Actresses Who Were Almost Cast as Famous Superheroes

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Landing a role in a big superhero movie is incredibly competitive, with actors often going through hundreds of auditions and complicated contract talks. While certain stars now feel perfectly suited for their roles, many other talented actresses were seriously considered first. These near-misses show how different popular superhero films could have been with just a slight change in circumstances – whether it was a scheduling issue or a different creative vision. Here are some actresses who almost played iconic heroes.

Emily Blunt

As a film buff, I always found it fascinating to learn about casting ‘what ifs.’ Apparently, Emily Blunt was originally slated to play Black Widow in ‘Iron Man 2’! Sadly, she had a previous commitment to ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ with 20th Century Fox that prevented her from taking the role. It’s wild to think she was then offered the part of Peggy Carter in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger,’ but she passed on that too! Of course, Scarlett Johansson eventually stepped in as Black Widow and became a key part of the MCU’s Avengers team. It’s amazing how things can change!

Saoirse Ronan

I always found it fascinating to learn that Joss Whedon initially envisioned Saoirse Ronan as Wanda Maximoff for ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’! I remember reading that she actually wanted the part, saying how much she’d love to join the Marvel universe. It’s a shame it didn’t work out, but Elizabeth Olsen absolutely became the Scarlet Witch. It was a clever move to introduce her briefly in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ – that little post-credits scene was a perfect way to tease her arrival and set things up for her becoming a key player!

Amanda Seyfried

Amanda Seyfried was originally considered the frontrunner to play Gamora in the 2014 movie ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ but she declined the part. She was worried about the extensive daily makeup needed to transform her skin green, and she wasn’t sure a film centered around a talking raccoon and a tree would do well in theaters. Ultimately, the role went to Zoe Saldaña, who went on to play Gamora in four Marvel movies and two ‘Avengers’ sequels.

Jessica Chastain

Early on in the development of ‘Ant-Man’ (2015), Jessica Chastain was considered for the role of Hope van Dyne, who later becomes the Wasp. However, she decided against taking the part because she preferred a character with more action from the beginning. Evangeline Lilly ultimately played the role, becoming the superhero in the 2018 sequel. Chastain eventually joined the Marvel universe as a villain in ‘Dark Phoenix’ (2019).

Olga Kurylenko

Olga Kurylenko was a finalist to play Wonder Woman (Diana Prince) in the 2016 film ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.’ She auditioned alongside Gal Gadot and Elodie Yung, but director Zack Snyder chose Gadot because he felt she had a unique and essential quality for the role. Later, Kurylenko joined the Marvel universe, appearing as Taskmaster in the 2021 film ‘Black Widow.’

Brie Larson

I was really surprised to learn that Brie Larson actually auditioned for ‘Ant-Man’ way back in 2015, years before she became Captain Marvel! She shared in a video that she faced a lot of rejections early on, missing out on roles in other big Marvel and Star Wars projects too. Apparently, they even considered her for ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ before things finally clicked with ‘Captain Marvel’. It’s amazing to think that landing the role of Carol Danvers made her the first woman to lead her own movie in the entire MCU – what a journey!

Morena Baccarin

Morena Baccarin was a strong contender for the role of Agent Maria Hill in the 2012 film ‘The Avengers,’ even doing a screen test. Ultimately, the part went to Cobie Smulders, who became well-known for playing the character in several movies and TV shows. Baccarin quickly found success in the superhero genre herself, landing the role of Vanessa Carlysle in ‘Deadpool’ (2016). She also lent her voice to the character Gideon, an artificial intelligence, in the TV series ‘The Flash’ (2014–2023).

Robin Wright

Robin Wright was initially selected to play Catwoman in Tim Burton’s ‘Batman Returns’ (1992), but she had to leave the project when she became pregnant. Actress Annette Bening was then considered for the role, but she also became pregnant and had to withdraw. This ultimately led to Michelle Pfeiffer being cast as Catwoman. Years later, Wright finally appeared in a superhero film as General Antiope in ‘Wonder Woman’ (2017).

Gemma Arterton

Gemma Arterton was considered for the part of Wonder Woman in the 2016 film ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.’ She met with the studio and director Zack Snyder to talk about the possibility of joining the DC Extended Universe. However, Arterton ultimately decided against the role because she didn’t want to commit to a long-term, multi-film contract. The role eventually went to Gal Gadot, who became a global star and went on to lead two ‘Wonder Woman’ movies of her own.

Adrianne Palicki

Adrianne Palicki was originally chosen to play Wonder Woman in a TV pilot for NBC in 2011. The show, created by David E. Kelley, reimagined Wonder Woman as a modern businesswoman who fought crime as a hobby. Although the pilot was filmed and previewed, NBC ultimately decided not to turn it into a full series. Palicki later gained recognition for her role as the superhero Mockingbird in the long-running Marvel series ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’, which aired from 2013 to 2020.

Share which of these casting choices you would have liked to see the most in the comments.

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2026-03-11 02:15