The MCU is the biggest franchise in cinematic history -- and just about every actor out
there is secretly hitting the gym in hopings of joining the cinematic universe.
However, not everyone wants to be involved -- it will surprise you to know that many
A-Listers have turned down roles in the successful films.
So today on Beyond The Screen, we’re going to be counting down our list of the Top 10
Actors Who Refused Massive Marvel Roles - Part 2.
10.
Bryan Cranston – Sebastian Shaw Yep, that’s right.
Once upon a time, Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston was almost the world’s most evil
mutant!
The Emmy Winning Actor was on the set of Total Recall when he admitted that he was briefly
up for the part of Sebastian Shaw in X-Men: First Class, the role that eventually went
to Kevin Bacon.
Now -- what turned the actor away from Marvel you may ask?
Drive.
Yep -- according to Cranston he had the choice to play Shaw or a supporting character in
the Ryan Gosling thriller movie -- and of course, he chose the latter due to its irresistible
script.
I quote, “At the same time, I read Drive, and I thought, Oh this is what I’d rather
do.
I turned down X-Men for the role in Drive because I liked the character better.
Much better.
The experience with Ryan Gosling and Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman and Carey Mulligan
-- It was terrific.”
9.
Dougray Scott – Wolverine It’s been 19 years since Hugh Jackman first
appeared on our cinema screens as the formidable Wolverine -- and at this point, we can’t
quite imagine any other actor taking on the role.
However -- Jackman wasn’t actually the first choice for the original X-Men film, which
may shock some of you.
While speaking to the Aussies In Hollywood podcast, Jackman revealed that he got the
role after Scottish actor Dougray Scott withdrew due to schedule conflicts with Mission Impossible
2.
Don’t feel too bad for Scott though -- when walking on a red carpet a few years ago, he
admitted he turned down the role because he didn’t want to do it.
However -- I’m not too sure I believe that.
8.
Sam Rockwell – Iron Man Much like our previous number -- Tony Stark
has become an iconic character in cinema, and imagining anyone taking on the role of
Iron Man that isn’t Robert Downey Jr is quite the challenging ask.
However, it turned out that another actor nearly took his place from the very beginning
of development.
Early on, Jon Favreau had expressed interest in giving the role of Tony Stark to Sam Rockwell.
Favreau approached the actor about potentially doing a screen test as title character, however,
it didn’t pan out and Robert Downey Jr eventually beat out Rockwell.
There were no hard feelings though because Sam Rockwell later returned to Marvel two
years later, portraying the smarmy industrialist Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2.
7.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson – John Wraith
If you’re unfamiliar with Quinton Rampage Jackson, he is best known as one of the world’s
best MMA fighters of all time -- but like a handful of athletes, he also tried his hand
at acting.
Some successful, others not so much.
His most prominent role is playing B.A.
Baracus in the A-Team, however, that wasn’t the only major Hollywood blockbuster he could
have starred in.
Almost 10 years ago now, he had the opportunity to play John Wraith in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Jackson revealed that he passed on the role to focus on his MMA career -- with Marvel
eventually turning to rapper Will I Am take on the role of John Wraith.
6.
Mel Gibson – ODIN Actor and Director Mel Gibson has had many
ups and downs in the industry, particularly downs.
With the actor being on the outs with a lot of big time hollywood execs.
However, Gibson was very close to landing the role of Thor’s father Odin in the MCU.
In an interview with the actor, he was asked if he had ever been approached for a superhero
film, I quote, “Yeah, long time ago, to play Thor’s dad.”
However, Gibson wasn’t a fan and turned down the role which was eventually given to
Anthony Hopkins.
https://ca.ign.com/articles/2016/05/26/mel-gibson-turned-down-odin-role-in-marvels-thor
5.
Olivia Munn – Vanessa Carlysle I’m sure there are many people out there
who would love to be Deadpool’s girlfriend, even play Deadpools girlfriend.
However, Olivia Munn is not one of those people.
The Newsroom actress who went on to play Psylocke in X-Men: Apocalypse told news outlets that
the original role she was offered was a far-cry from the sword-wielding badass.
According to reports, she was set to play Vanessa in Deadpool but was unsatisfied with
the character’s depth and limited action.
4.
Alexander Skarsgard – Thor 10 long years ago, when Thor was in development
and attempting to cast the role of the God of Thunder -- Hollywood heartthrob Alexander
Skarsgard came very close to nabbing the prize.
Skargard stated, I quote, “ Yeah, I met with Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige a few
times and the director Kenneth Branagh”.
According to reports, the casting process got so far along that the actor even filmed
an audition in the complete Thor costume, hammer and all.
However, as we know, he ultimately lost the role to Chris Hemsworth but Skarsgard has
said that he has an open mind about one day landing another comic-book-based role.
3.
Jensen Ackles – Hawkeye Did you know, star of CW’s Supernatural,
Jensen Ackles once auditioned for the role of Captain America, but more famously, Hawkeye.
After missing out on the role of Cap, Marvel apparently took a liking to Ackles and offered
him the role of Hawkeye instead.
However, Ackles was very quick to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts with Supernatural.
The show that never seemed to end.
Now, no one is quite sure whether Ackles was truthful about him turning down the role,
considering he did audition for the role of Cap -- and if his schedule was catering to
that, then surely he would have been able to take on the role of Hawkeye as well.
2.
Olivia Wilde – Gamora A long time ago, Olivia Wilde was asked about
superhero movies, and the possibility of making Captain Marvel with her Meadowland director,
Reed Morano.
She was open to the possibility, and discussed how Marvel has been incredibly smart regarding
their casting choices -- even that of Gamora.
A role which she was close to nabbing -- however, Wilde turned down the role for unknowns reasons,
which lead to Zoe Saldana taking on the role.
1.
Matt Damon – Daredevil A few years back veteran actor Matt Damon
told reporters that he had turned down the role his childhood friend Ben Affleck went
on to play in Daredevil.
He discussed how as children the comic they always read was Daredevil, I quote, “For
us it was always Daredevil -- that’s the comic we read when we were kids.
But when that once came along, I chickened out, because I couldn’t tell.
I hadn’t see the director’s work and I didn’t know.
So I just said, No.”
Following his refusal of the role, his best friend Ben Affleck told his that he had to
do it, so he took it.
The film did ok, but ultimately bombed in the eyes of the fans and critics alike.
However, Ben was ultimately very proud of it, and I guess that’s all that matters
-- but I can’t help but think that Damon dodged a massive bullet there.
Well, there we have it!
Do you guys agree with our list?
Were there any actors we missed?
Leave us all your thoughts and feelings in the comments down below.
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And until next time, see ya later.