Film production is a tricky
business, where plans can be ruined in the blink of an eye. Today we’re used to
seeing Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow and we could hardly imagine Hugh Jackman
taking the lead. However, he was the first choice of the scriptwriter for
Pirates of the Caribbean.
business, where plans can be ruined in the blink of an eye. Today we’re used to
seeing Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow and we could hardly imagine Hugh Jackman
taking the lead. However, he was the first choice of the scriptwriter for
Pirates of the Caribbean.
At Bright Side we started our
own investigation to figure out which other famous roles were initially created
for different actors or actresses. Here we tried to imagine what our favorite
films would look like if the main character was portrayed by another actor or
actress. Let’s take a look.
own investigation to figure out which other famous roles were initially created
for different actors or actresses. Here we tried to imagine what our favorite
films would look like if the main character was portrayed by another actor or
actress. Let’s take a look.
1.
Emma Watson as Cinderella
Emma Watson as Cinderella
Emma Watson has had enough
remarkable characters in her career. Little did we know that Cinderella
could’ve become a part of her portfolio along with Belle from Beauty and the
Beast and Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. Although Lily James eventually
landed the role, Watson was among the main candidates but turned down the job because
Cinderella “didn’t resonate with her” enough.
remarkable characters in her career. Little did we know that Cinderella
could’ve become a part of her portfolio along with Belle from Beauty and the
Beast and Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. Although Lily James eventually
landed the role, Watson was among the main candidates but turned down the job because
Cinderella “didn’t resonate with her” enough.
2.
Anne Hathaway as Alice in Wonderland
Anne Hathaway as Alice in Wonderland
Although Anne Hathaway
actually starred in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland as the White Queen it
wasn’t the part she claimed initially. Anne was offered the chance to play
Alice herself, but she refused to, saying that she had had enough of portraying
good-looking princesses (referring to her famous character Mia from The
Princess Diaries).
actually starred in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland as the White Queen it
wasn’t the part she claimed initially. Anne was offered the chance to play
Alice herself, but she refused to, saying that she had had enough of portraying
good-looking princesses (referring to her famous character Mia from The
Princess Diaries).
3.
Leonardo DiCaprio as Max from Hocus Pocus
Leonardo DiCaprio as Max from Hocus Pocus
Back in the 1990s DiCaprio was
just starting his career. The role of Max in Disney’s fantasy Hocus Pocus
could’ve become his big shot, but he preferred to go for the adapted drama
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape despite the much bigger financial reward that
Disney offered.
just starting his career. The role of Max in Disney’s fantasy Hocus Pocus
could’ve become his big shot, but he preferred to go for the adapted drama
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape despite the much bigger financial reward that
Disney offered.
It looks like it was the right
choice, because that part brought him his first Oscar nomination. Things didn’t
go so well for Omri Katz, though, who portrayed Max in the end: he finished his
acting career in 2002.
choice, because that part brought him his first Oscar nomination. Things didn’t
go so well for Omri Katz, though, who portrayed Max in the end: he finished his
acting career in 2002.
4.
Hugh Jackman as Captain Jack Sparrow
Hugh Jackman as Captain Jack Sparrow
The writer of original script,
Stuart Beattie, confessed that he was creating Captain Sparrow’s character with
Hugh Jackman in mind (hence the JACK in Captain Jack Sparrow). However, back in
2003 the X-Men star wasn’t famous enough for the role, so the Disney crew opted
for Depp. The choice turned out to be successful: thanks to Johnny Depp a movie
that was supposed to only be one film, became a franchise.
Stuart Beattie, confessed that he was creating Captain Sparrow’s character with
Hugh Jackman in mind (hence the JACK in Captain Jack Sparrow). However, back in
2003 the X-Men star wasn’t famous enough for the role, so the Disney crew opted
for Depp. The choice turned out to be successful: thanks to Johnny Depp a movie
that was supposed to only be one film, became a franchise.
5.
Ian McKellen as Professor Dumbledore
Ian McKellen as Professor Dumbledore
Ian McKellen was approached
for the role of Professor Dumbledore after Richard Harris, who originally
portrayed the Hogwarts’s headmaster in the first 2 films of the Harry Potter
franchise, passed away in 2002.
for the role of Professor Dumbledore after Richard Harris, who originally
portrayed the Hogwarts’s headmaster in the first 2 films of the Harry Potter
franchise, passed away in 2002.
However, McKellen turned down
the offer, saying that Harris had never appreciated him as an actor. According
to the Lord of the Rings star, he just couldn’t take over the part from a
colleague who disapproved of him.
the offer, saying that Harris had never appreciated him as an actor. According
to the Lord of the Rings star, he just couldn’t take over the part from a
colleague who disapproved of him.
6.
John Travolta as Forrest Gump
John Travolta as Forrest Gump
The role that made Tom Hanks a
major star was initially offered to John Travolta, who was at the peak of his
popularity back then. Travolta turned down the part, though, to appear in
Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. Remarkably enough, after this film Travolta’s
career started to go down, whereas Hanks received his second Oscar as Best
Actor for this performance.
major star was initially offered to John Travolta, who was at the peak of his
popularity back then. Travolta turned down the part, though, to appear in
Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. Remarkably enough, after this film Travolta’s
career started to go down, whereas Hanks received his second Oscar as Best
Actor for this performance.
7.
