Pacino was considered to play Harry Parker.
Actor who got the part: Mickey Rourke
Considered for the part of Willard.
Actor who got the part: Martin Sheen
Pacino was cast to play the doomed baseball catcher, Bruce Pearson, but he left the role for "the Godfather". Copolla suggested DiNiro as a replacement.
Actor who got the part: Robert DiNiro
Pacino was considered for role of Axel Foley.
Actor who got the part: Eddie Murphy
Pacino was cast in this film before Oliver Stone directed "Platoon" The movie was set to go with another director (with Stone writing the screenplay) when financing fell through.
Actor who got the part: Tom Cruise
Pacino tested but was rejected by the director (Franco Zeffirelli), who disliked his acting style.
Actor who got the part: Graham Faulkner
Al Pacino turned down lead for the role Roy Neary.
Actor who got the part: Richard Dreyfuss
Al Pacino was considered to play Luke Martin.
Actor who got the part: Jon Voight
Al Pacino turned down the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Gene Hackman
Al Pacino turned down the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Richard Gere
Alfred Hitchcock considered Pacino to play the cab driver who stumbles on a complicated kidnap and thievery plot.
Actor who got the part: Bruce Dern
Al Pacino was considered to play Rambo.
Al Pacino was considered for the part of Billy Rose opposite Streisand.
Actor who got the part: James Caan
Al Pacino was considered to play Chili Palmer.
Actor who got the part: John Travolta
Pacino was originally attached to play the title character and worked on developing the script, but ultimately passed on the role.
Actor who got the part: Mickey Rourke
Al Pacino turned down the role of Ted Kramer.
Actor who got the part: Dustin Hoffman
Pacino was considered for the role of Lenny Bruce.
Actor who got the part: Dustin Hoffman
The actor was often mentioned as the likely co-star with Winona Ryder in a remake of the 1955 musical biography of torch singer Ruth Etting's relationship with a gangster.
Actor who got the part: Project Abandoned
John Schlesinger wanted Al Pacino and Julie Christie to co-star in this production. Robert Evans insisted that Dustin Hoffman be cast.
Actor who got the part: Dustin Hoffman
Pacino was scheduled to make an appearance as a Vietnam vet but couldn't fit it in his schedule.
Al Pacino turned down the lead role.
Actor who got the part: James Caan
In an interview with Leonard Maltin on ET while promoting 'Heat' back in 1995, Pacino & DeNiro said they were offered the lead roles in TPOGV, but it didn't work out for some reason.
Actor who got the part: Eric Roberts & Mickey Rourke
Al Pacino was offered the lead role of Edward.
Actor who got the part: Richard Gere
Al Pacino was considered to replace Dustin Hoffman in the role of Herman J. Mankiewicz. The film was eventually scaled down to a TV movie.
Actor who got the part: John Malkovich
Lost out on the lead role of the coach-player because he thought director George Roy Hill "facetious" when he asked if he could ice skate.
Actor who got the part: Paul Newman
Was originally cast to play the role of Commander Kevin Dunne.
Actor who got the part: Gary Sinise
Supposedly turned down the role of Han Solo in Star Wars.
Actor who got the part: Harrison Ford
Al Pacino turned down the role of Travis Bickle.
Actor who got the part: Robert DeNiro
Pacino turned down the role of Judge Wakefield.
Actor who got the part: Michael Douglas
He turned down the role of Dave Kujan because he was already playing a cop in another movie around that time.
Actor who got the part: Chazz Palminteri
The striking Polish-born accent was considered for the role of Irena.
Actor who got the part: Nastassja Kinski
Sarah Padden was considered for Auntie Em, according to The Wizard of Oz Pictorial History-50th anniversary edition book.
Actor who got the part: Clara Blandick
Geraldine Page originated the role of Mother Miriam Ruth in the Broadway play by John Pielmeier, but was overlooked for the film.
Actor who got the part: Anne Bancroft
Geraldine reportedly turned down the part of Chris MacNeil.
Actor who got the part: Ellen Burstyn
Page was considered for the role of Ratched.
Actor who got the part: Louise Fletcher
Elaine Paige originated the role of Eva Peron in the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical in London, but she was passed over for the film version as she had no name in Hollywood.
Actor who got the part: Madonna
Missed out on repeating for films her Broadway stage role when box-office attraction Frank Sinatra passed on playing the male lead.
