Missed Chances: Great Casting Choices that Never Happened

[That-Guy]

Sometimes you find yourself watching a movie and you think, "Damn, that actor would make a great ___!" Only problem is, whatever character you're thinking of has already been cast.

The point of this thread isn't to trash actors who have landed certain parts (though I suppose you could), but rather, discuss actors you think could have ALSO played those roles.

For example, I think Michael Fassbender would make a great Robin Hood, if they went for more of the swashbuckling/Errol Flynn version of the character, as opposed to Russell Crowe's more grim and serious take.

In contrast, if they had made a darker and more serious Sherlock Holmes film, I think Adrien Brody might have been a great choice for the character (though RDJ works brilliantly for their more lighthearted and adventurous take).

 

[Jake Cassidy]

Alec Baldwin - Batman '89

 

[Jager X]

Clint Eastwood - John Hartigan (Sin City)
Alec Baldwin - All subsequent Jack Ryan films
Alexander Skarsgard - Thor

 

[Silvermoth]

Tom Baker as Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter
Angela Basset as Storm in the first X-men film.
Probably doesn't belong here but Paterson Joseph as the 11th Doctor.

 

[That-Guy]

Christina Hendricks - Mary Jane Watson (Spider-Man)
Hans Matheson - Perseus (Clash of the Titans)
Josh Holloway - Johnny Blaze (Ghost Rider)
John Cusack - Robert Langdon (The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons)
James Purefoy - Hal Jordan (Green Lantern)

 

[Max J Power]

I read that Daniel Day-Lewis actively sought the part of Vince in Pulp Fiction, but Tarantino either had his heart set on John Travolta or Travolta had already been cast. I love Travolta in his iconic role, but I would have loved to see Day-Lewis' take on Vince as well.

 

[luke1234]

I heard that Dicaprio was a favorite for Anikan Skywalker somewhere. Him and Mcgweger would of made an awesome duo. Actually the writing would of brought them down haha.

 

[That-Guy]

Yeah, if Leo had played Anakin, he might have never acted again, lol.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Billy Zane as Lex Luthor

 

[hammerhedd11]

Anton Yelchin as Spiderman

 

[Homer J. Fong]

Alan Rickman as Mr. Freeze
Timothy Dalton as Rufus Scrimgeour in the Harry Potter films
Tim Roth as Fenrir Greyback in the Harry Potter films (They ended up scaling that role back to nothing and casting a random former cae fighter.)
Billy Dee Williams as Two-Face (Obviously, he was cast, but he never got to play Two-Face.)

Tom Baker as Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter

I'm surprised that's never crossed my mind, because I'm a big Doctor Who fan, but that's a brilliant idea. I mean, Richard Harris was the perfect Dumbledore to me, and I've enjoyed most of Michael Gambon's work, but Tom Baker would have been an excellent choice.

 

[luke1234]

Nicholas Cage as Superman

wait what?

 

[That-Guy]

LOL

Matt Damon as Daredevil
George Clooney as Hannibal (The A-Team)
Leonardo DiCaprio as Alexander the Great

 

[Alchemyst]

Will Smith as Neo
Leonardo

 

[Ghostvirus]

Kurt Russel as Han Solo. He would have been waaaay better than Ford.

 

[Dr Strange]

For example, I think Michael Fassbender would make a great Robin Hood, if they went for more of the swashbuckling/Errol Flynn version of the character, as opposed to Russell Crowe's more grim and serious take.

I could not agree more.

 

[DorkyFresh]

Viggo Mortenson - Solid Snake

 

[Sawyer]

Samuel L. Jackson as Albus Dumbledore





Okay, I just made that up, but it would be amazing and you all know it.

 

[Team Andino]

Billy Zane as Lex Luthor

I'm still holding hope for this in the new Superman movie coming(Crosses fingers)

 

[Doctor Jones]

Kurt Russel as Han Solo. He would have been waaaay better than Ford.

You're insane.

 

[Team Andino]

Viggo Mortenson - Solid Snake

Until a MGS movie is made with someone else it's still a possibility

EDIT:

Plus at the rate Hollywood does reboots even if they made a MGS movie without Viggo there's always the chance for a reboot

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I'm still holding hope for this in the new Superman movie coming(Crosses fingers)

It's maddening that he's so perfect and wasn't casted. He'd be great as a STAS version of Luthor.


Two others I have are Liev Schreiber as Harvey Dent (Eckhardt wasn't ok but nothing special, IMO) and Topher Grace as Peter Parker (Maguire is just so dull).


It's not a missed chance, but I want Jason Issacs as Dracula and Liam Neeson as Abraham Van Helsing before it's too late.

 

[Ghostvirus]

You're insane.

Have you seen his audition tape on the DVD? His delivery so much more smooth & relaxed.

 

[Eddie Dean]

No offense to Alec Guinness, but Toshirô Mifune as Obi-Won would have been amazing.

And of course Christopher Lee or Peter Cushing as Sam Loomis.

 

[FaT_tONle]

Kurt Russel as Han Solo. He would have been waaaay better than Ford.

Russel's audition was comical and laughable at times (sounded like an 80's spoof scene in Space Balls tbh)... Ford was much more serious and nailed it. He wasn't short on humor in the movie as I think we all know.