# Actors/actresses you're glad DIDN'T get the part. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 14, 2004, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218 "2004-03-14T09:08:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/1 "2004-03-14T09:08:31Z")
I’ve read that Ronald Reagan was considered first for the role of Rick in _Casablanca_, and I will be forever grateful to whatever gods oversee the movie business that Bogart got the role instead. Shirley Temple was the first considered for the role of Dorothy in _The Wizard Of Oz_ and W.C. Fields for the role of the Wizard. I really don’t think it would ever have been the classic it became if that casting had been used. What about Bette Davis as Scarlett O’Hara? UGH! What are some of your favorite "glad it didn’t happen"s? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/2 "2004-03-14T09:19:24Z")
> [@DesertGeezer](#): > > I’ve read that Ronald Reagan was considered first for the role of Rick in _Casablanca_ [It’s a myth.](http://www.snopes.com/movies/films/reagan.htm) I’m glad Zaphod Beeblebrox won’t be played by Jim Carrey. And I’m not sad that Stuart Townsend got ditched in favor of Viggo Mortensen for the role of Aragorn. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/3 "2004-03-14T11:55:18Z")
I’m glad Hugh Jackman became Wolverine instead of Dougray Scott. I’m also glad Viggo ended up as Aragorn instead of Stuart. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/4 "2004-03-14T11:58:37Z")
Vivien Liegh was considered for the nameless heroine of _Rebecca_, as a match-up with her then-lover Laurence Olivier. It sounds like an interesting idea, but if her screen test with Olivier on the Criterion DVD of _Rebecca_ is any indication, I don’t think it would have worked. She’s too confident, too poised, and too flirty for that painfully shy and awkward girl. There’s a bit too much of Scarlett O’Hara in her performance. From the screen test, I can easily believe that the artful little minx deliberately broke the china cupid–probably by flinging it across the room. (My 500th post! And it only took 2 1/2 years.) ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/5 "2004-03-14T12:07:35Z")
I just learned that Bruce Willis was originally offered the Patrick Swayze role in _Ghost_. That would’ve sucked most mightily. The Goldie Hawn/Madonna/Kathy Bates trio could never have taken _Chicago_ to the heights that Catherine Zeta-Jones/Renee Zellweger/Queen Latifah did. It would’ve been a nightmare. Similarly, Catherine Zeta-Jones could not have carried Nicole Kidman’s role in _Moulin Rouge_. Lastly, I just read that amongst others, Robert Duvall’s name was bandied about for the role of Verbal Kint in _The Usual Suspects_ and I simply cannot fathom it. ---
**Author:** ![Patr100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Patr100](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patr100)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/6 "2004-03-14T12:29:32Z")
Slightly off topic, I once saw an interview where Rod Steiger said he regretted not accepting the part of the Godfather. I thought Stieger would have done a pretty good - but different job. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/7 "2004-03-14T13:59:31Z")
Doris Day was considered for the part of Mrs. Robinson, in _The Graduate_. Robert Redford was up for Dustin Hoffman’s role of Benjamin, in the same movie. Sheesh, talk about custard at room temperature, and blinding blondness, to boot. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/8 "2004-03-14T14:28:58Z")
I have heard that Michael Jackson was considered for the “Goblin King” role played by David Bowie in _Labyrinth_. That movie is creepy enough without seeing Jacko abduct a little boy and spirit him away to a magical fantasy land… ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/9 "2004-03-14T14:35:42Z")
Russell Crowe turning down the role of Wolverine in Xmen. Michael Madsen turning down the role of Vincent Vega. Although I still think Travolta did a great job, but would of been interesting to see how Madsen would of done it. Robert Redford, Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, Ryan ONeal, and Robert De Niro all auditioned for the role of Micheal Corleone in the Godfather. Can’t see anyone else working as well as Pacino. Mark Wahlberg turning down the role of Linus in the Oceans 11 remake. Mainly because I can’t stand Matt Damon. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/10 "2004-03-14T14:38:47Z")
Marie Osmond was envisioned for the role of Sandy in _Grease_. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/11 "2004-03-14T14:49:23Z")
