They wanted Keanu Reeves for Wolverine?

[Neto Magnus]

Hey, I was roaming around and stumbled upon a great website that focuses on actors that turned down roles in movies. Here's the list of movie stars that were considered for certain X-roles. Some you may remember and some may make you scratch your head.

X-Men:

Angela Bassett
Angela Bassett turned down the role of Storm.

James Caviezel
James Caviezel was set to play Cyclops but backed out.

Russell Crowe
Considered for the role of Wolverine.

Aaron Eckhart
Considered for the role of Wolverine.

Sarah Michelle Gellar
Considered for the role of Rogue.

Mel Gibson
Considered for the role of Wolverine.

Viggo Mortensen
Considered for the role of Wolverine.

Kevin Nash
Kevin Nash (WWE wrestler) was offered the role of Sabertooth, but turned it down.

Edward Norton
Norton was reportedly considered for the role of Wolverine or Cyclops.

Jada Pinkett-Smith
Jada Pinkett-Smith was once considered for the role of Storm but turned it down.
Actor who got the part: Halle Berry

Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman turned down the part of Rogue.

Keanu Reeves
Considered for the role of Wolverine.

Jeri Ryan
Ryan was considered to play Mystique.
Actor who got the part: Rebecca Romijn

Dougray Scott
Dougray Scott was set to play Wolverine but dropped out to do Mission: Impossible II.
Actor who got the part: Hugh Jackman

Vince Vaughn
Vaughn was reportedly in negotiations for the part of Scott Summers (Cyclops).
Actor who got the part: James Marsden

John Williams (composer)
Bryan Singer originally approached John Williams to compose the score but he was already committed to Saving Private Ryan.


X-Men: The Last Stand:

Jed Bernard
Auditioned for the role of "Angel."
Actor who got the part: Ben Foster

Summer Glau
Auditioned for the role of Kitty Pryde.
Actor who got the part: Ellen Page

Maggie Grace
Was considered to play "Kitty Pryde."
Actor who got the part: Ellen Page

Josh Holloway
Sought the role of "Gambit," a superhero who divides fans of "X-Men" into rabid pro and anti camps. In the end, the producers decided not to include the character in the second sequel.

Nick Stahl
Was considered for the role of "Angel."
Actor who got the part: Ben Foster

Channing Tatum
Channing Tatum auditioned for the role of Gambit, but the role was eventually cut from the film.


Matthew Vaughn
The "Layer Cake" director bowed out of the big-scale sci fi project.
Actor who got the part: Brett Ratner

Mike Vogel
Vogel had to turn down the role of Angel because he was already shooting Poseidon.
Actor who got the part: Ben Foster

Source: NotStarring.com

 

[Neto Magnus]

Not only that but I remember back in 93 James Cameron and his company(can't remember the name) was going to make an X-Men film for 1995. They asked Arnold Schwarzenegger to play Colossus, Tom Cruise for Cyclops, Nicole Kidman for Jean Grey and I think Wesley Snipes for Nightcrawler.

This was in Wizard Magazine if I remember correctly. But then again it coulda been one of their casting calls.

 

[chaseter]

Vince Vaughan would never be Cyclops...half of those sound like BS.

 

[TNC9852002]

Cyclops?

But Vince was a different kind of actor/celebrity 7 years ago...Imagine Cyclops being 6'5!"

I would've given him a chance...

-TNC

 

[fallenAngel]

I think old Vince vaugh could have possibly done it.

I heard that Angella Basset was never actually offered the role. At least not in person. Agents and spokes people sometimes are confused with the actuall actors. Though I could be wrong.

And I don't think Josh Holloway was every actually in the running, nor was maggie Grace. these were just fan wishes and ill based rumors. As far as I remember. Gambit was barely considered for this movie.

and considered means next to nothing.

 

[chaseter]

Edward Norton and Mel Gibson get a big no from me as well.

 

[Neto Magnus]

Mel Gibson woulda been PERFECT had this movie been made in 95. But not 2000.

And plus Variety reported that Maggie Grace was cast as Kitty not rumored.

 

[chaseter]

Mel Gibson woulda been PERFECT had this movie been made in 95. But not 2000.

And plus Variety reported that Maggie Grace was cast and not rumored.

Not as Wolverine no...Mel Gibson would have been a horrible Wolverine. Half of those names sounded like they were just desperate for established actors. Most of the people we have were perfect for the roles...McKellan, Stewart, Jackman, Kelsey Grammar, Rebecca Romijn, Ben Foster were perfect in my opinion. I think Storm, Cyclops, Rogue, Pyro, Iceman are ok but other actors I think would have done great jobs too.

