Roles that were offered and refused by other actors.

That reminRAB me that Daniel Day Lewis was asked to play the George in Room with a View, but chose to play Cecil instead, because he found the role far more interesting.

I think it's fascinating trying to imagine other actors in well known roles.
 
That's the story, and wasn't Sissy Spacek supposed to be Princess Leia, with Fisher playing the lead in Carrie instead?

It certainly would've been a different film. :eek:

I have to admit I still love the idea of crazy haired Walken playing Han Solo. It would've been epic! :D


There was also Patrick McGoohan as Bond, instead of professional Scotsman, Sean Connery. Though exactly how seriously he was considered for the 007 role, I don't know.
 
Supposedly Sean Connery turned down a role in Lord of the Rings but it's unclear whether it was Gandalf, Theoden or another role, perhaps Denethor or something. Personally I think the LOTR cast was perfect and wouldn't have benefitted from Sean because everyone just thinks of him as Sean Connery!

Several top actors were asked to play Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series. I don't think neither Richard Harris or Michael Gambon were right for the role, though Gambon is better because Harris felt so frail as the greatest wizard who ever lived. I believe they asked Peter O'Toole to step in initially when Harris died but he turned it down. Of course, the perfect actor for that role is Ian Mckellen, but he was hardly going to do it, was he, after playing Gandalf.
 
On this one, you're remember it wrong. He he auditioned (alongside Nick Nolte and Kurt Russel), but was never asked (they went straight for Ford).

It was, however, an awesome comedy sketch. :D
 
Surely the most famous one is Lugosi turning down the offer to play the monster in Frankenstein because it wasn't a speaking part, resulting in a lifelong hatred of Karloff.
 
I think that is a complete myth. Connery certainly wasn't up for Gandalf at all.

Tom Baker turned them down (I think he turned down an audition only) because he didn't want to go to New Zealand for a long period of time. I don't think it's ever been said (I don't even think Tom knows) what role he was up for. - Another random bit of info for Doctor Who fans, Sylvester McCoy was apparently second choice for Bilbo.
 
I'm not sure I believe this one, but I did read Vince Vaughn turned down the role of Donnie Darko - considering he's about 15 years older then Jake and would have been playing a 16 year old, probably a sensible decision (if true)
 
Heres one from the Shawshank Redemption trivia page on imdb

Kevin Costner turned down the role of Andy Dufresne, a decision he strongly regretted later on.
 
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