Can you believe Leonardo DiCaprio originally turned down Titanic? Turns out he isn’t the only one who nearly missed their chances to make it big. Other movie stars also refused iconic parts too. These actors who almost lost their roles got lucky that they changed their decisions just in time. Otherwise, their names probably wouldn’t be as famous as they’re now.
Scroll down and find out about these famous actors who almost lost their roles of a lifetime!
1. Leonardo DiCaprio, Titanic
Source: 20th Century Fox/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
Leonardo DiCaprio became a global star after Titanic. However, the actor originally turned down the project because he didn’t want to play a blue-eyed pretty boy. Luckily, Kate Winslet and the filmmakers were able to convince him to change his mind. The actress admired DiCaprio’s talent, so she did everything she can to make him agree. DiCaprio said yes basically because of her.
2. Robert Pattinson, Batman
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
Robert Pattinson didn’t know a lot about Batman, and he wasn’t interested in studying all the Batman comics and movies like Christian Bale. So when he was offered the role, he hesitated. But once he agreed, Pattinson gave it his all. He created one of the best Batman performances on screen ever.
3. Matt Smith, House of the Dragon
Source: HBO/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
Matt Smith originally turned the role of Daemon Targaryen down because he thought the task was too difficult. The actor thought the project had zero chance of being a good sequel in the Westeros universe and that it would fail. Fortunately, the showrunners were able to convince him. The series turned out to be a big hit.
4. Zoe Saldaña, Avatar
Source: 20th Century Fox/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
Zoe Saldaña was intimidated by the Avatar script when she first read it. The movie was described as a CGI nightmare, so her concern was perfectly understandable. However, the actress decided to challenge herself and took the risk. She spent a lot of time learning to ride horses, martial arts, and archery. It was one of the toughest roles of her life, but her hard work paid off.
5. Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy
Source: Marvel/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
Chris Pratt didn't want to audition for the role of Star-Lord because he didn’t think the movie would be a success. By the time he changed his mind, director James Gunn didn’t want to work with him anymore. Thank god that they both changed their decisions. In the end, Pratt proved to be the perfect choice for the part.
6. Daniel Craig, Skyfall
Source: Sony Pictures Releasing/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
Daniel Craig didn’t want to star in Skyfall. The movie star only agreed to the part because he was contractually obligated to complete it. But he still gave the role his all. Thanks to his dedication, Skyfall came out as one of the best James Bond movies.
7. Austin Butler, Elvis
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
Austin Butler had a torturous experience on the set of Elvis. Movie director Buz Luhrmann often made the young actor cry. He did this to make Butler understand all the hardships that the famous singer had to go through. The movie star admitted that his treatment was harsh, but it did help his acting to come out spectacular.
8. Emily Blunt, The Devil Wears Prada
Source: 20th Century Fox/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
Emily Blunt had some hesitation before she took on the role of Miranda Priestly’s assistant. Back then she wanted to be in Eragon and couldn’t think about anything else. Plus, her British accent wasn’t right for the character. The director convinced her to change her mind, and it ended up being one of her best roles ever.
9. Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire
Source: Pathé Distribution/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
When he first read the script of Slumdog Millionaire, he thought it was just a small project with a big ambition. The actor would have laughed if someone had told him the movie would win a Golden Globe and an Oscar. Even the studio itself didn’t see the project as something outstanding. Yet directors Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan proved all of them wrong. Patel would later become a superstar thanks to this film.
10. Michael J Fox, Back to the Future
Source: Universal Pictures/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
When Michael J Fox got offered the part in Back to the Future, he was already interested in another project. Director Robert Zemeckis and writer Bob Gale had to fight tooth and nail to gather their dream cast. The duo made a deal with the movie studio and got Fox to star in their movie. In the end, it becomes one of the most popular sci-fi movies of all time.
Similar to these actors who almost lost their roles of a lifetime, other movie stars also nearly lost their major chances to make it big. However, these guys were refused because of their appearances. Find out about their embarrassing stories
here.