The great French film star was considered for the role of the renegade monk.
Actor who got the part: Charles Boyer
Clark Gable was reportedly considered for the Travis role and Burt Lancaster for the Bowie role.
Edward Dmytryk hoped to direct Clark Gable in a film of the Michael Barrett novel, but Gable died before production could begin.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made
He was assigned to the role of Dr Wayne Talbot in this all star comedy-drama. However, Louis B. Mayer had doubts about his suitability for the part.
Actor who got the part: Edmund Lowe
Clark Gable was initially cast as Preysing.
Actor who got the part: Wallace Beery
Clark Gable was originally cast as Ned Trent, but it was decided that he was too old to play a love interest for Judy Garland.
Actor who got the part: John Hodiak
Originally intended as the male star of this big hit melodrama, Gable lost out because MGM wanted to punish him and Joan Crawford for their love affair.
Actor who got the part: Robert Montgomery
Gable was considered for the part of Joe Massara, but passed over by Warner Bros. Gable then went to MGM and became a star.
Actor who got the part: Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
When director John Huston first tried to launch a production of this unforgettable adventure project in the 1940s, he thought of the biggest star in films, Gable.
Actor who got the part: Sean Connery
The film's original director Joshua Logan wanted Gable to play the father of the hero of the title, for whom Logan considered Warren Beatty.
Actor who got the part: Karl Malden
Katharine Hepburn wanted Gable to star as C. K. Dexter Haven, but he was busy. Gable would never had agreed anyway since he had got director George Cukor fired from Gone With the Wind.
Actor who got the part: Cary Grant
'King of the Movies' Gable didn't want to make this film with frequent costar Joan Crawford.
Actor who got the part: Franchot Tone
Joan Crawford requested Clark Gable to be her co-star.
Actor who got the part: Jack Palance
Was seriously considered for MGM's 1932 movie version that spawned a series of hugely popular films.
Actor who got the part: Johnny Weissmuller
Zsa Zsa Gabor was considered by the producers to play Miss Caswell.
Actor who got the part: Marilyn Monroe
James Gandolfini was cast as Carl Hanratty, but pulled out of production when Catch Me shooting interfered with the shooting of the Sopranos.
Actor who got the part: Tom Hanks
James Gandolfini was considered for the role of Ben Grimm (The Thing).
Actor who got the part: Michael Chiklis
Garbo was offered a part in the film but found it boring to play "an aged actress".
Actor who got the part: Gloria Swanson
Greta Garbo dropped out of the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Norma Shearer
Garbo was wanted for a role in this all-star omnibus film by director Julien Duvivier, but declined.
Actor who got the part: Unknown
Garbo turned down the role of the Norwegian matriarch at the same time she turned down Alfred Hitchcock's "The Paradine Case." She is reported to have said, "No murderesses, no mamas."
Actor who got the part: Irene Dunne
Garbo shot screen tests for this comeback film in 1948 but the producers could not raise funding and it was abandoned.
Actor who got the part: Film Never Made
In 1938, Garbo was announced to star as the title character, the female scientist who discovered radioactivity. But the project was shelved.
Actor who got the part: Greer Garson
Katharine Hepburn asked MGM to cast her as Lavinia and Garbo as her mother Christine Mannon, but this did not happen.
Actor who got the part: Katina Paxinau
Garbo relented at the last minute and the role went to Olivia de Havilland.
Actor who got the part: Olivia De Havilland
As early as the 50's, Orson Welles wanted to produce a film about Blixen's best selling novel, starring Garbo.
Actor who got the part: Meryl Streep
Master director Alfred Hitchcock was among the many who tried to lure Garbo out of retirement to star as the beautiful, treacherous, unfaithful Mrs. Paradine.
Actor who got the part: Alida Valli
Garbo inexplicably showed interest in playing the title character in this 1945 MGM film, as a comeback role. Billy Wilder used this idea for his film Fedora, the story of a seemingly ageless actress.
Actor who got the part: Hurd Hatfield
Garbo was attached to an earlier script that concentrated more on Vantine's story.
Actor who got the part: Jean Harlow
MGM initially planned to star Garbo as Lil Andrews.
Actor who got the part: Jean Harlow
Garbo turned down the lead role of Dorothy Daley in this film.
Actor who got the part: Kay Johnson
Garbo was the first actress approached but she declined the role of Norma Desmond.
Actor who got the part: Gloria Swanson
In 1928, MGM announced Garbo would play a woman who hypnotizes men in a screenplay written by Elinor Glyn, who had written it for Clara Bow. Garbo rejected it and the film was not made.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made
Eager to give light comedy a try, Garbo supposedly asked MGM's top brass to purchase the rights to this Broadway hit. Warner Brothers snapped up the property before MGM got their hands on it.
Actor who got the part: Claudette Colbert
The producer offered Greta Garbo $1 million to play the Mother Superior.
Actor who got the part: Rosalind Russell
After the success of Flesh and the Devil, Garbo refused this film.
Actor who got the part: Pauline Starke
According to Empire magazine, Garcia turned down the lead role due to the 'gore' content.
