12 Celebrities Who Turned Down a Win-Win Role In Cinema World’s Hits

Margot Nolan
Jul 06, 2022
Jul 06, 2022

When film producers and directors offer celebrities a role to play, they sometimes refuse the invitation. The reasons vary. Some are concerned that the film would be monotonous to audiences, while others doubt the ability of young directors, or just can not imagine themselves in this role. For example, Charlize Theron turned down the role of the mother in "Wonder Woman" just because she feels she is too young to handle it.
Below are 12 celebrities who refused to appear in films that went on to become box office hits. Do you believe these celebrities would have succeeded if they had consented to play the aforementioned roles?

#1 Allie Hamilton: Jessica Simpson — Rachel McAdams

Source: © facetoface / REPORTER / East News, © The Notebook / New Line Cinema

Jessica Simpson is well known for her vocals. When she turned down the role in The Notebook, she missed out on an opportunity to become recognized as an actress. Simpson was an outspoken opponent of the revealing scenes. Rachel McAdams, on the other hand, was not embarrassed about it and later became Ryan Gosling's on-screen love interest.

#2 Andy Dufresne: Tom Cruise — Tim Robbins

Source: © Jerry Maguire / TriStar Pictures, © The Shawshank Redemption / Warner Bros.

It's difficult to imagine anyone other than Tim Robbins in the role of Andy Dufresne, who is innocent and happy. This character, however, was offered to a number of well-known actors, including Tom Cruise. However, the actor declined the offer because he did not want to collaborate with a little-known newcomer director.

#3 Annie Wilkes: Anjelica Huston — Kathy Bates

Source: © Addams Family Values / Paramount Pictures, © Misery / Warner Bros

Huston, who is most remembered for her performance as Morticia Addams, was set to play the central villain in Stephen King's novel's 1990 remake. However, Anjelica wanted to focus on filming in The Grifters, therefore the role was handed to Kathy Bates, a little-known actress. The actress was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her performance as the crazed fan.

#4 Bridget von Hammersmark: Nastassja Kinski — Diane Kruger

Source: © imago / Sp / East News, © Inglourious Basterds / Universal Pictures

Nastassja Kinski was chosen by Quentin Tarantino to play the German film director and a British spy. The well-known director even traveled to Germany to meet the actress, but she did not react well. The delightful Diane Kruger was Tarantino's next pick, and she eagerly agreed to join Inglourious Basterds.

#5 Christine Palmer: Jessica Chastain — Rachel McAdams

Source: © Miss Sloane / FilmNation Entertainment, © Doctor Strange / Marvel Studios

Jessica Chastain refused to be Benedict Cumberbatch's love interest in Doctor Strange. Chastain took this decision, according to the scriptwriter, because she hasn't given up her dream of playing a superhero in the Marvel universe.

#6 Clarice Starling: Meg Ryan — Jodie Foster

Source: © When Harry Met Sally / Twentieth Century Fox, © The Silence of the Lambs / Orion Pictures

Meg Ryan also passed up an opportunity to win an Oscar by declining the role of Miss Starling since the gloomy and violent plot did not appeal to the actress. The job was eventually given to Jodie Foster, who had read the story and had a strong desire to play Clarice.

#7 Elizabeth I: Emily Watson — Cate Blanchett

Source: © Mary Evans / AF Archive / Graham Whitby Boot / East News, © Elizabeth / Working Title Films

Emily Watson was first given the role of the queen, but she turned it down and has never regretted it. Watson admitted that she would never have been able to portray the role as well as Blanchett, who won a Golden Globe for her performance.

#8 Gamora: Amanda Seyfried — Zoe Saldana

Source: © Elizabeth Goodenough / Everett Collection / East News, © Guardians of the Galaxy / Marvel Studios

"I didn't want to be a part of the first Marvel movie that bombed," Amanda Seyfried said. The actress was confused why anybody would be interested in seeing a film about a talking tree and a raccoon. Seyfried also decided not to risk her career because she was concerned that Hollywood would not forgive her failure. Finally, the role went to Zoe Saldana, who was unaffected by the situation and hit the jackpot.

#9Hannibal Lecter: Sean Connery — Anthony Hopkins

Sean Connery was offered the position of Hannibal Lecter by director Jonathan Demme, but he declined. Anthony Hopkins was eventually offered the role. The actor initially mistook himself for a kid in a movie. Hopkins, on the other hand, accepted the director's offer immediately after reading the first ten pages of the script. Hopkins' thoughts were right, and he was nominated for Best Actor and received his first Academy Award nomination.

#10Jacqueline Kennedy: Rachel Weisz — Natalie Portman

The film about JFK's wife had been in the process for a long time. It was planned to be a collaboration between filmmaker Darren Aronofsky and his fiancée Rachel Weisz at first. Weisz quit filming since the couple had broken up. The studio did not begin negotiations with Natalie Portman until two years later.

#11Kitty Shcherbatskaya: Saoirse Ronan — Alicia Vikande

Saoirse Ronan declined the character of Kitty as she didn't want to risk her efforts on Byzantium and The Host. Ronan played the lead roles in these films, which is why Alicia Vikander was cast in the supporting role in Anna Karenina.

#12Queen Hippolyta: Charlize Theron — Connie Nielsen

Charlize Theron was extremely disappointed when she was offered the role of Wonder Woman's mother. We understand her concerns because Gal Gadot is only 9 years younger than Charlize, and they don't seem to be a mother and daughter. The Dutch model and actress Connie Nielsen, who is 20 years older than Gadot, was then offered the role by the film's producer, Zack Snyder.

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