20 Famous Actors Who Didn’t Get Roles They Auditioned For

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Landing a big acting role usually involves several auditions, and even well-known actors have almost missed out on parts. It’s common for actors to audition for roles that ultimately go to someone else, but sometimes this leads to even bigger opportunities down the line. These stories show how casting decisions can unexpectedly change an actor’s career path. Here are twenty examples of famous actors who auditioned for roles that were given to someone else.

Henry Cavill

Henry Cavill auditioned for the role of James Bond in ‘Casino Royale’, but Daniel Craig was ultimately chosen after a thorough audition process. Cavill later revealed he was advised to get in better shape for the part. He went on to become a leading man in popular franchises like ‘Man of Steel’ and ‘The Witcher’.

Tom Hiddleston

Tom Hiddleston initially auditioned to play Thor, even doing a full on-camera performance. However, Chris Hemsworth was ultimately chosen for the part. Recognizing Hiddleston’s talent, Marvel instead cast him as Loki, a decision that led to the creation of one of their most beloved characters.

Eddie Redmayne

You know, it’s funny looking back – I remember hearing Eddie Redmayne actually auditioned for Bilbo in ‘The Hobbit’! They ended up going with Martin Freeman, which, honestly, feels perfect now. But it wasn’t the only big role he tried for; he also went out for a villain in some space opera, but that didn’t work out. Thankfully, he landed Newt Scamander in ‘Fantastic Beasts’, and that really felt like the role he was meant to play. It’s amazing how things work out, isn’t it?

Kurt Russell

Kurt Russell tried out for the part of Han Solo in ‘Star Wars’. Casting directors tested several actors together to see who had the best on-screen connection. Ultimately, Harrison Ford landed the role after a final round of auditions. Russell then found success working regularly with director John Carpenter.

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone auditioned for the role of Han Solo when ‘Star Wars’ was first casting. He felt he didn’t quite fit the character, who needed to be a fast-talking smuggler. Ultimately, Harrison Ford was chosen after further auditions. Soon after, Stallone created and starred in ‘Rocky,’ the film that made him famous.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence tried out for the role of Bella Swan in the movie ‘Twilight’, but Kristen Stewart was ultimately chosen after a large search for the right actress. Lawrence later shared that she simply received a phone call letting her know the decision. She quickly gained recognition with her performance in ‘Winter’s Bone’ and then became a leading star in ‘The Hunger Games’.

Brie Larson

Brie Larson tried out for the part of Katniss in ‘The Hunger Games,’ but Jennifer Lawrence ultimately got the role. Around the same period, Larson also auditioned for a big science fiction franchise. She later starred in ‘Room’ and went on to become Captain Marvel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Tom Holland

Tom Holland tried out for a role in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, and he recalled practicing a scene where he reacted to a drone acting as another character. He wasn’t cast in the film, but soon after, he landed the main role in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson tried out for the role of Lisbeth Salander in ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’, but the director and studio preferred an actress who wasn’t as well-known. Rooney Mara ultimately got the part after a tough audition process. Johansson went on to achieve success in other roles, including becoming famous for playing Black Widow in the Marvel movies.

Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot tried out for a role in the James Bond movie ‘Quantum of Solace,’ specifically the character Camille. However, Olga Kurylenko ultimately won the part after auditions. While she didn’t get that role, Gadot’s audition performance opened doors for her in Hollywood, and she eventually landed the iconic role of Wonder Woman in the DC Universe.

Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet tried out for the role of Spider-Man in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming,’ but Tom Holland was ultimately cast. Chalamet described the audition process as very challenging. He went on to star in ‘Call Me by Your Name’ and later became the lead in ‘Dune’.

Sebastian Stan

Sebastian Stan originally auditioned for the part of Captain America in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger,’ but Chris Evans ultimately got the role. Marvel then cast Stan as Bucky Barnes, a supporting character who later became the complex and popular Winter Soldier in multiple films.

Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal tried out for the role of Christian in ‘Moulin Rouge’, but director Baz Luhrmann ultimately chose Ewan McGregor, feeling he had better singing skills and on-screen chemistry. Gyllenhaal later took vocal lessons and explored other roles that allowed him to showcase his musical talents. He became known for his work in films such as ‘Donnie Darko’ and ‘Nightcrawler’.

Michael B. Jordan

Michael B. Jordan tried out for a part in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens,’ but he didn’t think his audition went very well. The filmmakers ultimately chose other actors for the role. Soon after, Jordan landed the part of Adonis Creed in ‘Creed’ and later became known for playing Erik Killmonger in ‘Black Panther.’

Saoirse Ronan

I always thought Saoirse Ronan would have been an amazing Katniss in ‘The Hunger Games’! I remember hearing she auditioned, but ultimately the studio went with Jennifer Lawrence after doing a lot of test screenings. Even though she didn’t get that part, Saoirse really hit her stride after that, landing some incredible lead roles and eventually earning multiple Oscar nominations for films like ‘Brooklyn’ and ‘Lady Bird’. She’s just phenomenal.

Elizabeth Olsen

Elizabeth Olsen tried out for the part of Daenerys Targaryen on ‘Game of Thrones’, but Emilia Clarke eventually got the role after some changes were made to the pilot episode and further auditions. Olsen later found success playing Wanda Maximoff in the Marvel universe, and eventually starred in her own series, ‘WandaVision’.

Andrew Garfield

Andrew Garfield tried out for the lead role in ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,’ but Ben Barnes was ultimately chosen. Garfield later shared that he was told he didn’t fit the desired appearance for the part. He went on to star as Spider-Man in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ and later won a Tony Award.

John Krasinski

John Krasinski auditioned for the role of Captain America in the first ‘Captain America’ movie. He even got to try on the costume! Ultimately, the studio decided to go with Chris Evans. Krasinski later became well-known for his work on ‘A Quiet Place’ and ‘Jack Ryan’.

Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman tried out for the male lead in ‘Miss Congeniality,’ alongside Sandra Bullock, but the role ultimately went to Benjamin Bratt after auditions. Jackman later shared that he really needed the work at the time and was upset not to get the part. Fortunately, he quickly landed the role of Wolverine in ‘X-Men’ soon after.

Tom Felton

Tom Felton originally tried out for the roles of both Harry and Ron before the actors were finally chosen. The filmmakers considered him for several parts during the initial auditions, but he didn’t get either of those leading roles. Ultimately, he was cast as Draco Malfoy, a role he became well-known for throughout the Harry Potter series.

Tell us about times actors almost landed a famous role – share your favorite ‘almost cast’ stories in the comments! We’re especially curious to hear which near misses really surprised you.

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2025-11-12 15:16