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40 Times Actors Auditioned For A Different Role In Their Movie But Made The One They Got Iconic
With all of the glitz and glamor, movies hold a lot of mysteries that are just begging to be solved. And catching even a glimpse behind the scenes at how casting choices are made is enough to whet your tongue and make you beg for more. In reality, the landscape of our favorite films could have been radically different if things were just a tiny bit different. Imagine, if you will, a parallel universe where the iconic role of Harry Potter was played by none other than Tom Felton, aka Draco Malfoy.
Bored Panda has collected this list of examples that show what roles well-known actors auditioned for and which ones they ended up getting, as well as which ones they were offered and refused. As you’re scrolling down, upvote your fave pics, and take a couple of minutes to daydream about whether these actors would have done better in the roles that they originally wanted or were offered.
Hollywood's Ultimate Insider and celebrity expert Mike Sington told Bored Panda that casting directors are looking for a "multitude of qualities" during a casting session. "Raw acting talent is of course important, but also the ability to bring the character to life, fulfilling the vision of the director and writer." Read on for our full interview to learn more.
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#1
Tom Felton Could Have Played The Role Of Harry Potter
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#2
Heath Ledger Was Offered The Role Of Batman In The Movie "Batman Begins"
varwenea 5 years ago
Wow. I just had a mind blown moment. Here's a thought. He was so epicly stupendous as the Joker. It would have been such a loss to us viewers had he not played that part. BUT -- it is also known (or strongly speculated) that his intensity in playing this role led to his accidental overdose. Does that mean we may not have lost this great actor had he been Batman instead of Joker?? 🤯🤯🤯 We'll never know. RIP, Heath. Still miss you.
#3
Tom Hiddleston Auditioned For The Role Of Thor In The Films Of The MCU
Full of Giggles 5 years ago
The two finalists for Thor were Chris and Liam Hemsworth. Chris won the role because Tom didn’t think Liam was funny.
#4
Jensen Ackles Auditioned For The Role Of Sam Winchester In Supernatural
#5
Orlando Bloom Auditioned For The Role Of Faramir (The Lord Of The Rings)
#6
Courteney Cox Originally Auditioned For The Role Of Rachel Greene On Friends
#7
Stephanie Beatriz Auditioned For The Role Of Amy Santiago In "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"
Andy Acceber 5 years ago
I hoped they would have this one! When Stephanie heard Melissa Fumero got the role, she was happy/proud for her but sad because she assumed she was out. At the time, it was very unlikely a major network show would cast two Latina actresses. I'm so glad Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast them both! They're both great in their roles.
#8
Carice Van Houton Auditioned For The Role Of Cersei Lannister In "Game Of Thrones"
#9
Iwan Rheon Could Have Played Jon Snow In Game Of Thrones
#10
Liam Hemsworth Auditioned For The Role Of Peeta Mellark In "The Hunger Games"
#11
Amanda Seyfried Auditioned For The Role Of Regina George In "Mean Girls"
Aria Whitaker 5 years ago
I also read that they actually wanted Lindsay Lohan for the role of Regina...but Lindsay said that Regina was actually too "mean" for her image, and instead chose to play Cady. https://www.capitalfm.com/features/stars-who-turned-down-movie-roles/lindsay-lohan-mean-girls-regina-george/
#12
Rainn Wilson Auditioned For The Role Of Michael Scott In "The Office"
#13
Cillian Murphy Auditioned For The Role Of Batman In "Batman Begins"
Allan Breum 5 years ago
So Murphy auditioned for a character that breaks the law, and beats the stuffing out of people... Huh, bet he never did THAT again. (sarcasm)
#14
James Franco Auditioned For The Role Of Spider-Man
#15
Sebastian Stan Auditioned For The Role Of Captain America In The MCU Films
#16
Arnold Schwarzenegger Could Have Played The Role Of Kyle Reese In The Movie "Terminator"
#17
Betty White Auditioned For The Role Of Blanche Devereaux In "Golden Girls"
Andy Acceber 5 years ago
Rue McClanahan was the perfect Blanche. She was once quoted, "Am I Blanche? She was an oversexed, man-crazy, vain Southern Belle from Atlanta -- I'm not from Atlanta!" It's hard to imagine Betty White in that role.
#18
Lee Pace Auditioned For The Role Of Star-Lord In "Guardians Of The Galaxy"
Theoretical Empiricist 5 years ago
Also the underlying goofiness of the Star Lord character didn't seem like it fit Lee's face well.
#19
John Krasinski Could Have Played The Role Of Dwight Schrute In The TV Series "The Office"
#20
Jon Favreau (Pete Becker, The "Ultimate Fighting Champion Guy") Auditioned For The Role Of Chandler Bing In "Friends"
#21
Matt Damon And Heath Ledger Were Supposed To Play Opposite Roles In The Brothers Grimm
#22
Ashley Greene Auditioned For The Role Of Bella Swan In "Twilight"
#23
Hank Azaria (David, The "Science Guy") Auditioned For The Role Of Joey Tribbiani In "Friends"
Viktor 5 years ago
Could have worked. They try quite hard to make him look nerdy with the big glasses and the awkward baggy clothing but he's actually decent looking and quite buff. Similar thing with Raj from Big Bang Theory. Body-type-wise he's not exactly your average nerd who never exercises...
