Mira Nair turned down the chance to direct Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, saying "Obviously it's a fantastic opportunity... but I can't tell you yet if I have the mettle for it."

Kathy Najimy was considered to play the title role.

Jack Nance was considered for the role of Benjamin Braddock right up until filming began.

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

Neal was offered this script in 1952, but it was not made.

7 Women was several days into production when Neal suffered three near-fatal strokes.

According to her autobiography, Patricia Neal said "no" to a major role because of personal problems in her life at the time.

Neal wanted to play the movie's heroine, Sonia Kovack, and resented it when Warner Brothers insisted she play the shrewish Margaret Livingston.

Patricia Neal turned down the role of Mrs. Robinson around the time that she had her stroke.

Patricia Neal turned down the lead part because the producers wouldn't meet her salary request.

Neal was very much thought of for the role of Stella, but was consided at five feet seven inches too tall to be Vivien Leigh's sister.

Patricia Neal didn't get the lead role, despite her success in a London stage version--remained very bitter about this for years afterward.

Neal was also considered for the role of Martha.

Pitt, Liam Neeson, Tea Leoni, Martin Sheen and Madonna were reportedly attached to this 'psychological thriller' to be directed by Brian DePalma. Never got off the ground.

Liam Neeson was originally considered for the part of Edgar Stark but it conflicted with his filming schedule. He was working on "Kinsey" at the time.

Liam Neeson was considered for the role of Van Helsing.

Liam Neeson was considered for the lead role of Wiliam.

Neeson was actually cast as John Keating at one point when Jeff Kanew was set to direct.

Neeson was originally cast as Father Merrin, but dropped out.

Liam Neeson was the first choice to become James Bond.

Liam Neeson was considered for the role of the Jackal.

Liam Neeson was reportedly considered for the role of Ichabod Crane.

The exotic, earthy vamp of the Silent era badly wanted the role of the beautiful German spy and hoped to make the film her debut in talking pictures.

Director Billy Wilder was turned down by the exotic silent film star when he offered her the great role of "Norma Desmond."

Sam Neil was considered for the role of Mr. Salt.

Sam Neill was reportedly considered for the role of James Bond.

Came very close to being signed as Bond, then Timothy Dalton charged ahead in the race.

Came very close to being signed to play Indiana Jones.

Sam Neill was considered to play Dr. Otto Octavius.

Director Joe Dante says in the DVD commentary that Nelson auditioned for a part.

Director Mike Newell turned down The Constant Gardener in order to direct Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

The singer-actor-composer was among the actors who turned down the role of a bachelor who manipulates and uses women, but gets his comeuppance in the end.

According to his biography by Eric Lax, Paul Newman turn down the leading role in All That Jazz.

Paul Newman was considered for the role of Grandpa Joe.

Newman was the first choice to play the President.

Newman was considered to play the lead role of Harry.

Tested with James Dean for the role of Dean's character's brother, "Aron Trask."

The Eiger Sanction was orginally intended for Paul Newman.

Paul Newman was considered for the role of Father Karras.

Considered for the role of fireman "Montag."

In the '70s, long before "Brokeback Mountain," Paul Newman was thwarted by Hollywood in his desire to star in the movie version of the best-selling novel about the love affair between a coach and a star runner.

Paul Newman auditioned for the role of Tom Hagen.

Paul Newman wanted to play the lead.

One of Tarantino's first choices to play Max Cherry.

Paul Newman was considered for a role.

Producer Dino De Laurentiis fled the project when master filmmaker Federico Fellini refused to star Newman in this film masterpiece.

Newman was considered for the role of James Bond.

When Alfred Hitchcock was preparing the film "Marnie" in 1962, he had already "unofficially" cast Grace Kelly in the title role and was considering Paul Newman in the role of Mark Rutland. Newman wasn't interested and the film was postponed until 1964 when 'Tippi' Hedren and Sean Connery were finally cast. Newman would later star in Hitchcock's "Torn Curtian" (1966).

Paul Newman was the first for the role of Marshal Zane.

Was considered for the ranch hand hero, "Curly" in Fred Zinnemann's film version of the breakthrough Broadway show.

Paul Newman turned down the role of Bernie White.

When director John Huston left the project, Newman left the project, along with his daughter Nell Potts.

Paul Newman had starred on Broadway as Alan Benson but was overlooked for the film.

Paul Newman was offered the part of Jack Colton but he felt that there was unnessecary and excessive violence in the movie.

Turned down the offer to star in Robert Wise's epic to instead work for Alfred Hitchcock.

The lead roles were envisioned as a reteaming of Redford and Paul Newman, but when Redford turned it down, Newman was no longer considered.

Paul Newman turned down the lead role.

Tested for the part of Superman.

Newman turned down the role of Garrett Breedlove.

Paul Newman was offered the role of Lucien Wilbanks.

Pizar originally wanted Paul Newman to voice Woody but couldn't due to their low budget.

