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Will Smith Turned Down The Role Of Neo In "The Matrix", Eventually Played By Keanu Reeves

Final score:

167points

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Cathal 3 years ago

Nicolas Cage auditioned for this and every other film on this entire list :P

118points

Thomas Brodie-Sangster Auditioned For The Part Of Ron Weasley In "Harry Potter", Rupert Grint Was Cast

Final score:

165points

POST

MyPrecious 3 years ago

no way Rupert way too good to be rejected he is the one and only ron for the job

90points

There’s something about the strong characters we like that makes us feel deeply attached to them. Like, genuinely attached as we feel their pains and joys just like they were our close friends or relatives.

The topic is no stranger to academic scholars and Howard Sklar, a postdoctoral researcher in the English Philology Unit at the University of Helsinki, has his own theory. Turns out, our bond with fictional characters reflects our bond with people in the real world.

“We’d have no way of processing a character cognitively if we didn’t have experiences with people outside of the fictional world,” he explains. “The experiences with fictional characters resonate with us because of the fact that we’ve had deep experiences with people throughout our lives.”

John Travolta Turned Down The Role Of Forrest Gump, Eventually Played By Tom Hanks

Final score:

159points

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Lxm 3 years ago

Good

282points

Sean Connery Said No To Playing Gandalf In "The Lord Of The Rings", Ian Mckellen Took The Part

Final score:

157points

POST

Daria Z 3 years ago

Sir Connery would be a great Gandalf too :)

32points

Ian Mckellen Turned Down The Part Of Albus Dumbledore In "Harry Potter", Michael Gambon Was Cast

Final score:

154points

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Daria Z 3 years ago

Well, it would be confusing to see Gandalf in Hogwarts :)

305points

And as we invest our attention, time, and empathy in the characters of a particularly engaging film or novel, we begin to respond to them as though they were real individuals. Even if we cannot truly connect with their circumstances, e.g. we have never been in a war, our ability to feel emotionally for fictional beings can transcend these details and make them unimportant. This is what powerful filmmaking and the art of storytelling do to us.

Tom Cruise Was Considered For The Part Of Iron Man, But Robert Downey, Jr Was Cast

Final score:

152points

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ahmad fauzi md sharif 3 years ago

Nahh....Iron Man would have been running everywhere instead of flying.

228points

Robin Williams Wanted To Play Rubeus Hagrid In "Harry Potter" But Was Rejected, Robbie Coltrane Got The Part

Final score:

150points

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Verena 3 years ago

Only British actors were cast.

172points

Jim Carrey Was Considered To Play Edward Scissorhands, Johnny Depp Got The Part

Final score:

148points

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Lxm 3 years ago

Jc would not have brought the wonderful whimsy that jd did to the role. Would have been just another joke.

172points

#10

Russell Crowe Turned Down The Role Of Aragorn In "The Lord Of The Rings", Eventually Played By Viggo Mortensen

Final score:

145points

POST

Kisses4Katie 3 years ago

Good casting.

159points

#11

Bette Midler Turned Down The Part Of Sister Mary Clarence In "Sister Act", Eventually Played By Whoopi Goldberg

Final score:

138points

POST

MyPrecious 3 years ago

hey whoopis Goldberg is in another movie called corrina corrina it is an amazing movie

61points

#12

Eddie Redmayne Auditioned For The Part Of Star-Lord In "Guardians Of The Galaxy", But Chris Pratt Was Cast

Final score:

121points

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Kisses4Katie 3 years ago

Oh thank everything

203points

#13

Al Pacino Turned Down The Part Of Han Solo In "Star Wars", Eventually Played By Harrison Ford

Final score:

120points

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Daria Z 3 years ago

Why are these two pictures from different time periods?

133points

#14

Matthew Mcconaughey Auditioned For The Role Of Jack Dawson In "Titanic", Eventually Played By Leonardo Dicaprio

Final score:

119points

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Kisses4Katie 3 years ago

Alright alright alRose

168points

#15

Christina Applegate Was Considered For The Role Of Elle Woods In "Legally Blonde", Eventually Played By Reese Witherspoon

Final score:

117points

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Jonathan 3 years ago

Both played Rachels sisters in Friends!

129points

#16

Ryan Gosling Was Considered For The Role Of Doctor Strange, Eventually Played By Benedict Cumberbatch

Final score:

115points

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Janine B. 3 years ago

There's only one Doctor.

150points

Paul Giamatt Declined The Role Of Michael Scott In "The Office", Steve Carell Got The Part

Final score:

114points

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tuzdayschild 3 years ago

HURRAY!