Actor who got the part: Gary Oldman
Andy Garcia was considered for the role of Richard Kimble after Alec Baldwin dropped out.
Actor who got the part: Harrison Ford
Garcia was Turned Down For The Role Of Henry Hill.
Actor who got the part: Ray Liotta
Garcia was supposed to star as Alejandro Murieta opposite Raul Julia as Diego De La Vega, but Julia's death put the film on hiatus for several years.
Actor who got the part: Antonio Banderas
Andy Garcia was considered for the lead role of Andrew Beckett.
Actor who got the part: Tom Hanks
Gardner accepted this part but had to reject it later for health reasons.
Actor who got the part: Piper Laurie
Gardner turned down the part that Doris Day eventually played. George Cukor also turned down the directing job.
Actor who got the part: Doris Day
The ravishingly beautiful, tempestuous star accepted the role of "Simone Clouseau," but the producers refused to meet her personal and salary demands.
Actor who got the part: Capucine
Gardner was seriously considered for the role of Alexandra Del Lago, but eventually declined the offer.
Actor who got the part: Geraldine Page
Although the play was written by his friend, Clifford Odets, expressly for him, the role was given to another member of the Group Theatre. Garfield was considered for the film, but the role went to William Holden.
Actor who got the part: William Holden
John Garfield was originally attached to star but died before production could begin.
Actor who got the part: Frank Sinatra
The great Oscar-nominated star turned down the powerhouse role of Stanley for fear of being overshadowed by whoever played Blanche.
Actor who got the part: Marlon Brando
In 1956 Judy was announced to star in a remake of the Katharine Hepburn 1935 film about a small town girl with social ambitions, opposite Eddie Albert.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made
In 1955, Judy was approached about appearing in a musical remake of All About Eve.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made
Fired from the big film version of Irving Berlin's Broadway hit after she had recorded the songs and began filming.
Actor who got the part: Betty Hutton
First attempt to re-team Garland with Easter Parade co-star Fred Astaire. Garland was fired because of absences due to illness.
Actor who got the part: Ginger Rogers
Originally Judy was planned to co-star with Fred Astaire in the mid 1940's.
Actor who got the part: Vera-Ellen
20th Century Fox wanted Judy, back in favour after her stage triumph at the Palace Theatre, for the part of hillbilly Emly Ann Stackerlee.
Actor who got the part: Mitzi Gaynor
A very young Judy was considered for a part in this 1936 MGM musical.
Actor who got the part: Frances Langford
In 1952, Judy was considered by MGM to play Scottish townswoman Fiona Campbell.
Actor who got the part: Cyd Charisse
The great Garland was considered for the role of "Julie Jordan," but plans never came to fruition.
Actor who got the part: Shirley Jones
In 1946, MGM considered remaking Cimarron as a vehicle for Judy and Gene Kelly. It was eventually made in 1960 but without Judy and Gene.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made
Judy Garland was the first choice for the part of Jade, the heroic Chinese girl who leads her villagers in an uprising against Japanese invaders.
Actor who got the part: Katharine Hepburn
During their affair in the 1940's Tyrone Power had introduced the book by Mildred Cram to Judy Garland, wanting them to make a film of it. Metro announced the film in 1946 but it was not made.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made
Garland was sought as one of four major stars for Stanley Donen's MGM musical that followed "Singin' In the Rain."
Actor who got the part: Marge Champion
Judy Garland was briefly considered for the role of Scarlet O'Hara's youngest sister Careen. the role would eventually be played by Garland's co-star from the Andy Hardy films, Ann Rutherford.
Actor who got the part: Ann Rutherford
Arthur Freed at MGM originally considered this musical re-make as a vehicle for re-uniting Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney but, by the time it came to pre-production, they were establishing themselves in more "adult" roles and too mature to appear in a Student College setting.
Actor who got the part: June Allyson
Was considered by Mike Nichols for the role of "Mrs. Robinson."
Actor who got the part: Anne Bancroft
Was considered by producers for the role of Mama Rose in the movie version of "Gypsy" but her history of being unreliable ultimately lost her role.
Actor who got the part: Rosalind Russell
Judy Garland was cast as Mama Jean Bello in this Alex Segal biopic, but left the production.
Actor who got the part: Ginger Rogers
Wikipedia says Garland was considered for this biopic of the grand dame of torch singer.
Actor who got the part: Ann Blyth
Director Stanley Kramer wanted Garland to play the shrewish wife of Ernie Kovacs. Kovacs was tragically killed in a car crash and, when he was replaced by another star, the idea of casting Garland made less sense.
Actor who got the part: Ethel Merman
Star Bing Crosby pulled for Garland to be his co-star in this dramatic musical, but studio bosses balked, considering Garland too much of a risk. Instead, in the role of a musical comedy star, they cast an actress who sometimes "sang."
Actor who got the part: Jane Wyman
After her triumph at the London Palladium in 1951, MGM considered Judy for the film version of the smash Broadway musical Kiss Me Kate.