I recall reading an interview with John Denver many years ago where he talked about movie roles he was offered and rejected. They included the lead in _An Officer and a Gentleman_ as well as other major roles I can’t recall. He said that he had no idea how to interpret scripts and was too stupid to hire someone who could. When he saw _An Officer and a Gentleman_ on screen he couldn’t believe it was the same script he’d read and rushed home to reread it. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/12 "2004-03-14T14:52:18Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I’m also glad Viggo ended up as Aragorn instead of Stuart. Me three. While I find Stuart more attractive, I can’t picture him doing a credible job as a guy good with horses, swords and battle. I’m also glad that Christian Bale got the lead role in American Psycho instead of Leonardo DiCaprio [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000288/bio](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000288/bio) ---
**Author:** ![Patr100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Patr100](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patr100)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/13 "2004-03-14T15:03:24Z")
Seems that Cary Grant, James Mason, Adam ( Batman) West, among many others, were considered for ,or offered the role of, James Bond. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/14 "2004-03-14T15:32:05Z")
Meryl Streep as Evita. Gosh, I just can’t see it. She has an okay singing voice, but she is so WASPish looking… ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/15 "2004-03-14T16:53:47Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Meryl Streep as Evita. Gosh, I just can’t see it. She has an okay singing voice, but she is so WASPish looking… …try catching her panoply of performances in “Angels in America”. WASPy she was not. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/16 "2004-03-14T16:57:57Z")
_Blade Runner_ would not be the cult classic it is had Dustin Hoffman been chosen to play Deckard. Ditto the Indiana Jones movies with Tom Selleck. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/17 "2004-03-14T17:28:58Z")
much as Hopkins was perfect as Lecter, a Gene Hackman version would have been interesting, Glad that Meg Ryan passed up the role of Clarice tho, also glad that Aidan Quinn was NOT Jesus in the Last Temptation. Apparently also tho David Carradine in the late 1970s & Robert DeNiro in the 80s were considered- those would have been interesting. Barbara Hersey was ALWAYS gonna be Magdalene tho. At the time of Quinn, Sting was cast as Pilate which would have been OK but not as cool as David Bowie. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/18 "2004-03-14T17:36:18Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Meryl Streep as Evita. Gosh, I just can’t see it. She has an okay singing voice, but she is so WASPish looking… Even worse, IMO, would’ve been Michelle Pfeiffer, who was in contention against Madonna right down to the wire. Madonna, meanwhile, would’ve stunk up the scene in Halle Barry’s role in _Die Another Die_ and surely wouldn’t have gotten a spin-off! ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/19 "2004-03-17T05:24:57Z")
Molly Ringwald was sent a script of **Blue Velvet** , but her mother read it first, and vetoed it because “it’s all about S&M and bugs!”. I doubt David Lynch would have cast her anyway, and honestly, I can’t picture **anyone** except Laura Dern as Sandy, but I’m sure La Ringwald would have been totally wrong. In fact, I think that’s the whole thing that went wrong with MR’s career arc: she should have focused on quirky roles, instead of being John Hughes’ virgin princess. Anyway. I still think all the talk about Nicolas Cage playing Superman was someone’s idea of a joke. “Put…the kryptonite…back…in…the box!” GMAFB. He’s good at what he does do, but he is no Kal-El. I don’t think **Godfather III** would have fared any better with Winona Rider as Mary, and furthermore, I don’t think Sofia Coppola was as bad as she’s purported to have been. And as I’ve said before, I’m glad Haley Osment didn’t get a callback for **Phantom Menace** : he wasn’t right for Anakin, and if he’d been cast, he would have missed out on **Sixth Sense**. And, this is an obscure one, and I’m not sure it’s 100% accurate, but some American studio told Vittorio de Sica that they’d finance **The Bicycle Thief** if Cary Grant played the lead. :eek: In any event, he cast unknowns, and AFAIC, that was a good choice. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218/20 "2004-03-17T05:28:14Z")
> [@Patr100](#): > > Seems that Cary Grant, James Mason, Adam ( Batman) West, among many others, were considered for ,or offered the role of, James Bond. Ooh, that reminds me! On the strength of **Secret Agent** , or whatever his pre-Prisoner show was, Patrick McGoohan was also given the offer to take over from Connery. Wouldn’t have worked: Bond is supposed to be cool, not an iceberg. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-youre-glad-didnt-get-the-part/234218.md?page=2)