Actor who got the part: Doris Day
She was considered for the role of Lois Lane and was eventually used to screen test other actors, including Christopher Reeve, for the role of Clark Kent.
Actor who got the part: Margot Kidder
Studio titan Daryl F. Zanuck suggested Palance for the role of the robot "Gort."
Actor who got the part: Lock Martin
Palance turned down the role of Archer J. Maggott.
Actor who got the part: Telly Savalas
The title role of Scaramanga, was orignally offered to Jack Palance.
Actor who got the part: Christopher Lee
Palin was originally slated to play the Prime Minister of the Moon, but budget contraints cut out the planned sequence.
Actor who got the part: None / Scenes Cut
Michael Palin was considered for the role of Willy Wonka.
Actor who got the part: Johnny Depp
Palma was originally going to direct but left the film to do Scarface instead.
Betsy Palmer was asked to reprise her role of Mrs.Voorhees but reportedly turned it when they could not reach a salary agreement.
Was considered for the role which eventually went to Jennifer Garner.
Actor who got the part: Jennifer Garner
Gwyneth Paltrow turned down the role of Emma Peel.
Actor who got the part: Uma Thurman
Had originally agreed to play Ava Gardner but dropped out.
Gwyneth Paltrow was considered to play Samantha.
Actor who got the part: Nicole Kidman
Gwyneth Paltrow turned down an offer to play Rollergirl.
Actor who got the part: Heather Graham
Gwyneth Paltrow was considered for the role of Roxie.
Actor who got the part: Renee Zellweger
Gwyneth Paltrow was offered and turned down the role of Kathy, due to her father's insitence.
Actor who got the part: Kristin Minter
Paltrow dropped out - Diaz was the second choice.
Actor who got the part: Cameron Diaz
Was supposed to play Julianne Moore's housewife role.
Actor who got the part: Julianne Moore
She was originally supposed to play Andie Anderson but pulled out.
Actor who got the part: Kate Hudson
Scheduled to play "Dawn Campbell," she dropped out of the project for personal reasons.
Actor who got the part: Naomi Watts
Gwyneth Paltrow was not able to play the lead due to scheduling conflict.
Actor who got the part: Cate Blanchett
Producers also wanted Paltrow as the female lead, but a schedule conflict prevented her from doing the movie.
Gwyneth Paltrow turned down the role of Rachel.
Actor who got the part: Naomi Watts
Gwyneth Paltrow was originally set to play Lee Holloway.
Actor who got the part: Maggie Gyllenhaal
The part of Rose was originally offered to Gwyneth Paltrow.
Panettiere was cast as Sarah Altman in Panic Room but was replaced by Kristen Stewart when Jodie Foster replaced Nicole Kidman as her mother.
Actor who got the part: Kristen Stewart
Anna Paquin was the first choice to play Enola.
Actor who got the part: Tina Majorino
Parker wanted to play Georgie Elgin and was one of the actresses considered, but a younger and less expensive Grace Kelly won the role and got an Oscar.
Actor who got the part: Grace Kelly
Alan Parker was approached to direct, but passed.
Actor who got the part: Sidney Lumet
Eleanor Parker reportedly did not consider the part big enough.
Actor who got the part: Barbara Stanwyck
Many actresses were considered for this part, including Parker.
Actor who got the part: Dorothy McGuire
Vincent Sherman wanted Eleanor Parker for the part of Dierdre.
Actor who got the part: Dolores Moran
The producers of "Bus Stop" wanted Fess Parker for the role of the young cowboy; Walt Disney, who owned Parker's contract, declined to loan the actor out.
Actor who got the part: Don Murray
John Ford went to Walt Disney to get Fess Parker for the role of Martin, but Disney wouldn't let Parker do it. Parker didn't know of this for several years.
Actor who got the part: Jeffrey Hunter
Sarah Jessica Parker reportedly was considered for the role of Carrie.
Actor who got the part: Andie Macdowell
Auditioned for the lead part and did not get it.
Actor who got the part: Julia Roberts
Had been set to star in the thriller about a married couple stranded at an isolated motel.
Actor who got the part: Kate Beckinsale
Barbara was replaced before filming began.
Actor who got the part: Francine Racette
Barbara Parkins admitted at a conference that she turned down the lead female role in this film.