Turned down the role of "Mark Wallace" in this bittersweet romantic comedy-drama, even though he was director Stanley Donen's first choice.

Was set to star in the movie version of William Gibson's play about an uptight guy from Nebraska and a Greenwich Village free spirit.

Paul Newman was considered for the role of Eli Zeal.

The statuesque Newmar was unavailable, so producer Martin Ransahoff turned to another beauty for the role of "Malibu."

Olivia Newton-John said in an interview that she would have loved to play Evita, but was too old by the time the film was made.

Alfred Hitchcock wanted a rough, gnarly actor like Newton to play the role of the stable hand for whom the beautiful Mrs. Paradine debases herself.

A delayed shoot for Mission: Impossible II caused Thandie to turn down one of the lead roles in Charlie's Angels.

Thandie Newton was confirmed as the third angel but at the last minute, she pulled out and was replaced by Lucy Liu.

Newton was considered to play Niobe.

Newton was considered for the lead role but turned it down to do Mission: Impossible II.

Screenwriter Andrew Niccol was originally set to direct the film, but backed out when Peter Weir became available.

Although the studio foolishly refused to wait for director Mike Nichols to finish "Catch-22," he had been scheduled to direct the film version of Gore Vidal's eyebrow-raising satiric novel.

Jack Nicholson was considered for the lead role of Harry Parker.

Jack Nicholson had agreed to play Daddy Warbucks, but dropped out after the films original producer left the project.

Jack Nicholson turned down the role of Willard.

Nicholson considered the film, but turned it down because he was already committed to Something's Gotta Give.

Jack Nicholson was to reprise his role as the Joker - resurrected as a hallucination in Batman's mind. The fim was cancelled.

When Steven Spielberg was attached to direct this film, he wanted Jack Nicholson to star as Older Ed Bloom.

Jack Nicholson turned down the role of Peter Fallow.

Nicholson was approached about playing C.W. Moss but he and Warren Beatty were deemed too similar.

Turned down the role of Caligula.

Jack Nicholson was considered for the role of Mr. Parker - "The Old Man".

Supposedly considered for the lead role.

Jack Nicholson was considered to play Luke Martin.

Nicholson originally turned down the part of Frank Costello but director Martin Scorsese and co-star Leonardo DiCaprio changed his mind.

Jack Nicholson turned down the role of Dick Tracy.

Was offered the role of the homeless man in the comedy remake of the great French classic but was committed to doing "the Two Jakes" first.

Jack Nicholson was interested in playing Martin Dysart.

Nicholson was considered to play Father Karras before Jason Miller landed the role.

Jack Nicholson was considered for the role of Father Lamont.

Jack Nicholson was considered for the part of the spiritualist's boyfriend in Alfred Hitchcock's final film but he had begun working on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and was unavailable.

Offered the part of Michael Corleone but declined.

Was considered to play the obnoxious, self-centered New York actor.

Jack Nicholson was considered for the role of Benjamin Braddock.

Jack Nicholson was considered for the role of Jay Gatsby.

Jack Nicholson was considered for the voice of Hades.

Jack Nicholson was the first choice to play Coach Norman Dale. He was interested but told them to go with another actor unless they were able to hold the shoot until the next year.

Nicholson was considered for the role of the Grinch.

Nicholson was considered at one time to play the bad guy - Mitch Leary.

Was considered for Jim Garrison.

Jack Nicholson is said to have turned down the lead role.

Producer Sam Spiegel wanted Nicholson to play studio boss "Monroe Starr" but director Elia Kazan prevailed with the actor of his choice.

Jack Nicholson was originally in negotiations to play the role of Mr. Hyde/Dr. Jeykll, but it fell through.

Was considered for the role of Paul Sheldon.

Jack Nicholson was considered for the lead role.

Director Stanley Kubrick had wanted to make a film about French general Napoleon Bonaparte starring Jack Nicholson.

Jack Nicholson was seriously considered for the role of Richard Nixon.

Jack Nicholson barely starred in this film - most of his part as Tad Tingle was left on the cutting room floor including a musical number sung by him.

Jack Nicholson turned down the role of Sy Parrish.

Director Roman Polansi's first choice for Captain Thomas Bartholomew Red was Jack Nicholson.

Jack Nicholson turned down the part of Raymond.

Before the highly-touted '80s project about a cattle drive fell apart, Nicholson was supposed to star in the film.

Jack Nicholson was considered for the role of Hannibal Lecter.

Director William Friedkin reportedly offered the starring role to Nicholson, but he turned it down.

Jack Nicholson was supposed to play Tank Sullivan.

Jack Nicholson was considered for the role of Johnny Hooker.

Jack Nicholson was considered by director Sam Peckinpah for the role of "David Sumner" in the highly controversial movie.

Director David O. Russell wanted either Jack Nicholson or Clint Eastwood in the part that eventually went to George Clooney.

He turned dowm the role of Gordon Gekko because he was already filming the Witches of Eastwick and Ironweed.

Jack Nicholson was considered for the role of Eddie Valiant.