Actor who got the part: Kathryn Grayson
MGM proposed a sequel to Meet Me In St Louis, but it was never made.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made
In 1952 Louis B Mayer wanted Judy for a film version of the Broadway musical. The musical would not be filmed until 1969, and without Judy.
Actor who got the part: Jean Seberg
Twentieth Century Fox's Darryl F. Zanuck considered Judy Garland for the pivotal supporting role of Sophie. According to some sources, he made overtures to MGM, which refused to loan her.
Actor who got the part: Anne Baxter
Warner Bros hoped to borrow Judy Garland from MGM to play Georgia Garrett but an agreement could not be reached.
Actor who got the part: Doris Day
Called back from MGM leave to replace the pregnant June Allyson, but subsequently fired for lateness and absences. Like the Barkleys of Broadway, this was another unsuccessful attempt to re-team Garland with Fred Astaire.
Actor who got the part: Jane Powell
In 1955 a musical version of the Edna Ferber novel was proposed to star Judy Garland as the half-Creole Clio Dulaine.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made
Judy Garland was the everyone's original choice for the role of Julie LaVerne, but Judy's health problems resulted in the termination of her Studio Contract.
Actor who got the part: Ava Gardner
Considered for the role of Kathy Selden but believed to be "too old" for Gene Kelly.
Actor who got the part: Debbie Reynolds
According to Scott Schechter's book "the Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Legend", Judy Garland was offered this film in 1955.
Actor who got the part: Mitzi Gaynor
In 1950, MGM considered Judy Garland for the part of Isabelle Perry, the lovesick fan of an opera star in this romance with songs.
Actor who got the part: Janet Leigh
Judy was suggested for the part of K. C. Higgins but was replaced by Esther Williams.
Actor who got the part: Esther Williams
Director Nunnally Johnson wanted the great Garland for the true-life story of a woman with multiple personalities. The studio feared Garland's personal problems would impact upon her reliability.
Actor who got the part: Joanne Woodward
Garland was fired from the Ethel Merman-liike role of "Helen Lawson" in the film version of Jacqueline Susann's bestselling novel.
Actor who got the part: Susan Hayward
Judy wanted to re-team with her husband director Vincente Minnelli and play Yolanda Aquaviva but producer Arthur Freed saw the part more for a dancer and cast Lucille Bremer.
Actor who got the part: Lucille Bremer
Was considered for the supporting role of LT. Cmdr. "Bus" Cummings, but instead got the leading role when William Holden turned it down.
Actor who got the part: James Coburn
According to an interview, Garner claimed he did not want to play a man who killed a lot of American police and guards...
Actor who got the part: Sylvester Stallone
Jennifer Garner signed to play Jude, but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with Alias and Elektra.
Actor who got the part: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Garofalo turned down the part of Gail Weathers.
Actor who got the part: Courteney Cox
Considered to replace Judy Garland as Annie Oakley before Betty Hutton was hired.
Actor who got the part: Betty Hutton
Garson was offered the role of Emily Livingston and declined it.
Actor who got the part: Olivia De Havilland
Garson was to be cast in this color film written by Carl Sandburg. It was to be a historical film from Plymouth Rock to WW II, with Garson playing many women. But it was not made. Producers at the time thought it would be her best role.
According to the DVD commentary, Garson was the first choice for the role fo Mrs. Taggart in this bizarre "comedy."
Actor who got the part: Bette Davis
Garson had wanted to play in musical comedies like this one, but Lucille Ball was cast instead.
Actor who got the part: Lucille Ball
Garson wanted to be cast as Elivira in this movie, but MGM would not loan her out.
Actor who got the part: Kay Hammond
Garson was supposed to make a film version of the Shaw play in the title role, but said she felt she had played lesser variations of the character already on the screen and the film was not made.
Actor who got the part: None
Garson was originally to be cast in this film, but ultimately was not.
Actor who got the part: Deborah Kerr
Garson was supposed to be cast in this historical film in the early 1950s, but it was not made.
Actor who got the part: None
Garson was offered the role of Dora Charleston (a spoof of Nora Charles from the Thin Man films) and declined it.
Actor who got the part: Maggie Smith
She was the first choice for the title role in this British suspense film.
Actor who got the part: Bette Davis
In 1943 MGM considered Greer Garson to star as Manuela.
Actor who got the part: Judy Garland
Proper Garson was to play the adulterous Lady Edwina Esketh, but she was not cast. Instead she played Mrs. Chips in Goodbye Mr. Chips and started the first of her wife-great lady roles.
Actor who got the part: Myrna Loy
Garson turned down the part of Madame Crematon in the Great Lady Has An Interview sequence, which was re-worked as a musical number for Judy Garland.
Actor who got the part: Judy Garland
Poised to take over the role of 007, Gavin stepped aside when Sean Connery returned to the role.
Actor who got the part: Sean Connery
Scheduling conflicts prevented her from landing role of Tatum.
Actor who got the part: Rose McGowan
This movie was originally intended for Gaynor, but starred the more box office friendly Stanwyck.
Actor who got the part: Barbara Stanwyck
Gaynor was considered for the part of Melanie Hamilton, but she would not reduce her salary requirements.
