Imagine How Different 19 Movies Would Be if Other Stars Were Cast

Having actors that are perfectly cast for a role is a dream any filmmakers want to realize. When a producer starts on a project, they often model the characters in the script after a very defined actor. And then, they will go out of their way to have the actors in their film.
And this usually results in a very well-crafted movie, because the actors match the filmmaker’s vision. But oftentimes, things happen that make these dream casting a missed opportunity.
When this happens, filmmakers would have to look for a replacement. And often, these actors would look similar to the actor that the filmmakers want. But they still perform awesomely in the movies! Yay, everybody wins!
But what would happen if these dream castings happen? Here we have a list of 19 cases of “what if” castings in Movies, and their actual castings. What do you think, are these dream castings an improvement over their actual castings?

#1 Courtney Love: Satine - Moulin Rouge!

Source: © Manfred Werner - Tsui / Wikimedia Commons, © Moulin Rouge! / 20th Century Studios

The excellent Courtney Love wanted to play Satine. Even though Courtney is excellent at what she does, it is difficult to imagine her in this character, so we can only speculate on what the film would have been like if the producers had not picked Nicole Kidman.

#2 Charlie Hunnam: Christian Grey - 50 Shades of Grey.

Source: © Fifty Shades of Grey / Focus Features, Joel Ryan / Invision / AP / East News

In 2013, every newspaper reported the biggest news of the year: Charlie Hunnam will feature in the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey. However, the actor changed his mind and declined the part a few months later. Hunnam experienced a mental breakdown as a result of his hectic job schedule.

#3 Johnny Depp: Patrick Bateman - American Psycho.

Source: © American Psycho / Lionsgate Films, Mary Evans / AF Archive / Graham Whitby Boot / East News

Originally, Stuart Gordon was slated to direct American Psycho at first and wanted Johnny Depp as the leading man. However, the novel's author revoked Stuart Gordon's rights to the novel. He also referred to Johnny Depp as a "lightweight" actor who was too old for the role. Instead, Christian Bale plays Patrick Bateman to critical acclaim.

#4 Tom Hiddleston: Thor - MCU

Source: © Thor / Marvel Studios, © Thor / Marvel Studios

The cheerful British man attempted to land the lead role. He exercised and gained weight, but the producers told him, "Actually, you should play the evil guy." This is how Tom became Thor's lovely but wicked brother.

#5 Emily Blunt: Black Widow - Iron Man 2

Source: © Edge of Tomorrow / Warner Bros., © Iron Man 2 / Paramount Pictures

Even when we have a new Black Widow, Scarlett Johansson will always be Natasha Romanoff. But before she was cast, Marvel Studios considered many actresses for the role. Emily claims that the only thing keeping her from the black leather suit was her hectic schedule on Jack Black's Gulliver's Travels.

#6 Lucy Lawless: Galadriel - The Lord of the Rings.

Source: © Xena: Warrior Princess / NBC, © The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring / New Line Cinema

We could have had a very different Elven Princess instead of Cate Blanchett. Before hers, Lucy Lawless, or Xena from Xena: Warrior Princess, was considered for the role. However, the actress declined due to a hectic schedule.

#7 Harrison Ford: Alan Grant - Jurassic Park.

Source: © Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark / Lucasfilm, © Jurassic Park / Universal Studios

Steven Spielberg and actor Harrison Ford had collaborated on the Indiana Jones franchise, but when Spielberg offered Ford the role of Alan Grant, Ford declined. So that’s why we have Sam Neill as Grant, who did an excellent job being chased by dinosaurs.

#8 Katie Holmes: Annette Hargrove - Cruel Intentions.

Source: © First Daughter / 20th Century Fox, © Cruel Intentions / Columbia Pictures

The studio desired Dawson's Creek actress Katie Holmes. But scriptwriter Roger Kumble felt he needed someone with more personality. He once spotted Ryan Phillippe's girlfriend (Reese Witherspoon) and invited her to dinner, where she was given the role.

#9 Leonardo DiCaprio: Rick O’Connell - The Mummy.

Source: STIEFLER / BABIRAD / SIPA / East News, © The Mummy / Universal Pictures and co-producers

According to sources, Leonardo DiCaprio urged the makers of The Beach movie to postpone production so he could shoot The Mummy, which script he loved but was denied. The creators of The Mummy eventually cast Brendan Fraser, who was fantastic in the part.

#10 Oliver Hudson: Jack - This Is Us.

Source: © This Is Us / 20th Century Studios, Todd Williamson / Invision / AP / East News

Oliver Hudson had every opportunity to play Jack Pearson in the This Is Us series, but he chose to go on a 10-day fishing vacation instead. Milo Ventimiglia eventually play the role and received multiple Emmy nominations for it.

#11 Tilda Swinton: Sybill Trelawney - Harry Potter series.

Source: © Doctor Strange / Marvel Studios, © Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone / Warner Bros.

Tilda Swinton turned down the part of Sybill Trelawney in the Harry Potter films for one simple reason: she detested boarding schools. Instead, Emma Roberts got to play the eccentric teacher.

#12 Robin Williams: (any of Batman’s Rogues gallery - DCU)

Source: © Night at the Museum / 20th Century Fox, © The Dark Knight / Warner Bros.

Robin wanted to be a part of the Batman series. First, he auditioned for the role of the Joker in Tim Burton's Batman, but Jack Nicholson was hired instead. Then he had another chance to play the Riddler in Batman Forever, but he didn't get it either. Sadly, he never got to portray any of the Batman’s Rogues gallery.

#13 Keanu Reeves: Wolverine.

Source: © Constantine / Warner Bros., © X-Men / Marvel

When asked about the roles he'd like to play, Keanu Reeves stated he'd love to play Wolverine, but he understands he lost out since Hugh Jackman was so brilliant. And we still don't understand why Keanu Reeves isn't in the MCU. But maybe we’ll see him reprising his role as Constantine in the DC universe?

#14 Jessica Chastain: Marilyn Monroe - Blonde.

There were rumors that Jessica Chastain might play the lead role in Blonde. However, Ana de Armas played Marilyn Monroe. Chastain confessed that she had turned down the job herself, as she has no desire to be in yet another Marilyn Monroe movie.

#15 Nicolas Cage: Aragorn - Lord Of The Rings trilogy.

Nicolas Cage had the opportunity to portray Aragorn I in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but he declined for personal reasons - he didn't want to leave his home for such an extended length of time. As a result, Viggo Mortensen became the first High King of the Reunited Kingdom and rose to international fame.

#16 Shailene Woodley: Rey - Star Wars.

Jennifer Lawrence, Shailene Woodley, Elizabeth Olsen, Felicity Jones, Jessica Henwick, and Billie Lourd were all considered for the part. In the end, Lucasfilm chose to cast some lesser-known performers in the lead roles. This is how Daisy Ridley landed the role of Rey.

#17 Josh Hutcherson: Spider-Man - The Amazing Spider-Man.

Before he became famous as Peeta in The Hunger Games, he was one of the initial applicants for the part of Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man. But in the end, he lost out on the role, and it was Andrew Garfield who received the iconic spider costume.

#18 Eddie Redmayne: Kylo Ren - Star Wars

The attractive English actor who played Newt Scamander wanted to be Han Solo and Leia Organa's son but botched his audition. In addition, he also failed the audition for the big role in The Hobbit. But it may be for the best because he had more time to be in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

#19 Josh Hartnett: Loki - Thor.

Josh Hartnett was really interested in playing this character and even visited with the director to discuss it, but Tom Hiddleston got the part. It's difficult to picture anybody other than Tom playing Thor's crafty brother, isn't it?