Actors Who Got Rejected from Major Roles but Landed Even Bigger Ones

Rejection can sometimes lead to even greater opportunities. Several well-known actors were initially passed over for iconic roles, but later found success with projects that truly launched their careers and took them to the next level. Here are some stories of those early setbacks and the triumphs that followed.

Henry Cavill

Henry Cavill almost landed the role of James Bond in ‘Casino Royale,’ but Daniel Craig ultimately got the part. He was also up for the character Edward in ‘Twilight,’ but he was considered too old as the project developed. Shortly after, he found success as Superman in ‘Man of Steel’ and then starred in the popular fantasy series ‘The Witcher.’ These roles made him a well-known actor with a large and dedicated following.

John Krasinski

John Krasinski auditioned for the role of Captain America, even trying on the suit, but Chris Evans ultimately got the part. Krasinski later found success by starring in and directing the hit film ‘A Quiet Place’ and leading the action series ‘Jack Ryan.’ This shift proved he could both attract audiences and convincingly play an action hero.

Tom Hiddleston

Tom Hiddleston originally tried out for the role of Thor when Marvel was first casting the movie, but Chris Hemsworth eventually won the part. Instead, Hiddleston was cast as Loki in ‘Thor,’ and the character quickly became a fan favorite. His popularity continued with the release of his own series, ‘Loki,’ which ran for several seasons.

Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot tried out for a part in the James Bond movie ‘Quantum of Solace,’ but she didn’t get the role of Camille – Olga Kurylenko was ultimately chosen. Gadot later found success as Wonder Woman, starring in several DC movies and becoming a well-known actress and action star.

Michael B. Jordan

Michael B. Jordan auditioned for the role of Finn in ‘Star Wars,’ but John Boyega ultimately got the part. He then starred in ‘Creed,’ successfully revitalizing the boxing series with a fresh story for a new audience. He also delivered a memorable performance as Erik Killmonger in ‘Black Panther,’ which resonated deeply with audiences and cemented his status as a leading actor.

Andrew Garfield

I remember hearing Andrew Garfield auditioned for Prince Caspian in ‘The Chronicles of Narnia,’ but they went with someone else. It’s so funny because he *ended up* wearing a superhero suit as Spider-Man in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man,’ and his return in the multiverse was amazing! After that, he really started taking on some incredible, more serious roles like in ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ and ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’ It’s cool to see how doing those big superhero movies *and* getting recognized with awards has really opened up so many opportunities for him.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence initially auditioned for the role of Bella Swan in ‘Twilight’, but wasn’t cast. She quickly found success, however, landing the lead role in ‘The Hunger Games’, which became a hugely popular franchise. Shortly after, she won an Academy Award for her performance in ‘Silver Linings Playbook’. This combination of roles established her as one of the most sought-after actors of her generation.

Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt was first considered for the role of Black Widow in ‘Iron Man 2,’ but she couldn’t accept it because of other commitments. Scarlett Johansson ended up playing the part, and Blunt went on to star in successful films like ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ and ‘A Quiet Place.’ These movies helped establish her as a talented and adaptable actress known for action and thriller genres.

Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown experienced several early setbacks in her acting career, including not getting a role in ‘Game of Thrones’. She almost gave up on acting before one last chance during pilot season. Then, she landed the part of Eleven in ‘Stranger Things’, which became a huge success and launched her film career and numerous brand deals.

Brie Larson

Brie Larson has shared her experiences with auditions that didn’t pan out for roles in ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Star Wars’. Despite these setbacks, she continued to build her career through independent films and television, all while still pursuing bigger opportunities. Her breakthrough came with the film ‘Room’, which earned her an Academy Award. This success quickly led to her landing the lead role in ‘Captain Marvel’ and becoming a key part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Dev Patel

Dev Patel originally auditioned for the role of Tony in ‘Skins’ but didn’t get it. He was then cast as Anwar, which gave him valuable experience on set and helped him gain recognition. This early work ultimately led to his starring role in ‘Slumdog Millionaire,’ a film that went on to win numerous awards. He continued to impress audiences with acclaimed performances in ‘Lion’ and ‘The Green Knight’.