Actor who got the part: Ali MacGraw
Barbara Parkins admitted at a conference, that she turned down the role of "Alice," eventually played by Susannah York.
Actor who got the part: Susannah York
Parkins screen tested for Neely O'Hara but ended up playing Anne Welles instead.
Actor who got the part: Patty Duke
Dolly Parton turned down the role of Pauline.
Actor who got the part: Lynda Carter
American backers wanted director Lewis Gilbert to cast Dolly as Rita, because Julie Walters had only done TV up to that time.
Actor who got the part: Julie Walters
The role of Selina was originally to be played by Parton. Production materials were even printed describing her role in the film.
Actor who got the part: Faye Dunaway
Ivan Passer was attached to direct this film, entitled Masquerade, in 1971, but left the project. Streisand said in her Making of Yentl documentary that Passer refused to cast her as Yentl because she was too old.
Actor who got the part: Barbra Streisand
Fired after rehearsals made director Mike Nichols see the lack of chemistry between Patinkin and Meryl Streep.
Actor who got the part: Jack Nicholson
Originally cast as Mark, opposite Meryl Streep, but fired by director Mike Nichols.
Actor who got the part: Jack Nicholson
Mandy Patinkin was considered to play Hannibal in Manhunter.
Actor who got the part: Brian Cox
Gibson actually wanted to cast Jason Patric in the lead role of William Wallace.
Actor who got the part: Mel Gibson
Patric was considered to play Jim Morrison.
Actor who got the part: Val Kilmer
Turned down the role of young lawyer "Mitch McDeere" in the big hit thriller.
Actor who got the part: Tom Cruise
Turned down the lead role of "Jesus" in Mel Gibson's movie.
Actor who got the part: James Caviezel
Was considered to play "Panama Smith," the gutsy, sentimental, tough nightclub hostess.
Actor who got the part: Gladys George
Alexandra Paul auditioned for the role of Buttercup.
Actor who got the part: Robin Wright Penn
Bill Paxton was Ron Howard's first choice to star as Robert Langdon.
Actor who got the part: Tom Hanks
In 1955, John Payne (Fred from Miracle on 34th Street) paid a $1,000/month option for 9 months on the Bond novel Moonraker. He eventually gave up the option when he learned he couldn't retain the rights for the entire series of Bond novels.
Actor who got the part: Roger Moore
Pearce was turned down for the role of Batman.
Actor who got the part: Christian Bale
Guy Pearce turned down the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Ben Affleck
Guy Pearce was reportedly considered for the role of Durza the Shade.
Director Orson Welles seriously considered making a Batman movie in 1946, for which the studio wanted Gregory Peck to play Bruce Wayne.
Actor who got the part: Never Made
Was approached to play the psychotic and sadistic villain "Max Cady," but instead wanted the more heroic role.
Actor who got the part: Robert Mitchum
Gregory Peck was offered the role of Grandpa Joe but passed away before accepting. His family have said that he was excited about playing Grandpa Joe.
Actor who got the part: David Kelly
Peck was offered the Will Kane role, but didn't want to do another western after the boxoffice failure of "The Gunfighter". It may of also had to do with the fact that scriptwriter Carl Foreman was about to be blacklisted.
Actor who got the part: Gary Cooper
Master director William Wyler first wanted to reteam his "Roman Holiday" stars Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn.
Actor who got the part: Peter O'Toole
Gregory Peck was considered for the role of Prof. Henry Jones.
Actor who got the part: Sean Connery
Peck was considered by Hitchcock for the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Cary Grant
The granite faced star was originally cast as Marcus Vinicius in this Biblical epic.
Actor who got the part: Robert Taylor
Was enthusiastic to accept the role of Charles Shuaugnessy but David Lean turned him down.
Actor who got the part: Robert Mitchum
Turned down the role of "Pike Bishop."
Actor who got the part: William Holden
Director Sam Peckinpah was considered by producer Ilya Salkind to direct Superman.
In a 2006 interview, Kal Penn (star of Harold and Kumar) said he auditioned for Tarantino but was unable to commit to the part because Grindhouse production conflicted with the filming of Epic Movie.
Robin Wright Penn auditioned for the role of The Sure Thing.
Actor who got the part: Nicollette Sheridan
Was considered for the role of Walter opposite Madonna but producers wanted Willis.