124points

#18

Emily Blunt Was The First Choice To Play Black Widow, But Scarlett Johansson Got The Part

Final score:

112points

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Vic 3 years ago

I've read she's been offered Marvel roles multiple times, but couldn't take them up coz of date clashes. Scarlett Johansson is awesome, but Emily Blunt would have made an excellent Black Widow too..

180points

#19

Hugh Grant Was Considered For The Part Of Gilderoy Lockhart In "Harry Potter", But Kenneth Branagh Was Cast

Final score:

111points

POST

Wendillon 3 years ago

Hugh probably would have made a pretty good Lockhart too

220points

#20

Gwyneth Paltrow Turned Down The Role Of Rose Dewitt Bukater In "Titanic", Kate Winslet Got The Part

Final score:

110points

POST

TTourist 3 years ago

Good decision.

218points

#21

Emilia Clarke Turned Down The Role Of Anastasia Steele In "Fifty Shades Of Grey", Eventually Played By Dakota Johnson

Final score:

108points

POST

Kisses4Katie 3 years ago

Yeah poor girl didn't want to be associated with sex roles for everything.

177points

#22

Liam Aiken Was Offered The Role Of Harry Potter, But Daniel Radcliffe Got The Part

Final score:

104points

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Janine B. 3 years ago

Just considering his looks, he would have been a good choice, too.

106points

#23

Joanne Rowling Was Asked To Play Lily Potter In "Harry Potter", But She Declined, Geraldine Somerville Got The Part

Final score:

102points

POST

Daria Z 3 years ago

Oh but that would be neat as she's actually the one who created him.

145points

#24

Hugh Jackman Turned Down The Role Of James Bond, Eventually Played By Daniel Craig

Final score:

99points

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Rose the Cook 3 years ago

That could have been interesting.

170points

Henry Cavill Was The First Pick To Play Edward Cullen In "Twilight", Robert Pattinson Was Cast For The Role

Final score:

99points

POST

Katy F 3 years ago

Good decision, I don't see Henry as an Edward Cullen lol

94points

#26

David Thewlis Was Considered For The Role Of Quirinus Quirrell In "Harry Potter", Eventually Played By Ian Hart

Final score:

98points

POST

MyPrecious 3 years ago

but he got remus lupin, that's a better part and he is amazing

241points

#27

Britney Spears Auditioned For The Part Of Allie In "The Notebook", Eventually Played By Rachel Mcadams

Final score:

94points

POST

Bole Perishon 3 years ago

In spite of her attempts, Britney Spears can not be categorised as "actress".

169points

#28

Jennifer Lawrence Auditioned For The Role Of Bella Swan In "Twilight", But Kristen Stewart Was Cast Instead

Final score:

90points

POST

Jonathan 3 years ago

Kristen Stewart is an awful actor 😂

186points

#29

Emma Watson Turned Down The Part Of Mia In "La La Land", Emma Stone Was Cast

Final score:

89points

POST

로희 3 years ago

I love both Emmas but I think Stone was the better choice.

94points

#30

Jack Nicholson Passed On The Role Of Michael Corleone In "The Godfather", Eventually Played By Al Pacino

Final score:

86points

POST

birdie asf 3 years ago

Nope. the vibe would have been SUPER different and the movie wouldn't be the same without Al Pacino.

127points

Note: this post originally had 65 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

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Denis is a photo editor at Bored Panda. After getting his bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design, he tried to succeed in digital design, advertising, and branding. Also, Denis really enjoys sports and loves everything related to board sports and water.

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What do you think ?

POST

Sasy 3 years ago

It seems like Harry Potter movies would have been very different, nearly every role was potentially another actor.

11points

Johnny Apples 3 years ago

You mean like every movie ever?

9points

The 5-star rated 5-star rating system 3 years ago

Here's an even crazier story: The Beatles were going to make a Lord of the Rings film in the mid- 1960's with *drumroll* Stanley Kubrick. The film would have featured original Beatles songs. Paul McCartney would portray Frodo Baggins, Ringo Starr as Sam Gamgee, George Harrison as Gandalf and John Lennon would appear as Gollum. Stanley Kubrick didn't like the idea and neither did J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien didn't want his work to be turned into an LSD trip and I have to say I think it would have been a disaster if he had let it happen.

10points

respulero 3 years ago (edited)

All the could-have-been had good carrers without those roles, many of the actual cast wouldnt have done without it. Anyway, if they had accepted the job, and they would appear in this post whith other actors (or the actual cast) as the could-have-beens, nothing would change and people would say exactly the same things "thank god, he/she was the perfect election for the role, it wouldnt be the same without him/her "

7points

Clare Toolis 2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

C. Mayo 3 years ago

I guess we're just doing movies here, but one of the worst TV mis-castings (in my opinion) was when the showrunners had initially cast Rosie Perez as Daphne Moon in Frasier. Thank goodness Jane Leeves won the part in the end!