#24
Sandra Oh Auditioned For The Role Of Miranda Bailey In "Grey’s Anatomy"
#25
Miley Cyrus Auditioned For The Role Of Lilly Truscott In "Hannah Montana"
#26
Marina Sirtis Was Originally Cast As Tasha Yar, And Denise Crosby Was Their First Choise For Deanna Troi In Star Trek: The Next Generation
Easily Excitable Panda 5 years ago
It's why Denise Crosby quit, actually. She said she didn't want to play "some butch little tank."
#27
Charisma Carpenter Auditioned For The Role Of Buffy In "Buffy The Vampire Slayer"
#28
Lindsay Lohan And Rachel Mcadams Auditioned To Play Opposite Roles In "Mean Girls"
#29
Chris Colfer Auditioned For The Role Of Artie Abrams In "Glee"
#30
Alexander Ludwig Auditioned For The Role Of Peeta Mellark In "The Hunger Games"
Full of Giggles 5 years ago
But, if Alexander had won the role, he would never have been able to play Bjorn Ironside.
#31
Sonequa Martin-Green Auditioned For The Role Of Michonne On "The Walking Dead"
#32
Natasha Lyonne Auditioned For The Role Of Lorna In "Orange Is The New Black"
Andy Acceber 5 years ago
That would've worked. She's a talented actor. I liked her as Nichols though.
#33
Darren Criss Auditioned For The Role Of Finn Hudson In "Glee"
#34
Liza Weil Auditioned For The Role Of Rory Gilmore On "Gilmore Girls"
#35
Madelaine Petsch Auditioned For The Role Of Betty Cooper In "Riverdale"
#36
Christopher Mintz-Plasse Auditioned For The Role Of Dave Lizewski In "Kick-Ass"
#37
Norman Reedus Auditioned For The Role Of Merle Dixon In "The Walking Dead"
#38
Jason Dohring Auditioned For The Role Of Duncan Kane On "Veronica Mars"
#39
Jessica Capshaw Auditioned For The Role Of Dr. Sadie Harris In "Grey’s Anatomy "
#40
Isaiah Washingt Auditioned For The Role Of Derek Shepherd In "Grey's Anatomy"
#42
Chelsea Peretti Auditioned For The Role Of Detective Rosa Diaz In "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"
#43
Olivia Wilde Auditioned For The Role Of Marissa Cooper On "The O.c."
#44
Mädchen Amick Auditioned For The Role Of Lorelai Gilmore In "Gilmore Girls"
MERCI LANGSTON 5 years ago
Imagine if Liza Weil did get the part as Rory and she got the part as Lorelai
#45
Ashley Tisdale Auditioned For The Role Oflondon Tipton In "The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody"
#52
Jeremy Strong Auditioned For The Role Of Roman Roy In "Succession"
#53
Colin Donnell Auditioned For The Role Of Cole Lockhart In "The Affair"
Amy Watkins 5 years ago
Based on this photo of Joshua Jackson, I suddenly want to see him and Nick Offerman cast as brothers for a film or TV series!
#54
Jensen Ackles Auditioned For The Role Of Sam Winchester In "Supernatural"
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What do you think ?
Draco Malfoy 5 years ago (edited)
Just goes to show how well some producers are at spotting talents and putting them to the characters that best fit their roles
Full of Giggles 5 years ago
HUGE one missed: Matt Smith was actually auditioning for the role of Dr. John Watson on Sherlock when he landed the role of the 11th Doctor on Doctor Who. The producers felt he was too young and too eccentric for Dr. Watson but felt he was perfect for Doctor Who. The role of Dr. Watson eventually went to Martin Freeman.
Robin DJW 5 years ago
I do so wish they would do another Sherlock series. They were brilliant.
Load More Replies...
Cip IESAN 5 years ago
It's hard to imagine an actor in someone else's role, because our brain is tricky, it tells us "But no, Forrest Gump IS Tom Hanks! Michael Richards IS Kramer! Jerry Seinfeld IS Jerry Seinfeld (no, this is a joke!), Terminator IS Arnold, Rambo / Rocky ARE Stallone etc.!". We'll never know...
Draco Malfoy 5 years ago (edited)
Just goes to show how well some producers are at spotting talents and putting them to the characters that best fit their roles
Full of Giggles 5 years ago
HUGE one missed: Matt Smith was actually auditioning for the role of Dr. John Watson on Sherlock when he landed the role of the 11th Doctor on Doctor Who. The producers felt he was too young and too eccentric for Dr. Watson but felt he was perfect for Doctor Who. The role of Dr. Watson eventually went to Martin Freeman.
Robin DJW 5 years ago
I do so wish they would do another Sherlock series. They were brilliant.
Load More Replies... Cip IESAN 5 years ago
It's hard to imagine an actor in someone else's role, because our brain is tricky, it tells us "But no, Forrest Gump IS Tom Hanks! Michael Richards IS Kramer! Jerry Seinfeld IS Jerry Seinfeld (no, this is a joke!), Terminator IS Arnold, Rambo / Rocky ARE Stallone etc.!". We'll never know...
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