Actor who got the part: Bruce Willis
Sean Penn was first choice for the role of Henry.
Actor who got the part: Matt Dillon
Sean Penn was seriously considered to play the title role of Tyler Durden.
Actor who got the part: Brad Pitt
Sean Penn was considered to star at one point.
Actor who got the part: Dennis Quaid
Sean Penn turned down the role of Sands.
Actor who got the part: Johnny Depp
Sean Penn was reportedly considered for the role of Dean Trumbell.
Actor who got the part: Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Penn was considered for the role of Dolarhyde.
Actor who got the part: Ralph Fiennes
This film was written with Sean Penn in mind, but Craven chose to go with younger leads.
Actor who got the part: Cillian Murphy
According to a VH1 "Behind the Movie" documentary, Penn was one of the actors who were considered for a role in this movie.
When Kevin Smith was writing the script, producer Jon Peters told him that he thought Sean Penn should play Superman after he saw him in Dead Man Walking claiming that Penn had that caged killer instinct that would be perfect for the role.
George Peppard was on a list of actors considered for the role of Johnny North.
Actor who got the part: John Cassavetes
Considered for the role of Vin.
Actor who got the part: Steve McQueen
Vincent Perez was considered for the part of Dr Andrew Glass.
Actor who got the part: David Morrisey
Perkins auditioned for director Elia Kazan, who didn't give him the role but who offered him the chance to take over the lead role in the Kazan-directed Broadway stage smash hit "Tea and Sympathy."
Actor who got the part: James Dean
Anthony Perkins auditioned for the roles of Tom Hagen and Sonny Corleone.
He auditioned for the role won by Tony Curtis.
Actor who got the part: Tony Curtis
Was considered to play "Tony."
Actor who got the part: Richard Beymer
Elizabeth Perkins auditioned for the role of Joanne Galloway.
Actor who got the part: Demi Moore
Elizabeth Perkins turned down the role saying it should go to a nicer girl.
Actor who got the part: Meg Ryan
Perry turned down the Jimmy Wilder role.
Actor who got the part: Harry Connick Jr.
Matthew Perry was originally offered the part of Don West.
Actor who got the part: Matt LeBlanc
Was considered for the role of the Baron.
Actor who got the part: John Neville
Pesci was considered to play Nicky early on.
Actor who got the part: Bruno Kirby
Joe Pesci was considered for the role of Jack DiNorscio.
Actor who got the part: Vin Diesel
Joe Pesci was reportedly considered for the role of Clemenza.
Actor who got the part: Bruno Kirby
Pesci was the first choice to play Fergie.
Actor who got the part: Rob Schneider
Pesci was considered for the role of Jake Berman.
Actor who got the part: Harvey Keitel
Turned down the role of the red dot-fixated would-be country singing star immortalized by Barbara Harris in director Robert Altman's masterful film.
Actor who got the part: Barbara Harris
William Petersen was reportedly considered for the role of Henry Hill.
Actor who got the part: Ray Liotta
William Petersen turned down a role in Heat.
Petersen was offered a role in Platoon but opted instead for the TV film "Long Gone," claiming it's the most fun he's ever had doing a film.
Turned down the role of "Etta" because she was pregnant.
Actor who got the part: Katharine Ross
Lori Petty was replaced by Sandra Bullock to play Lt. Lenina Huxley.
Actor who got the part: Sandra Bullock
Michelle Pfeiffer turned down the lead role of Catherine in Basic Instinct.
Actor who got the part: Sharon Stone
Tim Burton reportedly wanted Pfeiffer to play Vicki Vale.
Actor who got the part: Kim Basinger
Michelle Pfeiffer was considered to play the lead.
Actor who got the part: Debra Winger
According to Julie Salamon's book "Bonfire of the Vanities Goes to Hollywood," Michelle Pfeiffer turned down the female lead.
Actor who got the part: Melanie Griffith
Michelle turned down the role of Virginia Hill.
Actor who got the part: Annette Bening
Michelle Pfeiffer was considered for the role of Ginger.
Actor who got the part: Sharon Stone
Michelle Pfeiffer turned down an offer to reprise her role as Catwoman.
Actor who got the part: Halle Berry
Michelle turned down the part of the White Witch.