Matt Damon as Avatar
Matt Damon as Avatar
In a recent interview Matt
Damon surprised his fans with a shocking revelation: James Cameron, the creator
of Avatar, wanted him to star in his science fiction blockbuster. Not only did
the director offer him the role, he also proposed 10% of the film’s profits,
which, according to the box office, would now estimate to be as much as $280
million.
Damon surprised his fans with a shocking revelation: James Cameron, the creator
of Avatar, wanted him to star in his science fiction blockbuster. Not only did
the director offer him the role, he also proposed 10% of the film’s profits,
which, according to the box office, would now estimate to be as much as $280
million.
In the end, the then unknown
Sam Worthington landed the role, and Damon’s only regret is that he missed the
opportunity to work with James Cameron.
Sam Worthington landed the role, and Damon’s only regret is that he missed the
opportunity to work with James Cameron.
8.
Dana Delaney as Carrie Bradshaw
Dana Delaney as Carrie Bradshaw
Nowadays it’s hard to imagine
anyone but Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw, but at the time of the
project’s launch Dana Delany was considered for the part. The actress, however,
refused the role.
anyone but Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw, but at the time of the
project’s launch Dana Delany was considered for the part. The actress, however,
refused the role.
9.
Jack Nicholson as Michael Corleone
Jack Nicholson as Michael Corleone
Jack Nicholson has portrayed
plenty of remarkable characters in his life and Michael Corleone could have
been one of them. But it didn’t work out because of the actor’s own
superstitions. As he revealed many years later, he refused the role because
back then he believed that characters of certain nationalities should only be
played by actors of that nationality. It’s good for Nicholson that his views
have changed.
plenty of remarkable characters in his life and Michael Corleone could have
been one of them. But it didn’t work out because of the actor’s own
superstitions. As he revealed many years later, he refused the role because
back then he believed that characters of certain nationalities should only be
played by actors of that nationality. It’s good for Nicholson that his views
have changed.
10.
Will Smith as Neo
Will Smith as Neo
It’s hard to believe but Will
Smith could’ve been the one reflecting thousands of bullets and flying over the
Matrix. However, he turned down the role to take part in the Wild Wild West
movie and admitted sometime afterward that it was the right decision. Back then
he couldn’t appreciate the concept of The Matrix and was absolutely sure he
would have messed it up.
Smith could’ve been the one reflecting thousands of bullets and flying over the
Matrix. However, he turned down the role to take part in the Wild Wild West
movie and admitted sometime afterward that it was the right decision. Back then
he couldn’t appreciate the concept of The Matrix and was absolutely sure he
would have messed it up.
11.
Mel Gibson as Maximus
Mel Gibson as Maximus
Russel Crowe’s portrayal of
the gladiator Maximus brought him his first (and yet only) Oscar. However, he
was close to missing the chance, because the role was initially offered to Mel
Gibson. Gibson declined it, though, since he felt he wasn’t the appropriate age
for the part.
the gladiator Maximus brought him his first (and yet only) Oscar. However, he
was close to missing the chance, because the role was initially offered to Mel
Gibson. Gibson declined it, though, since he felt he wasn’t the appropriate age
for the part.
12.
Shiloh Jolie-Pitt as Aurora
Shiloh Jolie-Pitt as Aurora
After being cast for
Maleficent 5 years ago, Angelina Jolie offered the role of Aurora to her
daughter Shiloh. But, according to the actress, she wasn’t interested in the
opportunity at all and found the whole idea hilarious. In the end, the role
went to Elle Fanning.
Maleficent 5 years ago, Angelina Jolie offered the role of Aurora to her
daughter Shiloh. But, according to the actress, she wasn’t interested in the
opportunity at all and found the whole idea hilarious. In the end, the role
went to Elle Fanning.
13.
Al Pacino as Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman
Al Pacino as Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman
Before Richard Gere enchanted
the whole world as Edward Lewis, the role was considered for Al Pacino. The
Italian actor read the script and even did a final reading with Julia Roberts,
but in the end refused to take the part.
the whole world as Edward Lewis, the role was considered for Al Pacino. The
Italian actor read the script and even did a final reading with Julia Roberts,
but in the end refused to take the part.
Creators claim that it would have
been a totally different movie if Al Pacino had landed the role after all.
been a totally different movie if Al Pacino had landed the role after all.
14.
Charlie Hunnam as Christian Grey
Charlie Hunnam as Christian Grey
Christian Grey from 50 Shades
of Grey made Jamie Dornan a super-star. Little did we know that the role was
first offered to Charlie Hunnam. Unfortunately, because of scheduling conflicts
Hunnam had to back out. He still describes it as a heart-breaking experience
but back then he already had arrangements with his friend Guillermo del Toro
and couldn’t break his promise.
of Grey made Jamie Dornan a super-star. Little did we know that the role was
first offered to Charlie Hunnam. Unfortunately, because of scheduling conflicts
Hunnam had to back out. He still describes it as a heart-breaking experience
but back then he already had arrangements with his friend Guillermo del Toro
and couldn’t break his promise.
Which of these probable
choices would have been better than the final cast? Who else do you think
could’ve been good for these parts? Share your opinion in the comments.
choices would have been better than the final cast? Who else do you think
could’ve been good for these parts? Share your opinion in the comments.
Preview photo credit Pretty
Woman / Touchstone Pictures, The Godfather / Paramount Pictures
Woman / Touchstone Pictures, The Godfather / Paramount Pictures
BRIGHTSIDE
Kayode Emmanuel Ojo is the Co-Founder and Managing Director at SHEFFA Limited. He is presently studying Computer Science at the National Open University, Victoria Island, Lagos.