 

[Neto Magnus]

Not as Wolverine no...Mel Gibson would have been a horrible Wolverine. Half of those names sounded like they were just desperate for established actors. Most of the people we have were perfect for the roles...McKellan, Stewart, Jackman, Kelsey Grammar, Rebecca Romijn, Ben Foster were perfect in my opinion. I think Storm, Cyclops, Rogue, Pyro, Iceman are ok but other actors I think would have done great jobs too.

Well you only say that now cuz we've seen the movies already and can't imagine anyone else playing Wolverine but Hugh. But take a look at the Lethal Weapon films and see what Mel coulda been.

 

[Iceman]

Well you only say that now cuz we've seen the movies already and can't imagine anyone else playing Wolverine but Hugh. But take a look at the Lethal Weapon films and see what Mel coulda been.

Yeah, I think Mel Gibson would have done the role justice.

I wouldn't mind seeing Natalie portman as Rogue either.

 

[N_z0]

Off of the top of my head:

Gina Gershon was set to play Mystique but turned it down for a starring role in a short-lived TV show about a spy group a la Charlie's Angels, called Snoops. HA!

Most actresses that tried out for Mystique also tried out for Jean Grey, including Jeri Ryan and (apparenly) Peta what's-her-face from LXG.

Caviezel turned down the role of Cyclops because he thought the role was too much of a foil to Wolverine.

Bassett, in an interview years after X-men came out, revealed that she was never asked to play Storm.

 

[Farren]

Aaron Eckhart - wow, I never would have considered him for Wolverine. But he might have been pretty good - he's definately tall enough and talented. He seems too composed though. Interesting.

Natalie Portman probably would have made a decent Rogue, but I think Anna was a better choice. Portman was too innocent to play Rogue. Anna at least brings something...murkier and sultry beneath the surface.

Summer Glau could have done Kitty, but Ellen Page got the part for a reason: she IS Kitty in the movie.

 

[Parker]

The title of this thread HAS to be a joke.

 

[Majik1387]

Not only that but I remember back in 93 James Cameron and his company(can't remember the name) was going to make an X-Men film for 1995. They asked Arnold Schwarzenegger to play Colossus, Tom Cruise for Cyclops, Nicole Kidman for Jean Grey and I think Wesley Snipes for Nightcrawler.

This was in Wizard Magazine if I remember correctly. But then again it coulda been one of their casting calls.

That actually might have been a great 90's movie.

 

[gap5ewl]

i remember angela basset saying that she was never asked to play storm..

the weirdest names i see up there are...

jadda pinkett??????

keanu reeves?????????????????????????????????????


vince vaughn!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

..wtf?



I know sarah almost got the part of rogue and natalie was pretty close also but she was commited to school/ and star wars


also wasnt charleze theoron up for the role of mystique?











ps..im pissed about caviezel not getting the role. don't get me wrong marsden is perfect but caviezel is a bigger name and I think if he got the role, fox might've given him a bigger role in the sequals.

 

[Majik1387]

Caviezel sucks. Thank god he wasn't cast.

 

[chaseter]

Well you only say that now cuz we've seen the movies already and can't imagine anyone else playing Wolverine but Hugh. But take a look at the Lethal Weapon films and see what Mel coulda been.

I can never and would never imagine Mel as Wolverine.

 

[La_She-Beast]

Mel Gibson? Ugh. Hated him in Signals, loved him in the Simpsons

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

For Wolverine they approached also Gary Sinise, Elias Koteas, John Leguizamo (who wanted to be Nightcrawler instead) and Russel Crowe (pre-Gladiator). I think Keanu confirmed that he was asked to play Wolverine.

 

[Neto Magnus]

oh yea I remember Lt. Dan turning it down.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Angela Bassett would've been AWESOME as Storm. She's an excellent actress, in which she should've won the Academy Award for the film "What's Love Gotta Do With It?"

In all honesty she was the one that I originally hoping would play Storm.

For who say she can't act watch "Waiting To Exhale", "Jacksons: The American Dream", "What's Love Gotta Do With It?", and "The Rosa Parks Story". Bassett is one of the most underrated actresses in the film industry.

 

[Decay]

Mel Gibson would have been to old to play Wolverine.

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

Angela Bassett would've been AWESOME as Storm. She's an excellent actress, in which she should've won the Academy Award for the film "What's Love Gotta Do With It?"

In all honesty she was the one that I originally hoping would play Storm.

Oh, and btw she didn't turn down the role, she was never offered it.
She was so pissed off when they cast Halle Berry, because the rumor about Angela getting the role started back in the Cameron days.

 

[Neto Magnus]

Mel Gibson would have been to old to play Wolverine.

you do know that Wolverine is like 200 years old right?

 

[Decay]

you do know that Wolverine is like 200 years old right?

Yes I do! But he doesn'y look like a 200 years old.