15+ Million-Dollar Roles, Thank Goodness These Movie Stars Didn't Miss

In the realm of cinema, the faces that grace our screens often become synonymous with the characters they portray. Yet, the path to casting these iconic roles isn't always straightforward. Sometimes, actors who nailed the legendary roles were the first choice. The journey of casting can be a winding one, with numerous skilled actors contending for the same coveted roles. Sometimes, the roles we cherish are almost claimed by different talents.

We’re grateful for perfect performances that made cinema history but can’t stop but wonder what would happen if these iconic roles were played by other actors. 

Today, we made a list of actors who almost got the part and some of the names certainly make you surprise. 

#1. After the film Romeo + Juliet, Claire Danes didn't want to appear with DiCaprio so she turned down the role in Titanic.

#2. Craig Mazin, co-creator of The Last of Us series, revealed that Matthew McConaughey was considered for the role of Joel before Pedro Pascal was cast.

#3. Emma Stone turned down the part of Meg in Little Women due to the promotion of The Favourite.

#4. Serena Van Der Woodsen in Gossip Girl is Jennifer Lawrence's dream rol, so she was upset when missed it.

#5. Gwen Stefani joined the casting for Mr. & Mrs. Smith and was very close to being the wife in the film.

#6. Jennifer Lawrence auditioned for the role of Bella Swan in the Twilight movie franchise.

#7. Julianne Moore was fired from Can You Ever Forgive Me? and Melissa McCarthy got the part and was nominated for the Oscar.

#8. Britney Spears auditioned with Gosling for the part in The Notebook but she didn't get it.

#9. Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington auditioned for parts in Clueless, but they weren’t cast.

#10. For the hectic schedule for Sons of Anarchy, Charlie Hunnam had to turn down the main part in Fifty Shades of Grey.

#11. Jessica Simpson didn't want to act the bed scene in The Notebook, so she turned down the main part.

#12. Eddie Murphy was supposed to play the Grinch, but in the end, Jim Carrey got the part.

#13. Mindy Kaling didn’t get the part in Bridesmaids that made her heartbroken. In the end, Maya Rudolph got it instead.

#14. Julia Roberts wasn’t interested in the script of The Blind Side, so Sandra Bullock got the part and won the Oscar.

#15. Saoirse Ronan claimed that she had an audition for the role of Ray in Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens.

#16. Renée Zellweger could have gotten the main part in 13 Going on 30 but in the end, Jennifer Garner got it.