Throughout Hollywood history, many actors have passed on roles that became iconic, often leading to regret. Here are 18 famous stars who turned down legendary movie roles, sometimes with surprising reasons.
1. Al Pacino and Han Solo
Al Pacino was the first choice to play Han Solo in the "Star Wars" franchise, but he turned it down because he didn't understand the script. "It was at that time in my career where I was offered everything," he told MTV. "I was in 'The Godfather.' They didn't care if I was right or wrong for the role, if I could act or not act." Harrison Ford ultimately played the iconic role.
2. Gal Gadot and Barbie
Gal Gadot was offered a starring role in Greta Gerwig's highly anticipated movie "Barbie" but declined due to scheduling conflicts. Margot Robbie told Vogue, "Gal Gadot is Barbie energy. Because Gal Gadot is so impossibly beautiful, but you don't hate her for being that beautiful, because she's so genuinely sincere, and she's so enthusiastically kind, that it's almost dorky."
3. Amy Schumer and Barbie
Amy Schumer was also tied to "Barbie" at one point but left due to "creative differences." "The studio definitely didn't want to do it the way I wanted to do it," she told The Hollywood Reporter. "The idea that that's just what every woman must want, right there, I should have gone, 'You've got the wrong gal.'"
4. Jackie Chan and Everything Everywhere All At Once
Jackie Chan turned down the starring role in "Everything Everywhere All At Once." The film's directors, The Daniels, even traveled to China to get him to sign on, but he passed. They rewrote the role for Michelle Yeoh, who won an Academy Award. Chan texted Yeoh, and she replied, "Yes, your loss, my bro!"
5. Kate McKinnon and The Dropout
Kate McKinnon was originally offered the role of Elizabeth Holmes in "The Dropout" but left after being cast as Carole Baskin in "Joe vs. Carole." Amanda Seyfried played Holmes and won an Emmy.
6. Matt Damon and Avatar
Matt Damon was tapped to star in "Avatar" and was offered 10% of the movie's profits, which would have been about $250 million. He said no, and later admitted it was "the dumbest thing an actor ever did in the history of acting." Sam Worthington played the role instead.
7. Henry Winkler and Grease
Henry Winkler was offered the role of Danny Zuko in "Grease" but turned it down, fearing typecasting after playing the Fonz on "Happy Days." "I am a damn fool," he told CNN. "I only realized years afterwards. I thought, I've played the Fonz, I don't want to do it again."
8. Michael Keaton and Groundhog Day
Michael Keaton was tapped to star in "Groundhog Day" but turned it down because he "didn't get it." Bill Murray went on to star, and Keaton agreed no one could have done it better: "You can't do it better than Bill Murray did it."
9. Cate Blanchett and Being the Ricardos
Cate Blanchett was supposed to star as Lucille Ball in "Being the Ricardos" but dropped out. Nicole Kidman played the role and earned an Oscar nomination. Blanchett said, "It became the movie it needed to be."
10. Halle Berry and Speed
Halle Berry was offered Sandra Bullock's role in "Speed" but said no. "I stupidly said no," she told ET. "But in my defence, when I read the script the bus didn't leave the parking lot."
11. Madonna and The Matrix
Madonna was offered a role in "The Matrix" but turned it down. "Can you believe that? That's like one of the best movies ever made," she told Jimmy Fallon. "A teeny-tiny part of me regrets just that one moment in my life."
12. Jessica Simpson and The Notebook
Jessica Simpson was cast to star in "The Notebook" but said no because she didn't want to film a sex scene with Ryan Gosling. Her relationship with Nick Lachey also influenced her decision. She wrote, "I was leaving Nick. The movie was on every screen, and I was swept up into it, wishing I had that great love."
13. Jennifer Hudson and Precious
Jennifer Hudson was offered the starring role in "Precious" but turned it down, not wanting to focus on her weight again after "Dreamgirls." Gabourey Sidibe starred and earned an Oscar nomination.
14. Matthew Modine and Top Gun
Matthew Modine was offered the role of Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in "Top Gun" but turned it down because he didn't want to endorse militarism. He told Salon, "I just thought the movie was jingoistic." Tom Cruise took the role and launched his career.
15. Christina Applegate and Legally Blonde
Christina Applegate was tapped to star in "Legally Blonde" but said no out of fear of being typecast after "Married... with Children." "What a stupid move that was, right?" she told ET.
16. Emma Watson and La La Land
Emma Watson was rumored to be cast in "La La Land" but had to commit to "Beauty and the Beast" instead. Emma Stone won an Oscar for the role. Watson said scheduling conflicts made it impossible.
17. Will Smith and Django Unchained
Will Smith was offered Jamie Foxx's role in "Django Unchained" but turned it down due to creative differences with Quentin Tarantino. He told Vanity Fair, "I wanted to make the greatest love story that African-Americans had ever seen."
18. Julia Roberts and Sleepless in Seattle
Julia Roberts passed on "Sleepless in Seattle" due to scheduling conflicts. Meg Ryan played the role alongside Tom Hanks. Roberts said, "[Meg] and Tom Hanks are just such a jewel of a fit."
