From ‘No’ to ‘Oh No!’: 35+ Actors Who Passed On Legendary Film Roles and Regretted It

Hollywood’s history is sprinkled with tales of ‘what could have been.’ Imagine a world where Harrison Ford wasn’t piloting the Millennium Falcon or where the legendary Jack Dawson wasn’t portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. Sounds off-kilter, right? While we’ve come to love and cherish certain film characters precisely because of the stars who portrayed them, it’s astounding to realize how many of these roles were initially turned down by others.

The reasons? Everything from packed calendars to personal tiffs or even an indifferent shrug towards the script. Dive into these captivating tales of missed opportunities and discover the iconic movie moments that could have looked remarkably different with another face on the screen.

Emma Roberts Said No To Harley Quinn

Australian actress Margot Robbie’s outstanding performance in The Wolf of Wall Street caused her to become a household name. When she was cast as Harley Quinn, comic book fans went nuts because they finally had a wonderful new rendition of the Joker’s wacky sidekick.

Isn’t it difficult to imagine anyone else except her? American Horror Story’s Emma Roberts, it turns out, was in the running to be the evil henchwoman. Instead, she chose to play Chanel Oberlin, the evil diva from the terrifying television program Scream Queens. We are trying hard to picture her saying “puddin’,” but it’s simply odd.

Will Smith Turned Down The Matrix

Actors resign from roles for various reasons. We believe that failing to grasp the concept of the story is a good excuse to pass on a film, and Will Smith seems to agree. How can you play a part if you don’t understand the plot’s essence?

Smith was considered for the role of Neo in The Matrix, which became a worldwide phenomenon. Although the film’s convoluted plot appears to be daunting at first, Keanu Reeves’ performance proves that it is feasible. Smith, on the other hand, has no regrets since he believes he was not the right fit for it.

Lindsay Lohan Almost Played Jade

Lindsay Lohan starred in Labor Pains, a film about labor pains, in an attempt to resurrect her sagging career in 2009. In a way, it worked and put her in the spotlight. But the issue is she tried her luck in The Hangover before committing to that subpar job.

Heather Graham was cast as Jade, the exotic dancer with a baby the gang befriends. Todd Phillips, the director, apparently thought Lindsay was too young for the part. Lindsay’s career plummeted along with Labor Pains, which earned a pitiful $1.8 million. Things may have turned out quite differently for her.

Jim Carrey Almost Played Captain Jack Sparrow

Canadian actor Jim Carrey has established himself as one of Hollywood’s best and most popular actors thanks to his comedic chops and excellent acting abilities. He has won our hearts in a number of famous films, but did you know he was almost cast as Captain Jack Sparrow?

It is difficult to imagine anyone other than Johnny Depp as the wacky pirate captain in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. Despite this, Jim Carrey was approached for the position but turned it down due to scheduling difficulties with Bruce Almighty. We wonder what his Jack Sparrow would have been like!