Actor who got the part: Olivia De Havilland
Mitzi was offered this role by 20th Century Fox, but she refused the part, and it went to Sheree North.
Actor who got the part: Sheree North
Gaynor campaigned actively for the juicy role of "Lady Fingers" but the great former Warner Bros leading lady and character actress Joan Blondell won the role instead.
Actor who got the part: Joan Blondell
FOX's top choice for the role of Julie, but Fred Astaire, the film's star, insisted on Leslie Caron.
Actor who got the part: Leslie Caron
Mitzi Gaynor and Carol Channing were lined up for this in the 1970s, but the film was never made.
Miss Gaynor campaigned heavily to win the plum role of Ado Annie, but it was not to be.
Actor who got the part: Gloria Grahame
This was to be the life story of Irving Berlin with Frank Sinatra playing the lead role, with Mitzi in a leading role, with many other stars lined up for cameo parts.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made
Gaynor was director Billy Wilder's original top choice to play the sexy singer in the all-girl band, "Sugar."
Actor who got the part: Marilyn Monroe
Original cast member Ben Gazzara was replaced by Gene Hackman for unknown reasons.
Actor who got the part: Gene Hackman
Barbara Bel Geddes was first choice for the role of Christabel Caine, but was not ultimately cast in the role.
Actor who got the part: Joan Fontaine
Turned down the role of Cher Horowitz due to her contract role on "All My Children".
Actor who got the part: Alicia Silverstone
Turned down the part of Mary Warren due to a contract on "All My Children." She was upset over this because Daniel Day Lewis was her favorite actor.
Actor who got the part: Karron Graves
Turned down a role in "the Faculty".
Sarah auditioned for the role of Julie before being cast as Helen.
Actor who got the part: Jennifer Love Hewitt
Sarah Michelle Gellar turned down the role of Brittany Foster.
Actor who got the part: Susan Ward
Was considered for the "Julie Barnes" role.
Actor who got the part: Claire Danes
Was offered the part of Juliet, but couldn't accept due to her contract with All My Children.
Actor who got the part: Claire Danes
Sarah Michelle Gellar turned down a lead role so she could spend more time with her husband.
Actor who got the part: Claire Danes
Gellar was originally cast as Sasha but backed out due to scheduling conflicts with "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
Actor who got the part: Tara Reid
Auditioned for the lead role and later told MTV that she was sad she missed out on the part.
Actor who got the part: Natalie Portman
Turned down the role of Tess Donnelly.
Actor who got the part: Portia De Rossi
Considered for the role of Rogue.
Richard Gere turned down the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Bruce Willis
Richard Gere was considered for the role of Miles Massey.
Actor who got the part: George Clooney
Richard Gere was originally offered the Jackal role, but chose to play the good guy instead.
Actor who got the part: Bruce Willis
When 1982's Making Love was cast, top Hollywood actors Harrison Ford, Michael Douglas and Richard Gere allegedly turned down the male lead, afraid of being linked to a romantic gay drama.
Actor who got the part: Michael Ontkean
Gere was considered for the role of William Hayes.
Actor who got the part: Brad Davis
Director Bob Fosse decided at the last minute to cast another actor.
Actor who got the part: Eric Roberts
One of many actors to turn down the role of Judge Wakefield.
Actor who got the part: Michael Douglas
Richard Gere was the director's first choice to play Gordon Gekko.
Actor who got the part: Michael Douglas
Richard Gere was considered for the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Michael Beck
According to Streisand's biography, Gere rejected the part of Avigdor, opposite Barbra Streisand who starred and directed.
Actor who got the part: Mandy Patinkin
Laura was tested for a role in Mystic Pizza.
Actor who got the part: Julia Roberts
Mel Gibson auditioned to play Amadeus Mozart.
Actor who got the part: Tom Hulce
Turned down the Robert Rath role due to prior commitments.
Actor who got the part: Sylvester Stallone
Mel Gibson turned down the role of John Steed.
Actor who got the part: Ralph Fiennes
Mel Gibson was the first choice to play Batman, but he was already committed to Lethal Weapon 2.
Actor who got the part: Michael Keaton
Gibson was considered for the role of Harvey Dent / Two Face.
Actor who got the part: Tommy Lee Jones
Gibson was one of the actors to be offered the lead role of Jacques Mayor but turned down for an unknown reason (maybe $$).
Actor who got the part: Jean-Marc Barr
Gibson nearly passed on the lead role because he felt he was too old.
Actor who got the part: Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson was reportedly up for the lead role, when Jeff Kanew was attached as director, but wanted to much money.
Actor who got the part: Robin Williams
According to IMDB, had to turn down a role in Martin Scorsese's crime drama due to his commitment to "Apocalypto."
Mel Gibson was considered for the role of Lancelot.
Actor who got the part: Richard Gere
Was considered to play the leading male role in Darren Aronfksy's romantic sci-fi movie that spans 1000 years.
Actor who got the part: Hugh Jackman
Mel Gibson was offered, but turned down the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Russell Crowe
Mel Gibson turned down the lead role of Chandler.
Actor who got the part: Eddie Murphy
Gibson was considered to become James Bond.
