10 Actors Who Almost Turned Down Their Iconic Movie Roles

Is the involvement of stars critical to the success of motion pictures? Film studios, which regularly pay stars multimillion-dollar salaries, seem to be driven by that belief. Indeed, characters become iconic thanks in large part to the actors who bring them to life. So it's often difficult to imagine anyone else in the role afterward.
But there are some actors who almost missed the opportunity to make it big because choosing or taking on a role in the movie must have a well-thought-out plan. Some actors turned down the roles because of scheduling conflicts, some refused because of other work commitments. But then, some actors regret turning down a project, others, like Chris Evans, know that it can be the right choice, no matter how popular or critically adored the film might become.
The following are notable actors who almost didn't get their biggest roles, and you may be surprised by some of the people who were close to missing their chance.

#1 Michelle Rodriguez in Fast & Furious

Source: © Furious 6 / Universal Pictures and co-producers

Michelle became an internationally recognized actress as a result of the Fast & Furious franchise, but she first declined the job. The aspiring actor felt that her role was underdeveloped and requested that it be altered.
Rodriguez would have dropped out of the movie if it hadn't been for Vin Diesel's involvement.

#2 Jim Carrey in How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Source: © How the Grinch Stole Christmas / Universal Pictures amd co-producers

Jim Carrey agreed to play the part at first but later decided that the heavy makeup and working circumstances were too much for him. On the set of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, he felt like he was buried alive rather than made up.
Jim was on the verge of quitting when the producers devised a wonderful solution. Carrey was trained how to bear the pain by a professional trainer.

#3 Emma Watson in the Harry Potter film series

Source: © Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire / Warner Bros. and cp-producers

A role that made Emma Watson famous is Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series. However, she wanted to quit the project after film 4 and not return to this key part. Emma turned out to be extremely similar to her character in that she, too, wished to achieve in her studies.
Watson eventually made the decision to stay. She did not, however, abandon her ambitions, and she earned a bachelor's degree in English literature.

#4 Peter Dinklage in Game of Thrones

Source: © Game of Thrones / Home Box Office (HBO) and co-producers

Tyrion Lannister took a while to decide to take on the role in Game of Thrones because he didn’t want to play in something of a fantasy genre because he thought he’d have to wear a long beard and pointed shoes. However, when he learned more about the story and studied his character, he finally said, “Yes.”

#5 Al Pacino in The Godfather

Source: © The Godfather: Part II / Paramount Pictures and co-producers

The Godfather's script appealed to the actor, but he desired to portray a different role. He believed that the part of Sonny was a better fit for him than Michael's.
But, finally, he accepted the film director's offer, and Al Pacino landed yet another cult part.

#6 Richard Gere in Pretty Woman

Source: © Pretty Woman / Touchstone Pictures and co-producers

Richard Gere was adamant about not becoming a part of this project. He didn't care for the tale or his character; he believed they were both secondary and meaningless. But film director Garry Marshall, who had previously offered the job to Gere, didn't give up and instead put his faith in Julia Roberts.
Marshall invited both actors to meet him and left them alone to talk. Then Julia gave him a piece of paper, saying, “Please say yes.” And the actor agreed. So, you can say that he took the role because of Roberts.

#7 Chris Evans in The Avengers

Source: © Captain America: The First Avenger / Paramount Pictures and co-producers

Chris Evans was concerned about playing Captain America in The Avengers movie because of the media attention. But he listened to his mother, who advised him that this was a great opportunity for him and that he wouldn't have to worry about paying rent anymore.

#8 Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic

Source: © Titanic / Twentieth Century Fox and co-producers

It's difficult to picture Titanic without Leonardo DiCaprio, yet it's feasible that it might have occurred. The young actor had no desire to appear in another melodrama, preferring instead to work on serious dramatic projects.
However, film director James Cameron persuaded him to take the role in Titanic, for which we will be eternally grateful.

#9 Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games

Source: © The Hunger Games: Catching Fire / Color Force and co-producers

Jennifer Lawrence's mother is another parent we have to thank for persuading their kid to take on a role. The actress primarily appeared in independent films at the time; she preferred pictures with a low budget and no major actors.
However, she continued to feel that the story was more essential than the money, and she enjoyed the Katniss Everdeen books. Jennifer's mother labeled her a hypocrite when she rejected down the role in The Hunger Games. Jennifer, on the other hand, changed her mind.

#10 Emma Stone in La La Land

Source: © La La Land / Summit Entertainment and co-producers

Stone was well-known before La La Land, but her performance in the film earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. Emma enjoyed the concept in theory, but she was scared it wasn't physically suitable for her.
She was sick while performing in the Broadway play of Cabaret, and she didn't think she'd be able to dance and sing in two projects at the same time. Damien Chazelle, on the other hand, was not about to give up. He met with her again after she declined the position and presented her sample songs. Finally, the actress agreed.