Scheduling conflicts were the reason she rejected the role since she had committed to filming Disney’s remake of Beauty and the Beast. Despite this, Watson insisted she has no regrets and praised Emma Stone’s portrayal of the character.
 
Sean Connery – Lord of the Rings
The former James Bond actor was offered a huge sum to play Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy but turned it down due to lack of understanding of the script. This was reportedly the reason he also turned down The Matrix. In the end, the iconic part went to the Gandalf we have come to meme, Ian McKellen.

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Imitation Game
In 2011, Warner Bros secured the rights to The Imitation Game after Leonardo expressed interest in the role and the company hoped to secure him for the lead. However after he refused the part, Warner Bros also backed out of the project and Black Bear Pictures committed to financing the film, instead casting Benedict Cumberbatch as lead.
 
Rosamund Pike – Harry Potter
Rosamund Pike, best known for her portrayal of Amy Dunne in Gone Girl was originally in the line up to play journalist Rita Skeeter in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. However, the actress allegedly turned down the role because the role was too small and it was a big commitment. The part instead went to Miranda Richardson. 

Image Courtesy of: Getty Images

Image Courtesy of: WireImage

​Emily Blunt –Iron Man 2
Emily Blunt was rumoured to be first choice to play the Black Widow in Iron Man 2. But she backed out of the film due to timing and scheduling differences with her starring in Gulliver’s Travels instead. Nevertheless, she insists that her replacement Scarlett Johannsson was the perfect choice and holds no regrets.
 
 
Hugh Jackman – James Bond
Before Daniel Craig was cast, Hugh Jackman was in the running to be the next James Bond. Ultimately, Jackman rejected the role due to his worries over portraying two enormous recurring parts given his role as Wolverine in X-Men, stating he wouldn’t have time to work on other projects. Imagine, we may not have gotten 'The Greatest Showman' if he took on a new franchise!

​Will Smith – The Matrix
Will Smith was originally urged to play Neo in blockbuster The Matrix. He describes turning down the role due to the way the directors pitched the concept which left him confused and unable to understand their vision. Furthermore, since the directors had only made one low-budget film at that time, he instead opted to star in Wild Wild West which turned out to be a box office disaster. 
 
Matt Damon – Avatar
Whilst Matt Damon was still finishing The Bourne Ultimatum he was offered the lead in Avatar, therefore had to decline the project due to scheduling issues. It came on to become the top grossing film of all time and one of Damon’s biggest regrets.

Photo Courtesy of: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

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