3points

BoredDragon 3 years ago

You know, I always wondered who the ones were that were turned down...

2points

Canadian in Cornwall 3 years ago

Tom Selleck was to play Indiana Jones from the start, but he was contracted to film Magnum P.I and couldn't get out of it, so the role went to Harrison Ford. Selleck is good, but can you imagine him as Indy? I can't.

2points

Bear42212 3 years ago

I can

2points

Bee Jairrels 3 years ago

who is downvoting all these comments?

1point

Ethan Ruppert 3 years ago

Me……. Jk

1point

Jane Alexander 3 years ago

I'm eternally thankful that Gregory Peck was Ahab in Moby D**k! (the good one, the '56 film) Charlton Heston? aw hell no!

1point

Lightningstar 3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

Oscar Mozart Finch 3 years ago

Think of how different so many memes could've been

1point

F. H. 3 years ago

Hm, in most cases I just find myself thinking: Yeah, that would have worked too.

1point

Rainbow Panda 3 years ago

This is very interesting! 🦸‍♀️

1point

Cat 3 years ago

Is there some troll downvoting everything?

0points

brukernavn340 3 years ago

Probably one person with several users. Maybe it's one of those people that tend to impersonate BP staff? Someone having a grudge on BP perhaps?

5points

Katherine Boag 3 years ago

Would have been nice if every photo of the actor that didnt play the part was from the same year as the photo from the film/series

0points

SueG 3 years ago

The layout of the actors' photos throughout thus piece is inconsistent -- the could-have-beens on the left suddenly switch to the right, then back again. A bit frustrating.

0points

Wendillon 3 years ago

Glad I'm not the only one bothered by that

-1point

Lis Daglish 3 years ago

I find all of these really interesting. You can so clearly picture how a film would be dramatically changed, an entirely different mood, with alternate casting.

0points

Hilzillah 3 years ago

This! It's so true!

1point

Steve Barnett 3 years ago

In Reservoir Dogs the part of Mr Orange was originally offered to James Woods, but his agent didn't let him know and was subsequently fired because of this. I like Tim Roth, but I genuinely believe that James Woods would've been a better choice.

-2points

Meeow 3 years ago

The Matrix, Iron Man, The Silence Of The Lambs won't make any different both are good options, sister act, forrest gump, titanic, the god father, the notebook would be totally different movie. And Se7en would be more dramatic if Denzel take the role.

-2points

Nevits Yibble 3 years ago

What's with the Harry Potter fetish here

-2points

POST

Sasy 3 years ago

It seems like Harry Potter movies would have been very different, nearly every role was potentially another actor.

11points

Johnny Apples 3 years ago

You mean like every movie ever?

9points

The 5-star rated 5-star rating system 3 years ago

10points

respulero 3 years ago (edited)

7points

Clare Toolis 2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

C. Mayo 3 years ago

3points

BoredDragon 3 years ago

You know, I always wondered who the ones were that were turned down...

2points

Canadian in Cornwall 3 years ago

2points

Bear42212 3 years ago

I can

2points

Bee Jairrels 3 years ago

who is downvoting all these comments?

1point

Ethan Ruppert 3 years ago

Me……. Jk

1point

Jane Alexander 3 years ago

I'm eternally thankful that Gregory Peck was Ahab in Moby D**k! (the good one, the '56 film) Charlton Heston? aw hell no!

1point

Lightningstar 3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

Oscar Mozart Finch 3 years ago

Think of how different so many memes could've been

1point

F. H. 3 years ago

Hm, in most cases I just find myself thinking: Yeah, that would have worked too.

1point

Rainbow Panda 3 years ago

This is very interesting! 🦸‍♀️

1point

Cat 3 years ago

Is there some troll downvoting everything?

0points

brukernavn340 3 years ago

Probably one person with several users. Maybe it's one of those people that tend to impersonate BP staff? Someone having a grudge on BP perhaps?

5points

Katherine Boag 3 years ago

Would have been nice if every photo of the actor that didnt play the part was from the same year as the photo from the film/series

0points

SueG 3 years ago

The layout of the actors' photos throughout thus piece is inconsistent -- the could-have-beens on the left suddenly switch to the right, then back again. A bit frustrating.

0points

Wendillon 3 years ago

Glad I'm not the only one bothered by that

-1point

Lis Daglish 3 years ago

I find all of these really interesting. You can so clearly picture how a film would be dramatically changed, an entirely different mood, with alternate casting.

0points

Hilzillah 3 years ago

This! It's so true!

1point