Actor who got the part: Tilda Swinton
Pfeiffer was one of the actresses briefly considered for the role of Breathless.
Actor who got the part: Madonna
Michelle turned down the role of Meredith Johnson.
Actor who got the part: Demi Moore
Pfeiffer was considered for the role of Eva Peron (when Oliver Stone was in talks to direct).
Actor who got the part: Madonna
Rob Reiner has said that Michelle Pfeiffer was the original choice for the female lead, but that the studio wanted a romance between her and Tom Cruise's characters. the script was unchanged, and the part went to a "tougher" actress.
Actor who got the part: Demi Moore
Michelle Pfeiffer was considered for the role of Lilly Dillon.
Actor who got the part: Anjelica Huston
Dropped out of the production about Truman Capote, in which she would have played chic socialite and wife of director Howard Hawks, Slim Keith.
Actor who got the part: Hope Davis
Michelle Pfeiffer dropped out of the female lead role in the medical drama directed by George Miller.
Actor who got the part: Susan Sarandon
Michelle Pfeiffer turned down the lead role in order to play Catwoman.
Actor who got the part: Lena Olin
Had been announced as one of the stars of director Robert Altman's film, playing a 'mysterious angel of death.'.
Actor who got the part: Virginia Madsen
Michelle was offered the part of Vivian, but didn't like the tone of the script.
Actor who got the part: Julia Roberts
Pfeiffer was strongly considered to play Mia Wallace.
Actor who got the part: Uma Thurman
Michelle Pfeiffer turned down the lead role of Clarice Starling.
Pfeiffer was considered to play Annie.
Actor who got the part: Meg Ryan
Pfeiffer and Jodie Foster were originally chosen for the leads, but preproduction took to long and both actresses had to drop out.
Actor who got the part: Geena Davis
Michelle Pfeiffer tried out for the role of Sissy, eventually played by Debra Winger.
Actor who got the part: Debra Winger
Michelle was offered the role of the Marquise de Merteuil in this film, but declined so she could play Madame Marie de Tourvel in Dangerous Liaisons instead.
Actor who got the part: Annette Bening
Michelle was set to star as Christine Helm Vole in a remake of the Billy Wilder classic, with a screenplay by David E. Kelly.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made
Pfeiffer was considered for one of the female leads.
Phifer was turned down for the role of Paul.
Actor who got the part: Don Cheadle
Phifer turned down the part of Quincy McCall due to a schedule conflict. He was replaced by Omar Epps.
Actor who got the part: Omar Epps
Phillippe was originally offered a headlining role but declined.
Phillippe was going to play the role of Mel Gibson's son, but Heath Ledger got the part.
Actor who got the part: Heath Ledger
Ryan Phillippe turned down the lead role. Cuba Gooding Jr. replaced him.
Actor who got the part: Cuba Gooding Jr.
One of the finalists for the role of Anakin (and widely rumored to be the runner-up), but eventually vetoed by George Lucas due to his age.
Actor who got the part: Hayden Christensen
Offered the role of Paul but it was decided that the sexy lover should be European instead of American.
Actor who got the part: Olivier Martinez
The role of Linda Ferrin was initially played by Bijou Phillips. Her scenes needed to be re-shot but Phillips was not available due scheduling conflicts, so the role went to Clea DuVall.
Actor who got the part: Clea DuVall
Lou Diamond Phillips' was sent the script, but was later told by his agent that the movie would flop.
Actor who got the part: Keanu Reeves
Director Todd Phillips was working on Borat but left in 2005 over creative differences.
Actor who got the part: Larry Charles
The great Phoenix had been mentioned to star in the pioneering love story.
Actor who got the part: Heath Ledger
Auditioned for the role of the detective.
Actor who got the part: Adrien Brody
Joaquin Phoenix turned down the lead role of Willard.
Actor who got the part: Crispin Glover
This project was delayed several times with many choices over the years: Matt Dillon, Eric Stoltz, Anthony Michael Hall, and then River Phoenix. Unfortunately, River passed away and the part was finally given to Leonardo DiCaprio.
Actor who got the part: Leonardo DiCaprio
According to the River Phoenix biography, by Barry C. Lawrence, the director John Boorman had wanted River to star in this futuristic drama revolving around magic... River died, and the film has consequently not been made.
