26 June 2023 , 17:08
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It's unsettling that nearly every movie viewers love and adore today may have been completely different had another actor been cast in it or another director helmed it.
For example, Titanic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, is one of the most successful movies of all time.
However, the iconic characters Jack and Rose were very nearly played by Matthew McConaughey and Gwyneth Paltrow, which may have taken a very different course for the James Cameron-directed film.
Needless to say, sometimes actors are left kicking themselves after turning down an iconic role. However, other times, if an actor didn't turn down a particular project, then we may have never seen them in the movie or show years later that actually turned them into the bonafide star.
Here are all the stars who could have seen their career head in a different direction if they didn't pass on the following roles.
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Tom Hanks – When Harry Met Sally
Years before Sleepless in Seattle, Tom Hanks turned down When Harry Met Sally (AFP via Getty Images)
He turned down the role because he was going through a divorce at the time (Getty Images)A few years before Tom Hanks became the face of romcoms with 1993's Sleepless in Seattle, he actually turned down the lead role in 1989's When Harry Met Sally, which Billy Crystal eventually took on.
The reason for passing on the role was due to personal circumstances. Tom's wife of 35 years, Rita Wilson, made the shocking admission on the Table for Two with Bruce Bozzi podcast.
She said: "People probably don't know this, but Tom was offered 'When Harry Met Sally'… and he turned it down because he was going through a divorce and he was very happy to be not married."
And so he could not understand that a person going through a divorce would have anything other than just like, 'I'm so happy,'" Rita continued about the context of the film compared to Tom's personal life at the time.
Rachel McAdams – The Devil Wears Prada
Rachel McAdams very nearly played the lead in The Devil Wears Prada (AFP via Getty Images)
Rachel said no to the role because she wanted to be closer to her family in Canada ((Credit too long, see caption))Anne Hathaway plays the role of a recent graduate struggling to balance the outrageous demands of her editor in the iconic 2006 movie, The Devil Wears Prada.
However, she wasn't the studio's first choice for the film. In fact, everyone was super keen on getting Rachel McAdams for the role, including the actress herself. However, she passed because at the time she wanted to be closer to her family in Canada.
The Mean Girls actress told Bustle about the missed opportunity: "I felt guilty for not capitalizing on the opportunity that I was being given, because I knew I was in such a lucky spot," she said. "But I also knew it wasn't quite jiving with my personality and what I needed to stay sane.
"There were definitely some anxious moments of wondering if I was just throwing it all away, and why was I doing that? It's taken years to understand what I intuitively was doing."
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Luckily Rachel wasn't the only 'IT' girl of the early noughties, and the role went to Princess Diaries star Anne Hathaway.
Jon Hamm – Gone Girl
Jon Hamm was busy with Mad Men when offered Gone Girl (Getty Images for Tribeca Festiva)
Jon said of the role: "It was meant to be me" (Getty Images)The 2014 flick Gone Girl, based on Gillian Flynn's bestselling novel, became a massive hit, with Ben Affleck in the lead role of the husband who becomes the prime suspect when his wife (played by Rosamund Pike) goes missing.
However, Ben very nearly didn't get the chance for his great cinematic comeback, as the role was actually meant for Jon Hamm.
Speaking on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, the star said of the movie: "Yeah. I was down to the very end of that.
The Man Men actor added: "It was meant to be me, but we had to film the continuing adventures of Mr. Draper."
Halle Berry – Speed
Sandra Bullock starred in Speed, which was originally meant for Halle Berry (Getty Images)
The actress has spoken of her regret about passing on Speed (Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)Halle Berry was always a bonafide movie star in the nineties. However, she did pass on the movie Speed, which truly could have taken her career to the next level.
Speaking about her regrets in turning down the role of Annie Porter, Halle told Entertainment Tonight: "I don't know if you know this, but I was offered 'Speed' before Sandra Bullock. I stupidly said no. But in my defence, when I read the script, the bus didn't leave the parking lot. I was like no, no, no, no. Then I see the movie, and I'm like, 'Arrrrghh.'"
Sandra Bullock went on to win critical acclaim in the movie alongside Keanu Reeves.
Bruce Willis – Ghost
Bruce Willis called himself a "knucklehead" for passing on Ghost (AFP via Getty Images)Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore's pottery scene in Ghost is forever seared into viewers' memories. However, that could have been Bruce Willis with his arms around his actual wife, Demi, at the time.
Bruce was the initial choice for the role of Sam, and he later called himself a "knucklehead" for turning down the role.
Speaking to the New York Times in 1996, Patrick said: "I just didn't get it. I said, 'Hey, the guy's dead. How are you gonna have a romance?' Famous last words."
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