Mel Gibson turned down the part of Jim Garrison.
Actor who got the part: Kevin Costner
In the early 90s, was originally supposed to star in the film for director Steven Soderbergh.
Actor who got the part: George Clooney
Mel Gibson was considered for the lead role but he turned it down.
Actor who got the part: George Clooney
Gibson was set to star as Stu but backed out.
Actor who got the part: Colin Farrell
Gibson was considered for the role of Jack Stanton.
Actor who got the part: John Travolta
Mel Gibson turned down the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Russell Crowe
Mel Gibson turned down the role of Robin Hood because he had just done Hamlet.
Actor who got the part: Kevin Costner
One of several actors attached at some point, because the film was in development for over 10 years.
Gibson was considered for the role of Simon Templar.
Actor who got the part: Val Kilmer
Mel Gibson was interested in this film, but Steven Spielberg thought a major star would be distracting.
Reportedly turned down for the part of the Terminator.
Actor who got the part: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Mel Gibson was considered to play Eliot Ness.
Actor who got the part: Kevin Costner
Screenwriter Andrea Berloff reportedly had Gibson in mind while writing the screenplay.
Actor who got the part: Nicolas Cage
Considered for the role of Wolverine.
John Gielgud was George Bernard Shaw's first choice for the role of Caesar, but turned it down because he disliked director Gabriel Pascal.
Actor who got the part: Claude Rains
John Gielgud turned down the role of Emperor Tiberius Caesar, calling the part "pure pornography." He did accept the smaller role of a Roman Senator.
Actor who got the part: Peter O'Toole
Turned down the role of "General Sutherland" in the prestigious movie version of Leon Uris's bestselling novel about the founding of the state of Israel.
Actor who got the part: Ralph Richardson
John Gielgud was approached by producer Alexander Korda about immortalizing his stage performance on film, but turned the offer down because he didn't enjoy filming at that point in his career.
Lobbied to be cast as the Chorus in Olivier's film of Shakespeare's play, but was turned down.
Actor who got the part: Leslie Banks
Gielgud was cast in the role of Dr. Armstrong but left after disagreements arose over his salary.
Actor who got the part: Patrick Stewart
John Gielgud was originally cast as Elliott Templeton, but replaced at the insistence of star Bill Murray.
Actor who got the part: Denholm Elliott
Gielgud was the first actor to be offered the role of Romeo, but turned it down because he didn't think Shakespeare could be effectively produced on film.
Actor who got the part: Leslie Howard
Gielgud was going to play his favorite role of Prospero in a film of Shakespeare's play directed by Orson Welles, but the funding fell through after the financial failure of their first film partnership "Chimes at Midnight."
John Gielgud originally recorded the entire narration for the film, but was replaced by director Woody Allen who determined that his voice sounded "too grand".
Actor who got the part: Patrick Horgan
Although the great silent film star was poised to make a comeback in this Marlene Dietrich film, some weeks after he and Dietrich filmed costume tests together, Gilbert suffered a fatal heart attack in his dressing room.
Actor who got the part: John Halliday
The great Silent film idol had suffered a series of box-office letdowns, so he did not get to play the role of "Baron Felix von Geigern" as costar Greta Garbo had requested.
Actor who got the part: John Barrymore
This movie had been in development since 1996, at that time Sara Gilbert was attached to play Velma.
Actor who got the part: Linda Cardellini
Terry Gilliam turned down the chance to direct American Beauty.
Actor who got the part: Sam Mendes
Terry Gilliam turned down an offer to direct. He opted to make "Brazil" instead.
Actor who got the part: Wolfgang Petersen
According to imdb.com, Terry Giliam turned down the chance to direct the film.
Actor who got the part: Robert Zemeckis
Terry Gilliam was given the script by Tarantino. Gilliam found it to be a great script, but it was too much for his taste, and politely declined.
Actor who got the part: Tony Scott
The great star and legendary actress very much wanted to play the rich elderly Julia Rainbird, the woman who sets the 'family plot' in motion.
Actor who got the part: Cathleen Nesbit
Lillian Gish was one of a few actresses considered for the role of Ellen O'Hara, Scarlet's mother.
Actor who got the part: Barabara O'Neil
Lillian Gish and Judith Anderson were the first choices to play the eccentric, emotionally unstable sisters of the Ida Lupino character.
Actor who got the part: Edith Barrett And Elsa Lanchester
Robin Givens auditioned for the role of Robin.
Actor who got the part: Lela Rochon
Robin Givens was considered for the role of Tina Turner in the movie What's Love Got to Do With It.
Actor who got the part: Angela Bassett
Auditioned for the role of Kitty Pryde.
Actor who got the part: Ellen Page
Director Billy Wilder wanted Gleason to co-star with Jack Lemmon in the sports comedy, but Lemmon held out for Walter Matthau.
Actor who got the part: Walter Matthau
Jackie Gleason was reportedly approached to play Frank Beardsley.
Actor who got the part: Henry Fonda
"Dangerous Days: The Makeing Of" feature on the DVD has a list of actors listed on production paperwork. Glenn is among the ideas for Deckard.