Actor who got the part: None
River Phoenix turned down the role of Eric Draven.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Lee
Dark Blood is a film that was never finished because it's star River Phoenix died during production.
Actor who got the part: Film Abandoned
River Phoenix reportedly wanted the role of the actor who commits suicide.
Actor who got the part: Robert Sean Leonard
River Phoenix was cast to play The Interviewer, but he passed away before filming began.
Actor who got the part: Christian Slater
River Phoenix was beat out for the role of Paul by Brad Pitt.
Actor who got the part: Brad Pitt
River Phoenix was designated to play the character of Izzy Singer,but Sean Astin got the part after he died.
Actor who got the part: Sean Astin
Cameron admitted in an interview in 1998 that he 'always admired Phoenix' and would have condsiered him for the role.
Actor who got the part: Leonardo DiCaprio
Phoenix was set to star before his death.
Actor who got the part: Leonardo DiCaprio
Paramount executive wanted character actor Pichel for the title roles but director Rouben Mamoulian insisted on Fredric March, who wound up winning an Academy Award for his performance.
Actor who got the part: Fredric March
The silent film star made several tests for this role and wanted it as a comeback vehicle, but Dunne was chosen instead.
Actor who got the part: Irene Dunne
Pickford briefly considered coming out of retirement to play the lead in this drama about book burning.
Actor who got the part: Bette Davis
Director Billy Wilder went personally to offer the "Norma Desmond" role to Pickford, arguably the greatest and most powerful of all female silent film stars.
Actor who got the part: Gloria Swanson
Considered as a very strong contender to play the aristocratic, troubled hero of Alfred Hitchcock's film version of the popular Daphne Du Maurier bestseller.
Actor who got the part: Laurence Olivier
Auditioned for the role of "John."
Actor who got the part: Peter Gallagher
Warner Bros contract writer Louise Randall Pierson worked on the screenplay but got no screen credit.
Actor who got the part: Ranald MacDougall
Rosamund Pike turned down the role of Rita Skeeter so she could portray Jane Bennett in 'Pride and Prejudice.'
Actor who got the part: Miranda Richardson
Alfred Hitchcock resisted pressure by producer David O. Selznick to cast the young actress who had starred for the director in "The Man Who Knew Too Much" and "Young and Innocent."
Actor who got the part: Joan Fontaine
Jada Pinkett-Smith was considerd to play the youngest sister Bird.
Jada Pinkett-Smith was once considered for the role of Storm but turned it down.
Actor who got the part: Halle Berry
Brad Pitt turned down the lead role of Will.
Actor who got the part: Hugh Grant
Brad Pitt was considered for the role of Hephaestion, but turned down the role due to personal concerns with the character.
Turned down the role of John Grady Cole in the movie version of Cormac McCarthy's fine novel.
Actor who got the part: Matt Damon
The role of Russell was originally written for Brad Pitt who dropped out saying "I just don't get it enough to do it."
Actor who got the part: Billy Crudup
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.
Actor who got the part: Project Never Got Made
Pitt was offered the lead role at one point but turned it down.
Actor who got the part: Christian Bale
Brad Pitt turned down Apollo 13 in order to do Se7en.
Pitt was reportedly considered for the lead role.
Actor who got the part: William Baldwin
The writer originally had Brad Pitt in mind for the part.
Actor who got the part: Matt Damon
Brad Pitt could not accept the role of Mr. Darcy due to conflicting schedules.
Actor who got the part: Martin Henderson
Actually committed to the film but backed out along with director Ron Howard.
Actor who got the part: Chris O'Donnell
Brad Pitt was turned down for the role of Willy Wonka.
Actor who got the part: Johnny Depp
Brad Pitt was considered for the role of Inman.
Actor who got the part: Jude Law
Pitt was cast as Sullivan but dropped out. He did continue to produce the film.
Actor who got the part: Matt Damon
Brad Pitt was originally set to play Kevin back when Joel Schumacher was signed on to direct.
Actor who got the part: Keanu Reeves
Pitt pulled out of Darren Aronofsky's sci-fi drama and did "Troy" instead.
Actor who got the part: Hugh Jackman
Brad Pitt was considered for the lead role of Inspector Fred Abberline.
Actor who got the part: Johnny Depp
Brad Pitt auditioned for the role of J.D., but the producer and director thought he was too sweet looking for the dark character.
