9 Stars Who Said No To Famous Roles That Could Have Changed Their Life

Roles such as James Bond or Neo in The Matrix are so iconic that it’s hard to imagine another face to play these characters. But little did we know, these legendary roles could have been taken by other actors. These celebrities gave up these opportunities because of other projects, personal reasons, or they just simply didn’t recognize a great part when they saw it.
So if you want to know which celebrities missed the chance of their lifetime to be featured in an iconic Hollywood movie, then keep scrolling.

1. Emily Blunt - Black Widow In Iron Man 2

Source: Marvel Studio/ Getty Images

There is no doubt that Scarlett Johansson made a great Natasha Romanoff on screen, but did you know that she wasn’t the first choice to play the redhead spy? The role was first offered to Emily Blunt. The actress had to turn down the opportunity to become a part of the MCU family due to her scheduling issues with Gulliver’s Travels.
“So it’s a shame the two of them couldn’t work together. It just got complicated, so I think I had to pull out for my own sanity more than anything,” Blunt shared with MTV News.

2. Glenn Howerton - Star-Lord In Guardians of The Galaxy

Source: Marvel Studio/ Getty Images

Another star who could have been a part of the MCU is Glenn Howerton. Back when director James Gunn was casting for Star Lord, he had two options: Chris Pratt and Glenn Howerton. If Chris Pratt had turned down the offer, Howerton would have had the chance to become a Marvel superhero.

3. Will Smith - Neo In The Matrix

Source: Getty Images, Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection

It’s hard to imagine anyone else than Keanu Reeves playing Neo in the iconic Hollywood movie The Matrix. However, he wasn’t the first actor that got offered the role. In fact, Will Smith was offered before Reeves but he turned it down. The actor didn’t think the movie could be a hit so he went and played in Wild Wild West, which sadly was a flop.
When asked about how he felt after, Smith explained that he just “ didn't see it.” The actor shared, “I watched Keanu's performance - and very rarely do I say this - but I would have messed it up.”

4. Sandra Bullock - Neo In The Matrix

Source: Getty Images, Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection

The crazy casting for the hero of The Matrix even went further with Sandra Bullock as another choice for Neo. Back then the directors of the movie weren’t as popular as they are now, and actors were skeptical about the movie’s dense subject matter. Many saw that taking the offers from unknown directors could be a risk, so the crew was desperate.
They were so desperate that they sent the script to Sandra Bullock, willing to change the character and everything else if she said yes. Luckily, she wasn't interested in the role, so they ended up going with Keanu Reeves.

5. Hugh Jackman – James Bond In Casino Royale

Source: GETTY/ COLUMBIA PICTURES

Jackman received a call asking if he’d be interested in playing the new James Bond. He wasn’t. “I just felt at the time that the scripts had become so unbelievable and crazy, and I felt like they needed to become grittier and real,” he said. Plus, the actor was busy enough with his filming schedule for the X-Men.

6. Emma Watson – Mia In La La Land

Source: GETTY/ SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT

If it hadn’t for her role in Beauty and the Beast, Emma Watson could have become Mia in the Oscar-nominated musical La La Land. “I knew I had to do the work, and I had to be where I had to be. So scheduling conflict-wise, it just didn’t work out,” the actress shared in a SiriusXM Town Hall interview.

7. Beyoncé - A Star Is Born

Source: © A Star Is Born / Warner Bros. Pictures & co-producers, © DFree / Shutterstock.com

There is no doubt that Lady Gaga did an amazing job in A Star Is Born, but could you imagine how epic this movie would be starring Beyoncé and Clint Eastwood as the protagonists? Apparently, the queen bee was on board to join the movie, but she got pregnant later so she turned it down.

8. Al Pacino - John McClane In Die Hard

Source: Twentieth Century Fox/ GETTY

Al Pacino revealed during an interview at the Palladium in London that he was the first choice to play John McClane in the 1988 blockbuster. The Godfather actor gave off the role to Bruce Willis though. "I gave that boy a career," Al Pacino jokingly added.

9. Gwyneth Paltrow - Rose In Titanic

Source: Twentieth Century Fox/ GETTY

The part of Rose was first offered to Gwyneth Paltrow but the actress turned it down. She admitted to Howard Stern during an interview that she did have regrets but already moved on. “I look back at the choices I've made and think, Why the hell did I say yes to that? And no to that? And you know, you look at the big picture and think: There's a universal lesson here. What good is it to hold on to roles?” Paltrow said.