9 Times Actors Got it Wrong and Turned Down Roles That Became Iconic Throughout The Ages

It’s hard to believe how many actors who turned down legendary roles are out there in Hollywood. In fact, it’s impossible to know exactly how successful the movie would become.
Every year, actors received dozens of scripts so they are unable to read all of them. Therefore, missing iconic roles is understandable. On the other hand, directors had more than one actor to choose from when it came to casting parts. In a parallel universe, they might have seen Harry Potter or Rose DeWitt Bukater in a different look and it certainly evokes a strange feeling. Although these legendary were turned down by talented actors and actresses, fortunately, the actors who did get cast were golden in these roles.
Below are 9 actors who almost played pivotal characters in famous Movies and TV series. See more here: 11 Million-Dollar Roles That Were Turned Down By Actors, 8 Bizarre Reasons Why These Actors Turned Down Major Roles, and 11 Characters That Ended Up Becoming Iconic.

#1 Jude Law as Superman, Superman Returns

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Jude Law turned down the role of Superman because he thought that an Englishman shouldn’t play the American superhero. All the things he did was just put the costume and looked in the mirror.

#2 Jeremy Sisto as Jack Dawson, Titanic

Times Actors Turned Down Roles Source: © Cinematic Collection / Alamy Stock Photo, Mary Evans/Allstar/Graham Whitby Boot/East News

Many might not know that Jeremy Sisto almost portrayed Jack Dawson in the iconic movie “Titanic”. He auditioned for the role and was a little heartbroken when the role eventually went to DiCaprio. Anyway, for him, it was an exciting experience.

#3 Millie Bobby Brown as Lyanna Mormont, Game of Thrones

Times Actors Turned Down Roles Source: Supplied by Capital Pictures/EAST NEWS, TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/East News

Millie Bobby Brown nearly quit acting because she got rejected for the part of Lyanna Mormont in the movie “Game of Thrones”. Luckily, she landed the role of Eleven in “Stranger Things” and her career skyrocketed.

#4 Mahershala Ali as Xaro Xhoan Daxos, a merchant in Qarth, Game of Thrones

Times Actors Turned Down Roles Source: Shooting Star/Sipa USA/East News, ROBYN BECK/AFP/East News

For Mahershala Ali, his audition for the role of Xaro Xhoan Daxos in “Game of Thrones” was one of the worst ones of his life. He prepared well for his lines and all of the “power moves and stances”. However, good luck didn’t smile upon him.

#5 Jeremy Irons as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Silence of the Lambs

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Because of the dark plot, Jeremy Irons rejected the offer for the role of Dr. Hannibal Lecter. After years, he’s still happy to see Hopkins winning an Oscar for the role.

#6 Jared Harris auditioned to play the High Sparrow, Game of Thrones

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Jonathan Pryce fulfilled perfectly the role of High Sparrow in “Game of Thrones” but it is a fact that we almost see Jared Harris play the part. At first, he got stuff that either Gary Oldman or Phillip Seymour Hoffman wasn’t interested in, then he auditioned for Westworld for Anthony Hopkins’s part.

#7 Carey Mulligan as Lisbeth Salander, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

There are almost 5,000 candidates auditioning for the role of Lisbeth Salander, a bisexual computer hacker, and Carey Mulligan is one of them. She was obsessed with the books and really wanted to land the role. But, finally, it was given to Rooney Mara.

#8 Kurt Russell as Han Solo, Star Wars

Kurt Russell had an audition for the parts of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars movie but ended up taking a role in Western. And we all know the result.

#9 Charlie Hunnam as Cameo, Game of Thrones

Charlie Hunnam was supposed to appear as a cameo in the movie “Game of Thrones” but he turned it down because of strict scheduling. It is said that the actor was invited to play Daenerys Targaryen’s brother and Jon Snow’s real dad, Rhaegar Targaryen.