Actor who got the part: Christian Slater
Pitt turned down the role of Junuh.
Actor who got the part: Matt Damon
According to an interview with Matrix composer Don Davis, the studio wanted Brad Pitt or Val Kilmer for the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Keanu Reeves
Brad Pitt was originally considered for the part of Chris "Izzy" Cole.
Actor who got the part: Mark Wahlberg
Brad Pitt was intended for the role of Tommy Williams.
Actor who got the part: Gil Bellows
According to Vanity Fair, Pitt was offered the lead role but passed because he did not want to do another depressing story after Interview with the Vampire and Legends of the Fall.
Actor who got the part: Bill Paxton
Brad Pitt was reportedly considered for the role of Ichabod Crane.
Actor who got the part: Johnny Depp
Brad Pitt reportedly was going to play Turkish but took the part of Mickey the Pikey instead.
Actor who got the part: Jason Statham
The actor withdrew from the production purportedly because he was not happy with the screenplay.
Actor who got the part: Russell Crowe
Brad Pitt was auditioned for the role of Pvt Witt.
Actor who got the part: James Caviezel
Seriously considered for the lead role of Jake Brigance (Matt McConaughey).
Supposedly considered for the lead role of Jack Dawson.
Actor who got the part: Leonardo DiCaprio
Brad Pitt states in the DVD commentary that he was originally offered a "much bigger part" (presumably Clarence) but decided to take the role of the stoner Floyd instead.
Actor who got the part: Christian Slater
Offered the role of the lover, Paul.
Actor who got the part: Olivier Martinez
Piven was considered to be in High Fidelity, but was passed over in favor of Jack Black. This supposedly led to some tension between the two.
Actor who got the part: Jack Black
Jeremy Piven was considered for the role of Dolarhyde.
Actor who got the part: Ralph Fiennes
Dana Plato (Kimberly from Diff'rent Strokes) reportedly turned down the lead role of Emmeline.
Actor who got the part: Brooke Shields
Considered to play the leading female role in director William Wyler's psychological thriller.
Actor who got the part: Samantha Eggar
Was considered for a major role.
Actor who got the part: Natalie Wood
Piper Laurie said in an interview that Joan Plowright was originally slated to play the role of Dolly.
Actor who got the part: Piper Laurie
The brilliant Amanda Plummer was passed over by director Norman Jewison for the part of Sister Agnes, although she had originated it on stage and won a Tony.
Actor who got the part: Meg Tilly
The actor was hired for the title role when Rex Harrison tried to drop out after the departure from the project of original screenwriter, Alan jay Lerner. When Harrison got lured back, Plummer was paid full salary.
Actor who got the part: Rex Harrison
Considered a frontrunner to play spy "Harry Palmer," Plummer dropped out of the competition to star in "The Sound of Music."
Actor who got the part: Michael Caine
Amy Poehler was cast as the female lead but later dropped out.
Actor who got the part: Malin Akerman
Barbra Streisand wanted Poitier as her co-star in the comedy, but studio bosses were nervous that audiences wouldn't accept an interracial couple.
Actor who got the part: Geoge Segal
Director Sam Peckinpah considered him for the leading role in his enormously controversial, influential movie.
Actor who got the part: Dustin Hoffman
Roman Polanski turned down a chance to direct the film because it hit to close to home. Polanski was a Holocaust victim until the age of 8, when he escaped from the Krakow Ghetto.
Actor who got the part: Steven Spielberg
Pollack was considered to play Reuben in the remake of Ocean's Eleven.
Actor who got the part: Elliot Gould
Had accepted the part of Penny but dropped out to do another film.
Actor who got the part: Kate Hudson
Had the role of Jenny but lost it to Cameron Diaz when Scorsese was forced to go with a more bankable star.
Actor who got the part: Cameron Diaz
Ellen Pompeo was courted by the makers of Clerks II to play the role of Becky but she decided she didn't want to infringe apon the potential commitment or scheduling of "Grey's Anatomy".
Actor who got the part: Rosario Dawson
Paulina Porizkova turned down the role of Natalya.
Actor who got the part: Izabella Scorupco
According to director Cameron Crowe, Portman auditioned for the part of Penny.
Actor who got the part: Kate Hudson
Originally turned down the part of Ann because of a required nude scene. The script was rewritten to get her back.
