Oh how different things could have been.
Welcome to WatchMojo UK and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10
Brits who turned down massive roles.
For this list, we’ve gathered some of the most surprising examples of British actors
who either outright turned down the chance to play now-iconic roles, or were narrowly
beaten to the parts by other esteemed actors.
Although Paul Bettany was also considered for this role, the film might've been a completely
different spectacle had Hugh Grant landed the part.
Ultimately refusing the role after it was offered to him, Grant would have brought an
entirely different feel to King George VI.
Sure, the posh, mumbling persona is something he’s perfected in many a rom-com over the
years, but Colin Firth adds a distinctive gravitas to the King, something Grant would
arguably struggle to muster.
It probably would’ve gone from serious to silly.
Fiennes is a brilliant actor, but it’s difficult to imagine him as the lead in 2002’s “The
Pianist”, after seeing Adrien Brody’s breathtaking, Oscar-winning performance.
Apparently Fiennes was Roman Polanski’s first choice to play Szpilman, but due to
other commitments, he turned it down.
And as good as the actor is, he'd have been hard pushed to better Brody's emotional and
dedicated portrayal.
It's safe to say the role went to the right guy.
Whenever the recasting of Bond comes around, countless hats get thrown into the ring.
The likes of Sam Worthington and Dougray Scott were considered for “Casino Royale”, but
according to director Martin Campbell, Henry Cavill was the only other actor in serious
contention.
And after seeing him in “Man of Steel” and “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”
it’s clear he can play the action hero.
However, Cavill was just 22 at the time, so the part went to Daniel Craig.
Half of hollywood was seemingly considered for this one - from Tom Cruise to Tom hanks,
and Jim Carrey to John Cusack.
But only a select few were actually offered the role, one of which was chameleonic actor
Gary Oldman.
However, Oldman found the story too absurd, so he swerved it - only to regret the decision
after seeing the finished product.
It would have been brilliant to see what he’d have brought to the table, but credit where
credit’s due, Johnny Depp nailed it.
Okay, so Christian Bale was absolutely perfect for Bateman, but if it wasn't for Bale’s
determination to bag the role, we may have seen Ewan McGregor play the narcissistic,
axe-wielding maniac.
Although the likes of Edward Norton and Leonardo DiCaprio were also considered, Lionsgate officially
offered the role to Ewan.
But, as he was enamoured with the part, Bale personally told McGregor to turn it down.
And he did.
And we can’t help but wonder what might’ve been.
There’s something about Tom Hiddleston that screams super villain.
But in early production for 2011’s “Thor”, things were shaping up a little differently
for Tom.
Wanting to bag the lead role as the heavenly hammer-wielding Thor, Hiddleston auditioned
for the hero - but director Kenneth Branagh persuaded him to play Loki, instead.
And aren't we glad he did, because Hiddleston is arguably the MCU's best baddie.
He fully deserved the Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer for his efforts.
With Spielberg at the helm and Daniel Day-Lewis as the lead, this film was bound to rake in
accolades.
However, this presidential role wasn't just offered to someone
else, it was actually given to them.
Although Day-Lewis was pitched the role initially, he declined it, and Liam Neeson was subsequently
cast.
Neeson went on to extensively swat up on Lincoln, only to
deem himself a bad fit for the role - paving the way for Day-Lewis to return.
Yep, we nearly saw Watson star as Mia in the 2016 musical hit, and not alongside Ryan Gosling,
but Miles Teller.
Both were lined up to star but dropped out, with Watson committed to another musical - “Beauty
and the Beast”.
The role eventually went to Emma Stone - who scored an Oscar for it.
Coincidentally, Gosling turned down the chance to play The Beast in that film, for his role
in “La La Land”.
Watson famously walked away the lead in another musical too - Disney’s live-action “Cinderella”.
As Snape, Alan Rickman could steal a scene with a single glance.
But his casting was only confirmed when Tim Roth gave the Potter role up to star in Tim
Burton’s “Planet of the Apes”.
While Roth's character acting is always on point, we can’t help but feel he that he
might’ve missed the mark with Snape’s reserved, sardonic style.
Or maybe he’d have thrown that out and gone for something completely different.
A cockney Snape, perhaps?
Here it is, the one role to rule them all.
A commanding presence, an iconic, booming voice - Sean Connery might’ve suited Gandalf
perfectly.
So why didn’t it happen?
Well, Connery was approached for the role, but turned it down simply because he didn’t
understand the plot.
Patrick Stewart supposedly give it a miss because he didn’t like the script, leading
the way for Ian McKellen.
While Connery was quite anti-Hollywood at the time, rejecting Gandalf now seems a staggeringly
bad decision.