Actor who got the part: Harrison Ford
According to the DVD special features, Crispin Glover auditioned for the role of Marty McFly before being cast as George (Marty's father).
Actor who got the part: Micheal J. Fox
The producers loved Crispin and offered him the part of Philo. Crispin read the script and said the only role he'd be interested in playing was "Crazy Ernie." They couldn't see him in the role.
Actor who got the part: Anthony Geary (Philo), John Cadenhead (Crazy Ernie)
Danny Glover turned down the part of Frank Catton.
Actor who got the part: Bernie Mac
After Jack Nicholson, the next two actors in line for the Joker were reportedly Ray Liotta and John Glover.
Actor who got the part: Jack Nicholson
Glover, who later played a Bond villain in for Your Eyes Only, was one of many british actors tested. He later said, "but we all knew Roger would get it".
Actor who got the part: Roger Moore
The smart, sexy Goddard tested for the role of "Scarlett O'Hara."
Actor who got the part: Vivien Leigh
Goddard sent a telegram to Demille saying that she would accept the lead role. It was not offered to her, her fear of some of the stunts in Unconquered (1947) convinced DeMille that she was not up to the role of a high wire artiste.
Actor who got the part: Betty Hutton
In the late '30s, director Charlie Chaplin devised for his then-wife, the gifted Goddard, a comedy about a White Russian countess determined to seek a new life in America. Only thirty years later did Chaplin make the movie as "A Countess From Hong Kong."
Actor who got the part: Sophia Loren
Adam Goldberg turned down the role of Junior in order to do the TV series "The $treet"
Considered for the role of Mama Morton.
Actor who got the part: Queen Latifah
According to IMDB, Chuck Norris really wanted to get Whoopi Goldberg a role in his film Invasion U.S.A.
Jeff Goldblum was considered for the lead role of Doc Brown.
Actor who got the part: Chirstopher Lloyd
Jeff Goldblum was considered for the role of the scarecrow.
Tested for the role of Bruce Banner.
When Howard Stern was arguing with the production company over movie details, the production company considered hiring Jeff Goldblum to play Stern.
Actor who got the part: Howard Stern
Warner Brothers reportedly had difficulty finding an actor for the villain role in Under Siege 2. Goldblum turned down the role.
Actor who got the part: Eric Bogosian
Turned down a chance to write the screenplay, because he didn't want to glamorise the Mafia. Goldman did in fact love the novel.
Actor who got the part: Francis Ford Coppola And Mario Puzo
William Goldman turned down a chance to write the screenplay, because he reportedly didn't understand the book.
Actor who got the part: Calder Willingham And Buck Henry
Cuba Gooding Jr. turned down the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Djimon Hounsou
Cuba Gooding Jr. turned down the role of Tony Croft.
Actor who got the part: David Conrad
Cuba Gooding Jr. was considered for the role of Pat Healy.
Actor who got the part: Matt Dillon
Once auditioned for the role of Noxeema Jackson.
Actor who got the part: Wesley Snipes
John Goodman was attached to the project at one time.
Goodman was supposed to be a supporting character in a Roman Polanski movie shot in 1996. However, the project was entirely cancelled while in an advanced stage, as John Travolta, who was to be the lead, walked out of the production.
In the 'Seventies, Robert Altman planned a movie version of Kurt Vonegut's novel to star the great Gordon as "Eliot Rosewater." Altman abandoned the project.
Actor who got the part: Film Was Never Made
Originally cast as Mrs. Ogre, Gordon was injured before filming began.
Actor who got the part: Katherine Helmond
Gosling was reportedly requested for the role of Jim but could not commit to the part.
Actor who got the part: Cillian Murphy
Gosling and director Scott Frank saw the story going in different directions and respectfully parted ways.
Actor who got the part: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Louis Gossett Jr. was considered for the role of Hannibal Lecter.
Actor who got the part: Anthony Hopkins
Turned down the role of the millionaire Michael Oliver Pritchard III in director Peter Bogdanovich's ode to '30s musical comedies.
Actor who got the part: Burt Reynolds
Gould was being strongly considered by Woody Allen for the title role. He turned it down due to a scheduling conflict.
Actor who got the part: Woody Allen
Gould's erratic on-set behavior forced Warner Brothers to cancel the project, though elements of Herman Raucher's novel were later used in "What's Up, Doc?"
For director Robert Altman's masterful film set in frontier America, the studio would not accept the director's first choice, Elliot Gould,.
Actor who got the part: Warren Beatty
Gould turned down the starring role.
Actor who got the part: Richard Benjamin
Gould turned down the opportunity to play David Sumner.
Actor who got the part: Dustin Hoffman
According to an article in the Los Angeles Examiner in 1945, Goulding was initially attached to direct.
Actor who got the part: Charles Vidor
In the Jezebel DVD commentary, film historian Jeannine Basinger says Goulding was first attached to the film, but Jack Warner thought his approach was too old-fashioned. Goulding had previously directed Bette Davis and Henry Fonda in That Certain Woman in 1937.
