9 stars who turned down major movie roles: From Rob Lowe as ‘McDreamy’ to Will Smith as Neo in ‘The Matrix’

Michelle Pfeiffer missed out on an Oscar and Rob Lowe admitted his decision lost him $70 million, as stars reveal the roles they passed on

Brad Pitt, Amanda Seyfried and Will Smith have all admitted to turning down roles in films that went on to become major box office hits. AFP

For every actor and actress who lands a movie role on the big screen, there will be dozens who either auditioned and failed, or turned the part down.

And while you might wonder who on earth would turn down a role as juicy as Jerry Maguire, or as action-packed as Neo from The Matrix, rest assured Hollywood is littered with sliding doors moments, where one decision leads to a whole other outcome.

And whether the stars missed out on Oscars their successors went on to win, or still look back and regret saying 'no' to the script, it’s hard to picture these roles featuring anyone but the people who ended up playing them…

1. Michelle Pfeiffer, Clarice Starling in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’

Michelle Pfeiffer passed on the role of FBI agent Clarice Starling in 'Silence of the Lambs', which Jodie Foster won a Best Actress Oscar for. AFP, IMDb

The Dangerous Minds actress recently revealed she was in line to play the role of FBI agent, Clarice Starling, which won Jodie Foster a Best Actress Oscar in 1992.

"With The Silence of the Lambs, I was trepidatious," the 62-year-old told The New Yorker about the 1991 movie, which went on to scoop five Academy Awards. "There was such evil in that film. The thing I most regret is missing the opportunity to do another film with [director Jonathan Demme]. It was that evil won in the end, that at the end of that film evil ruled out. I was uncomfortable with that ending. I didn't want to put that out into the world."

2. James Marsden, ‘Magic Mike’

Actor James Marsden says insecurity lead to him turning down a role in the smash hit 'Magic Mike', as he feared he'd end up on the cutting room floor. AFP, Courtesy Warner Bros

X-Men and Sonic The Hedgehog actor James Marsden blamed his own insecurity for turning down a role in 2012's Magic Mike. "I had this fear I would be edited out of the movie." he told James Corden of the film that starred Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey. "That all my lines would be cut out and I'd be an extra just rushing around in a G-string, so I think it was a lack of courage on my part."

3. Brad Pitt, Russell Hammond in ‘Almost Famous’

Producers of the film 'Almost Famous' said Brad Pitt would have been 'really great' for the role of Russell Hammond, which went to Billy Crudup after Pitt turned it down. AFP, Courtesy Dreamworks

The role of Stillwater’s rock guitarist Russell Hammond in director Cameron Crowe’s paean to the 1970s eventually went to Billy Crudup. But before the acclaimed actor won it, Brad Pitt was up for the part.

"We loved that idea and he was Brad Pitt," casting director Gail Levin told the Origins: Almost Famous Turns Twenty podcast. "I mean, he was funny and handsome and talented … That kind of charisma and screen presence would've been really, really great for that part."

4. Amanda Seyfried, Gamora in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

Amanda Seyfried has admitted she was wrong to have turned down the role of Gamora in the huge hit 'Guardians of the Galaxy'. AFP, IMDb

The Mean Girls star, who is being tipped for an Oscar nomination for her role in Mank, turned down the role of Gamora in the superhero action flick. "I said: 'Who wants to see a movie about a talking tree and a raccoon?'" she told The Hollywood Reporter of the role which went to Zoe Saldana. "Which, clearly, I was very wrong."

5. Gloria Estefan, Daisy Arujo in 'Mystic Pizza'

Cuban-American singer, Gloria Estefan passed up the chance to launch her film career in 'Mystic Pizza', with the role going to Julia Roberts. AFP, IMDb

The Cuban-American singer revealed on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, that the role which went to then-newcomer Julia Roberts, was initially hers.

“I had that role,” she revealed, “I didn’t even have to audition for it, but at the time I felt like I was not a good enough actor and I wanted to cement my career in music.”

6. Rob Lowe, Dr Derek 'McDreamy' Shepherd in 'Grey's Anatomy'

In his autobiography Rob Lowe revealed he turned down the chance to star as Dr Derek 'McDreamy' Shepherd in 'Grey's Anatomy'. AFP, IMDb

In his memoir, Stories I Only Tell My Friends, Lowe revealed he was approached by the Grey's team, while he was already in negotiations to star in another medical drama called Dr Vegas. "'We would be thrilled if you would play Dr Derek Shepherd,' they said right off the bat. I was torn. Grey's was a much better script; in fact, there was no comparison," wrote the 56-year-old Parks and Recreation actor. He later told the WTF With Marc Maron podcast, "That probably cost me $70 million dollars!"

7. Claire Danes, Rose DeWitt Bukater in ‘Titanic’

Claire Danes said she passed on the role of Rose in 'Titanic' because she had just finished shooting 'Romeo + Juliet' with Leonardo DiCaprio. AFP, IMDb

As if one starring role opposite Leonardo DiCaprio wasn't enough in 1996's Romeo + Juliet, Claire Danes has revealed producers also wanted her for the role of Rose in Titanic, opposite DiCaprio's Jack. "There was strong interest, but honestly, I'd just made this romantic epic with Leo in Mexico City, which is where they were going to shoot Titanic, and I just didn't have it in me … I was just feeling eager to have different creative experiences. That felt like a repeat," she told the Armchair Expert podcast.

8. Woody Harrelson, Jerry Maguire in ‘Jerry Maguire’

Woody Harrelson turned down the eponymous role of Jerry Maguire saying: 'Nobody is going to care about an agent.' AFP, Courtesy TriStar Pictures

"I was offered Jerry Maguire, and I said to Jim [producer James L Brooks], 'Nobody is going to care about an agent,'" Harrelson told Esquire. The role went to Tom Cruise, who was then nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in 1997 for his portrayal of the loyal sports agent.

9. Will Smith, Neo in 'The Matrix'

Actor Will Smith has admitted he is glad he passed on the role of Neo in 'The Matrix', saying: 'I would have messed it up.' AFP, Courtesy Warner Bros

Will Smith joined the likes of Sandra Bullock and Brad Pitt in turning down the chance to play trench coat-wearing Neo in The Matrix films, which eventually went to Keanu Reeves.

"In the pitch, I just didn't see it," he told Wired. "I watched Keanu's performance, and very rarely do I say this, but I would have messed it up. I would have absolutely messed up The Matrix. At that point I wasn't smart enough as an actor to let the movie be. Whereas Keanu was smart enough to just let it be."

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