Regé-Jean Page

Regé-Jean Page auditioned for the main family role in ‘Krypton’ but wasn’t chosen, as the show’s creators decided to go in a different direction with that family’s story. He then found huge success starring in ‘Bridgerton,’ which quickly made him famous worldwide and led to roles in major films and franchises.

Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal auditioned for the role that eventually went to Ewan McGregor in ‘Moulin Rouge’ after singing for the part. He was also prepared to step in for Tobey Maguire in ‘Spider-Man 2’ when Maguire was briefly unavailable. Gyllenhaal later achieved critical acclaim and career success with roles in ‘Brokeback Mountain’ and ‘Nightcrawler,’ establishing himself as a versatile and prominent actor.

Tom Holland

Tom Holland tried out for a role in ‘Star Wars,’ but didn’t make it past the audition after performing a scene with a well-known droid. Soon after, Marvel chose him to play Spider-Man, beginning with ‘Captain America: Civil War.’ He went on to star in several ‘Spider-Man’ movies and appeared in many other Marvel films, becoming a major box office draw worldwide.

Robert Pattinson

After finding fame early in his career, Robert Pattinson faced setbacks and even had a scene removed from a historical film. He then began focusing on smaller, more challenging independent films like ‘Good Time’ and ‘The Lighthouse’. This work ultimately led to his role as Batman, where he brought a new and innovative approach to the character. This strategy allowed him to star in a major franchise while still being recognized for his work in critically acclaimed, artistic films.

Mahershala Ali

Early in his career, Mahershala Ali didn’t land several parts in big-budget genre shows. He consistently worked as a character actor in both television and film, steadily building his resume. This hard work paid off when he won Academy Awards for his performances in ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Green Book’, significantly changing his career. Most recently, he was cast as the lead in the upcoming Marvel film ‘Blade’.

Hailee Steinfeld

Hailee Steinfeld faced several disappointments early in her career, losing out on major franchise roles. Despite this, she continued working steadily with diverse acting projects and voice-over work. Eventually, she landed a leading role in ‘Bumblebee’ and joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Kate Bishop in ‘Hawkeye’. Balancing both live-action and animated roles helped her build a broad fanbase of all ages.

Daniel Kaluuya

I’ve been following Daniel Kaluuya’s career for a while now, and it’s been fascinating to watch him rise. He faced the usual early struggles, getting turned down for roles when he first came to Hollywood after building a name for himself on British TV. But he didn’t give up, instead honing his skills through smaller projects – those anthology series and stage work really paid off. Then came ‘Get Out,’ which was a total game-changer. And then, of course, the Oscar for ‘Judas and the Black Messiah.’ It’s clear now he’s cemented himself as one of the most compelling leading men working today.

Ana de Armas

I remember when Ana de Armas was starting out – she had a tough time at first with English-language roles, basically learning lines sound by sound. But she didn’t give up! She kept auditioning and slowly built her confidence and fluency with smaller parts. Then, she really started to shine. I was blown away by her in ‘Blade Runner 2049’ – she completely stole every scene she was in. And ‘Knives Out’? She was the heart of that movie, honestly. Those performances really put her on the map, and soon she was landing leading roles in big, exciting projects.

Zendaya

As Zendaya moved beyond her Disney work, she was offered many film roles. She kept her career moving forward with music and TV, all while seeking out high-quality, critically acclaimed projects. Landing the role of MJ in ‘Spider-Man’ and starring in ‘Euphoria’ – which gained significant award recognition – helped establish her as a versatile star with a broad audience.

Share your favorite story of a missed role that turned into a bigger win in the comments.

2025-10-20 21:47