Actor who got the part: William Wyler
Replaced as director after he had a heart attack. Although Goulding had help develop the script, he received no screen credit. Vincent Sherman says on the DVD commentary that he had to accept a lot of Goulding's choices eg casting, set, since Sherman was a less establishd director.
Actor who got the part: Vincent Sherman
MGM executives sought the Broadway star to play opposite Shirley MacLaine in the movie version of Meredith Wilson's stage musical.
Actor who got the part: Harve Presnell
When Judy Garland was dismissed from the project, leggy and hugely popular movie star Grable lobbied Darryl F. Zanuck to loan her to MGM to play the role.
Actor who got the part: Betty Hutton
20th Century Fox bought the rights to the Broadway musical hit especially for Grable but when her movies began to lose money, the executives decided instead to replace her with the fast-rising Monroe.
Actor who got the part: Marilyn Monroe
'Forties box-office queen, the leggy Gable, wanted to play "Miss Adelaide" as her big comeback vehicle, but angered the producer by standing him up for an appointment. She lost the role.
Actor who got the part: Vivian Blaine
Maggie Grace was called back six times, met with executives and considered to play the lead role, but lost out to then better-known actress Ann Hathaway.
Actor who got the part: Ann Hathaway
Was considered to play "Kitty Pryde."
Actor who got the part: Ellen Page
Graham was considered for the role of Jenny Everdeane.
Actor who got the part: Cameron Diaz
Graham was originally cast as Heather McNamara, but because she was underage, her parents didn't approve of the script.
Actor who got the part: Lisanne Falk
Heather Graham turned down the part of Justice because she couldn't imagine the character falling in love with Jay.
Actor who got the part: Shannon Elizabeth
Heather Graham was offered the part of Pam, but because it wasn't a lead role, she turned it down in order to star in Say It Isn't So.
Actor who got the part: Teri Polo
Heather Graham reportedly turned down the lead female role.
Actor who got the part: Gretchen Moll
Heather Graham was cast and later fired from the film Scorchers.
Actor who got the part: Emily Lloyd
Graham was attatched to the project but eventually backed out.
Actor who got the part: Kim Dickens
Lauren Graham turned down the part of Donna Newman.
Actor who got the part: Kate Beckinsale
Gloria Grahame was offered and declined the role of Laurette Sincee in this prequel to The Little Foxes.
Actor who got the part: Dona Drake
Gloria Grahame rejected the role of Julie in this B movie.
Actor who got the part: Marjorie Reynolds
Gloria was considered for the part of Christabel, the immoral woman of the title.
Actor who got the part: Joan Fontaine
Gloria Grahame was offered a part in this movie but turned it down as it was not a big enough role.
Actor who got the part: Veda Ann Borg
Gloria Grahame was the first choice of director George Stevens for the role of Alice Tripp, but Howard Hughes (who ran RKO at the time) would not loan her out. She always felt Shelley Winters did a great job.
Actor who got the part: Shelley Winters
The role of Uncle Frank was written with Grammar in mind.
Actor who got the part: Gerry Bamman
The star of Alfred Hitchcock's "Rope" and "Strangers On A Train" says that the director talked with him about appearing in "The Birds," but that he was more interested in doing Broadway work than film roles.
Actor who got the part: Rod Taylor
According to his book, Include Me Out, Farley Granger turned down the lead role in this film after Marlon Brando also turned it down. Granger wanted to pursue stage roles.
Actor who got the part: Edmund Purdom
Originally offered and turned down the role of Johnny McQueen in this classic british thriller.
Actor who got the part: James Mason
The role of Professor David Pollack in the elegant romantic spy thriller was written for Cary Grant who turned it down.
Actor who got the part: Gregory Peck
Turned down the role the role of the sexy publisher and ladies' man, "Sheperd Henderson."
Actor who got the part: James Stewart
Alfred Hitchcock briefly considered Grant but decided against using the hugely expensive actor because he felt the birds and the Hitchcock name were the big attractions.
Actor who got the part: Rod Taylor
Briefly considered, but producer Sam Spiegel was unconvinced about Grant, who had recently flopped in a tough, serious role in "Crisis."
Actor who got the part: William Holden
Cary Grant turned down the role feeling that the female role was the really important one.
Actor who got the part: Robert Young
Stanley Donen offered Grant the role of the devilish 'Mr. Applegate'.
Actor who got the part: Ray Walston
Warner Bros. studios felt Cary Grant was not right for the role of a man who arranged to have his wife murdered.
Actor who got the part: Ray Milland
Cary Grant was considered for the role of James Bond.
Actor who got the part: Sean Connery
In his memoirs, Hitchcock film producer Herbert Coleman talks about Grant as having been the possible leading man of this 'Fifties adventure thriller set in Africa. for many budget, location and political reasons, Alfred Hitchcock abandoned the project.
Actor who got the part: Film Was Never Made
Alfred Hitchcock tried several times in his career to launch a film version of this adventure thriller from the author of "The 39 Steps." Grant followed Robert Donat as Hitchcock's ideal "Richard Hannay."
