…We are shooketh!

10 Celebrities that turned down major roles
10 Celebrities that turned down major roles
VIEW GALLERY
12 Photos
2 of 12

Sarah Jessica Parker – Lydia (Winona Ryder) in Beetlejuice

Sara Jessica Parker turned down her dark role as Lydia in Beetlejuice. Instead, the Stranger Things actress, Winona Ryder, played that r

3 of 12

Will Smith – Django (Jamie Foxx) in Django Unchained

Due to “creative differences,” Will Smith reportedly has turned down his role in the Oscar-nominated Django Unchained allowing Jamie Foxx play the role.

4 of 12

Michelle Pfeiffer – Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone) in Basic Instinct

With Michelle Pfeiffer passing this role, Sharon Stone starred in Basic Instinct that became her most successful movie then. Sharon should be thankful!

5 of 12

Sandra Bullock – Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) in Million Dollar Baby

Years of trying to get a movie filmed about a professional boxer, Sandra Bullock had finally achieved it. But at that time she was attached to Crash. So, Hilary Swank starred in Million Dolllar baby and won an Oscar for her role. How shocking!

6 of 12

Selena Gomez – Mitchie Torres (Demi Lovato) in Camp Rock

Guess what! Selena Gomez was the top pick for the music-centric movie that had Demi Lovato opposite Joe Jonas, but Disney Channel’s Garry Marsh mentioned, “She wasn’t ready to explore that part of her talent yet. She wanted to build her acting base first.”

7 of 12

Gwyneth Paltrow – Rose Dewitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) in Titanic

In a confession to Howard Stern in 2015, Gwyneth Paltrow mentioned her turning down of a part in Boogie Nights, but she tried to avoid the discussion about declining the iconic role of rose in Titanic as she said, “My mother will kill me that I’m talking about turning down movie roles. “She says it’s not ladylike.” And added that she “couldn’t change the past.”

8 of 12

Leonardo DiCaprio – Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) in American Psycho

Besides his many great successes that he achieved by starring in the award-winning Titanic and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape back in 2000, he would have been also the star of the American Psycho. But he dismissed this one, and Patrick Bateman won the role. 

9 of 12

Emma Watson – Mia (Emma Stone) in La La Land

In the Oscar-nominated musical La La Land, Emma Watson was the original pick, but due to her commitment to Beauty and the Beast, she had to dismiss the role as she mentioned in a SiriusXM Town Hall interview, “I knew I had horse training, I knew I had dancing, I knew I had three months of singing ahead of me, and I knew I had to be in London to really do that. And this wasn’t a movie I could just kind of parachute into. I knew I had to do the work, and I had to be where I had to be. So scheduling conflict-wise, it just didn’t work out.”

10 of 12

Jennifer Connelly – Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) in Pretty Woman

That night was auspicious to Julia Roberts. Director Garry had Jennifer Connelly on his top list for Pretty Woman, but thinking she was too young for the role, Jennifer withdrew her name. And therefore, Julia has earned the role as Vivian Ward.

11 of 12

Rachel McAdams – Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) in The Devil Wears Prada

Honestly, I don’t see anyone but Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada. But surprisingly, Anne was not the first choice. Instead, Rachel McAdams was on the top of the list.  Anne won the role and we are obliged because “it’s a tough call, they’re so different.” 

12 of 12

Thomas Jane – Don Draper (Jon Hamm) in Mad Men

We are thankful to have Jon Hamm as the leading actor of Mad Men, which was his biggest breakout hit. But later, he revealed that he wasn’t on the actors’ top list saying, “I think they went to Thomas Jane for it, and they were told that Thomas Jane does not do television. Now starring in Hung, by the way,” Jon told the WTF with Marc Maron podcast.”

More From Celebs

MORE FROM AROUND THE WEB