Before being cast as Sara, Natalie Portman was considered for the role of Ada.
Actor who got the part: Nicole Kidman
Natalie Portman reportedly passed on the role of Tessa.
Actor who got the part: Rachel Weisz
Natalie was considered for a role in Cameron Crowe's Elizabethtown.
Portman turned down the lead role 2 weeks before pre-production because she didn't feel she was right for the part.
Actor who got the part: Charlize Theron
Natalie Portman turned down the part to do a stint on broadway instead.
Natalie Portman turned down the role of Wendy before it went to Christina Ricci.
Actor who got the part: Christina Ricci
Natalie Portman tried out for the movie but didn't get a part.
Natalie Portman turned down the lead because she disagreed with the sexual content.
Reportedly the first choice for Juliet.
Portman was reportedly considered for the role of Lois Lane.
Actor who got the part: Kate Bosworth
Natalie Portman turned down the part of Rogue.
Parker Posey was considered to play Dorothy.
Parker Posey auditioned for Speed and didn't get it. She's told the story on several talk shows, about asking for a plate to use as a steering wheel for her auditon.
Actor who got the part: Sandra Bullock
Monica Potter was originally cast as Katie.
Actor who got the part: Monica Arnold
Potter was considered for the role of Jenny Everdeane.
Actor who got the part: Cameron Diaz
Wanted the role of Walter Neff but had previous commitment to another studio.
Singer Ruth Etting wanted Powell to portray her on film since Powell was "dainty," like the real Etting herself.
Actor who got the part: Doris Day
Eventually considered "too old" for the role of newcomer "Kathy Selden."
Actor who got the part: Debbie Reynolds
MGM had offered the debonair Powell and frequent costar Myrna Loy this script about a long-married couple and their relationship issues.
Actor who got the part: Desi Arnaz
The dashing, debonair MGM star was wanted by director Frank Capra to play "Dave the Dude," but a loanout could not be arranged.
Actor who got the part: Warren William
Director Alfred Hitchcock was very intrigued by the possibility of attracting the suave, debonair comedian to play his dark, tortured hero with a secret.
Actor who got the part: Laurence Olivier
When Barrymore's drinking started causing problems on this production, Powell was approached to replace him in the role of Mercutio. Powell, a close friend of Barrymore's, refused.
Actor who got the part: John Barrymore
Director Alfred Hitchcock won the interest of suave, debonair star Powell to play the "Merry Widow" murderer but Powell's studio, MGM, quashed the idea.
Actor who got the part: Joseph Cotten
Power was thought of for the role of Robert Browning when it was to have co-starred he and Deborah Kerr.
Actor who got the part: Bill Travers
Harry Cohn was always desperate to get Tyrone Power for a film, but could never get him away from Zanuck. He finally got his chance and offered Power the lead in From Here to Eternity, but Power turned it down to do a play.
Actor who got the part: Burt Lancaster
Tyrone Power was offered many roles during his career - and while he was at Fox, Darryl Zanuck turned them all down. This includes the lead in "Golden Boy" that went to William Holden.
Actor who got the part: William Holden
20th Century Fox head Darryl F. Zanuck foolishly and selfishly denied the makers of this Civil War classic epic the chance to borrow Power from Fox so that he could play Ashley Wilkes.
Actor who got the part: Leslie Howard
Power was offered the role of Paris in Kings Row, but Darryl Zanuck, furious that Power ended up on screen such a short time when he lent him to MGM for Marie Antoinette, refused to ever lend him out again.
Actor who got the part: Robert Cummings
Studio bosses offered the "Marcellus Gallio" role to Power, but he instead chose to do a stage play.
Actor who got the part: Richard Burton
Power had filmed nearly half the movie when he collapsed and died after filming a dueling sequence.
Actor who got the part: Yul Brynner
The major star and heartthrob was the original choice to play Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata for director Elia Kazan.
Actor who got the part: Marlon Brando
Novelist Ray Bradbury, having had a difficult experience making "Moby Dick" with John Huston, did not want yet another difficult director to obtain the screen rights to one of his most famous novels.
Actor who got the part: Francois Truffaut
A strong contender for the role of uptight Alice.
Actor who got the part: Dyan Cannon
Brian Presley auditioned for the role of Anakin Skywalker.
Actor who got the part: Hayden Christensen
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