Actor who got the part: Film Was Never Made,
Alfred Hitchcock wanted to star Grant in a modern-day version of Shakespeare's classic play. The project was dropped for many reasons.
Actor who got the part: Film Was Never Made,
Warren Beatty wanted Grant to play the part of Mr. Jordan, but Grant had been retired for years by then and refused the role.
Actor who got the part: James Mason
The difficult Grant turned down Alfred Hitchcock's offer to star him as a priest burdened by hearing the confession of a murderer.
Actor who got the part: Montgomery Clift
Grant was the top choice for It's a Wonderful Life when the film was still titled "The Greatest Gift."
Actor who got the part: James Stewart
Over the many years it took to finally launch a film version of the exploits of the complex hero, Grant was often mentioned as ideal for the role.
Actor who got the part: Peter O'Toole
Turned down the male lead of the billionaire opposite Marilyn Monroe in the musical romance directed by George Cukor.
Actor who got the part: Yves Montand
Was appalled that the role of Humbert Humbert was offered to him and turned it down.
Actor who got the part: James Mason
One of the many roles turned down by Grant because he was concerned about the difference between his age and that of his leading lady. He would have played a middle aged playboy in Billy Wilder's romantic comedy drama.
Actor who got the part: Gary Cooper
Cary Grant was considered to play the acerbic critic Sheridan Whiteside who wreaks havoc in a midwestern home, when Howard Hawks was attached to direct.
Actor who got the part: Monty Woolley
When Alfred Hitchcock announced he would reunite with Grace Kelly for this dark, romantic thriller, Grant was quoted as saying he would love to do the movie, too, but had not yet been asked.
Actor who got the part: Sean Connery
Briefly considered for the role of chimney sweep Bert.
Actor who got the part: Dick Van Dyke
For Alfred Hitchcock's rare venture into screwball romantic comedy, the director wanted to pair Grant with Carole Lombard as the married couple who learn their marriage is not legal.
Actor who got the part: Robert Montgomery
Grant refused the role of Henry Higgins, promising he'd never even see the movie unless Rex Harrison repeated his great stage role.
Actor who got the part: Rex Harrison
Cary Grant was the first choice for the part of Count Leon d'Algout, opposite Garbo.
Actor who got the part: Melvyn Douglas
Cary Grant met with executives of Hammer films in London and told them he wanted to play the role of the Phantom. But Hammer's limited budget precluded this.
Actor who got the part: Herbert Lom
Turned down the role of the New York drama critic who moves with his wife and family to an old home in the country.
Actor who got the part: David Niven
Cary Grant was director Howard Hawks's original choice for the role of gunslinger Cherry Valance. Grant declined and the part was diminished in the film.
Actor who got the part: John Ireland
Turned down role of Joe Bradley.
Actor who got the part: Gregory Peck
Grant was director Alfred Hitchcock's first choice to play the caustic, flippant professor "Rupert Cadell."
Actor who got the part: James Stewart
Cary Grant was scheduled to play the role of the workaholic millionaire "Linus" but pulled out of the project at the last minute.
Actor who got the part: Humphrey Bogart
Grant was director Alfred Hitchcock's first choice to star opposite Ingrid Bergman as the new head of a pyschiatric institute who may or may not be a murderer.
Actor who got the part: Gregory Peck
Accepted the role of the tragic, brokendown Hollywood star "Norman Main," then left the project.
Actor who got the part: James Mason
Grant was Director Carol Reed's first choice to play Holly Martins. After he passed, the role was rewritten as an American.
Actor who got the part: Joseph Cotten
Cary Grant was committed to doing another movie and was intent on retiring from films (again) when director Alfred Hitchcock offered him the chance to play an American scientist who appears to be defecting to the Soviets.
Actor who got the part: Paul Newman
Grant was considered for the role of Gaston Monescu aka 'La Valle' but was thought of as too young for the role.
Actor who got the part: Herbert Marshall
Was considered for a part in the movie.
Grant was also considered for the lead role of George.
Actor who got the part: Richard Burton
Cary Grant was announced to star opposite Jean Arthur when this film was first announced.
Actor who got the part: Ray Milland
Hugh was originally given the part of Lee Simon.
Actor who got the part: Kenneth Branagh
Nancy Meyers wrote the role of Graham for Hugh Grant, but he turned it down, saying that it was too close to several other romantic comedy parts he'd already played.
Actor who got the part: Jude Law
Grant was briefly considered for the role of Harry Lockhart.
Actor who got the part: Robert Downey Jr.
Hugh Grant turned down the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Val Kilmer
The role of Peter Colt was originally intended for Grant.
Actor who got the part: Paul Bettany
Distressed over on-set arguments with the volatile Burt Lancaster, Grant (originally cast as Mary di Pace) telephoned Shelley Winters, said "He wants you in the part" and walked off the movie.
Actor who got the part: Shelley Winters
Richard E. Grant went for a meeting with the producers to play the husband. He was told the part required sporting a beard.
Actor who got the part: Matt McCoy
Grant met with director Michael Mann to discuss playing the role of Major Duncan Heyward.
Actor who got the part: Steven Waddington
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