Nicholson liked the script but turned it down because, at the time, no director he liked was assigned to it. When Pater Weir -- a director Nicholson admired -- took over the project, it was already too late.

Leslie Nielsen made at least two screen tests as Messala.

Nielsen was originally announced for the role of 'Ralph Halloran'.

Leslie Nielsen was considered for the role of Willy Wonka.

Nielsen was one of several actors in the running for the part of Sam Loomis.

Lost the role intended for him of "Will Scarlett" because he was vacationing in England.

The debonair Niven would have played "Charlie Allnut" had the movie been made in 1938, as originally planned.

In the project's seminal phases during the early 1980s, David Niven was considered for the role of Alfred the Butler.

David Niven screen tested for the role of poet Percy Shelley in the introductory sequence but was passed over.

Considered as a very likely candidate to play lecherous novelist Humbert Humbert.

Tested for the role of the hot-headed brother of the hero, "George Conway."

One of the stars of director Fred Zinnemann's epic that MGM shut down in 1969 at the very last minute. Three million of the film's eleven million dollar budget had already been spent.

David Niven was considered for the part of Maxim de Winter.

After dubbing vocals for Deborah Kerr in The King and I, Natalie Wood in West Side Story, and Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, Marni screen-tested for the part of Maria. She was given the smaller role of Sister Sophia.

Christopher Nolan was attached to direct the Howard Hughes biopic and even penned down a screenplay which he called "the best thing he had ever written."

Nick Nolte was reportedly considered to play Rambo.

Was considered for Jim Garrison.

Nick Nolte turned down the role of Indiana Jones.

Could not learn to ice skate convincingly, so was rejected for the coach-player starring role by director George Roy Hill.

Considered for the role of Han Solo.

According to the documentary "Taking Flight", director Richard Donner reveals that Nick Nolte was being considered for the film.

Around 2001, the actor's name began to be attached to a proposed film version of James Ellroy's novel about a corrupt police lieutenant in '50s L.A.

Chuck Norris turned down the part of John Kreese (Cobra Kai Sensei).

The young actor, who became famous on TV's "Dennis the Menace" was in hot contention for the role of Winthrop.

Norton turned down a role in King Kong because of prior committments.

Paramount offered a role to Edward Norton so he could fulfill a contractural obligation to the studio. He declined the role.

Edward Norton turned down the lead role.

Edward Norton turned down the part of Vincent.

Paramount offered Edward Norton a role in the film so that he could fulfill a contractural obligation to the studio. He declined.

Considered for the lead role of Daredevil.

Norton was Considered for the Role Of Kevin Lomax.

Edward Norton turned down the lead role of Lt. Hart.

Edward Norton was considered for the part of Bruce Banner.

Edward Norton nearly won the role of Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon.

Edward Norton turned down the leading role.

Edward Norton sought out a role to fulfill a contractural obligation with the studio.

Norton was considered for the role of Rudy Baylor.

Edward Norton was cast as "Citizen Kane" director Orson Welles, but lost the role after the film was scaled down to a TV movie.

Edward Norton turned down the role of James Ryan.

Edward Norton sought out the role to fulfill a contractural obligation with the studio. Unfortunately, Matt Damon had already closed his deal.

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

Jim Norton played the role of "Surly Truck Driver" in Spider-Man, and Sam Rami wanted him to reprise his "he stinks and I don't like him" line in the sequel, this time talking about Doc Ock. Jim Norton was unavailable.

Professional boxer Ken Norton was set play Apollo Creed, but dropped out 2 days before shooting.

Novak was the original choice to play Dean Wormer's wife.

Kim Novak turned down the lead.

Producer Martin Ransohoff offered Kim Novak this satiric California comedy, but she turned it down considering it "a beach picture."

With the film nearly completed the leading lady had to be replaced when Kim Novak was injured.

Among the many roles turned down by Kim Novak was that of the great 30s blonde bombsell and comedienne, Jean Harlow, who was one of Kim Novak's screen idols.

Kim Novak turned down the role because she didn't like the script; the script was later rewritten.

Offered the role of "Elizabeth," the star eventually withdrew from the project.

Kim Novak turned down the role in the Vincente Minnelli movie.

After the tragic death of Marilyn Monroe, Kim Novak declined the chance to replace the beautiful londe bombshell in the George Cukor-directed film that was already in progress.

Kim Novak declined the chance to star as the Southern charmer dominated by her mother in the film based on a Tennessee Williams play.

Alfred Hitchcock considered the beautiful, sultry Novak as a co-star for William Holden in his dark comedy set in small town New Hampshire.

The handsome British heartthrob of stage, film and theater was considered and tested for the role of the monk.

The lead singer of the 80s pop group "Berlin" did a screen test for the role of Princess Leia.

According to a retrospective interview with Rita Moreno, France also screen tested for the role she won.

France Nuyen was considered for the role of Suzie Wong, some reports say she actually filmed some of the movie but was eventually replaced by Nancy Kwan.