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Who Won't Be Winning Oscars in 2007
See which of your favorite actors reportedly turned down roles in this year's Oscar-nominated films.

 The Black Dahlia
David Fincher
Had been scheduled to direct the movie version of James Ellroy's 1940's L.A. novel about the murder investigation of young would-be actress Elizabeth Short.
Actor who got the part: Brian De Palma

Eva Green
Eva Green was offered a role but passed on it to avoid being typecast as a "femme fatale."
Actor who got the part: Hilary Swank

Maggie Gyllenhaal
Turned down the title role of Elizabeth Short.
Actor who got the part: Mia Kirshner

Rose McGowan
Auditioned for the title role, but got cast instead as "Sheryl Saddon."
Actor who got the part: Mia Kirshner

Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani was considered for the role of "Kay Lake," who comes between two police partners in '40s Los Angeles.
Actor who got the part: Scarlett Johansson

Mark Wahlberg
Wahlberg had been set to play "Sgt. Lee Blanchard," one half of the team leading the 1940s investigation of the brutal murder of aspiring actress Elizabeth Short.
Actor who got the part: Aaron Eckhart


 Borat
Todd Phillips
Director Todd Phillips was working on Borat but left in 2005 over creative differences.
Actor who got the part: Larry Charles


 Click
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore was actually cast as Donna Newman but had to drop out.
Actor who got the part: Kate Beckinsale

Lauren Graham
Lauren Graham turned down the part of Donna Newman.
Actor who got the part: Kate Beckinsale


 The Departed
Patricia Arquette
Patricia Arquette wanted to play the lead.
Actor who got the part: Vera Farmiga

Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro had to drop out of playing Queenan to go ahead with his own directorial project, the Good Shepherd.
Actor who got the part: Martin Sheen

Mel Gibson
According to IMDB, had to turn down a role in Martin Scorsese's crime drama due to his commitment to "Apocalypto."

Ashley Judd
Ashley Judd wanted to play Madolyn.
Actor who got the part: Vera Farmiga

Denis Leary
Turned down the chance to work with director Martin Scorsese because of his ongoing commitment to his TV series.

Ray Liotta
Ray Liotta, who hasn't worked with Scorsese since "Goodfellas," was reportedly the first choice for the role of Dignam, but had to turn the role down due to other commitments.
Actor who got the part: Mark Wahlberg

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

Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow was considered to play Madolyn.
Actor who got the part: Vera Farmiga

Brad Pitt
Pitt was cast as Sullivan but dropped out. He did continue to produce the film.
Actor who got the part: Matt Damon

Kyra Sedgwick
The blonde Sedgwick was seriously considered by Scorsese to play the role of Madolyn.
Actor who got the part: Vera Farmiga

Hilary Swank
Hilary Swank was reportedly one of the actresses considered by Scorsese for the part of Madolyn.
Actor who got the part: Vera Farmiga

Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet was reportedly one of the actresses considered for the part of Madolyn.
Actor who got the part: Vera Farmiga


 The Devil Wears Prada
Denis Leary
The actor-writer-comic reluctantly turned down the hit movie because of his weekly TV series "Rescue Me." He is reported to have been offered both the roles played by Simon Baker and Stanley Tucci.

Rachel McAdams
An Elle magazine story reports that she turned down the leading role in the hit film.
Actor who got the part: Anne Hathaway


 Dreamgirls
Aaliyah
She was to play the lead role to a version of the script E. Lynn Harris wrote.
Actor who got the part: Beyonce Knowles

Fantasia Barrino
Jennifer Hudson (also of American Idol 3) beat out Fantasia for a leading role in Dreamgirls, both tried out for the role.
Actor who got the part: Jennifer Hudson

Andre Benjamin
Saying he was 'thrilled' to be considered for a role, the singer-actor turned down the movie because, having just filmed a period musical, he didn't want to risk being 'typecast' by doding another one.
Actor who got the part: Keith Robinson

Lauryn Hill
In the early/mid 90's, Lauren Hill expressed interest in playing the Deena Jones character in the film adaption of DREAMGIRLS.
Actor who got the part: Beyonce Knowles

Whitney Houston
Back in the late 80's or early 90's, Whitney was attached to the role of Deena Jones.
Actor who got the part: Beyonce Knowles

Terrence Howard
Terrence Howard said in an interview that he had auditioned for a part in Dreamgirls but didn't get it.

Usher
It was initially reported that Usher was to play the character C.C. White. However, the singer could not commit six months to the project and turned down the role.
Actor who got the part: Keith Robinson

Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington reportedly turned down the role of Curtis Taylor Jr. because he can't sing.
Actor who got the part: Jaime Foxx


 Flags of Our Fathers
Jared Leto
Jared Leto is said to have turned down a role in Flags of Our Fathers to focus on his music.


 The Good German
David Holmes
Composer David Holmes had recorded an entire score that did not get used in the film.

Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet was previously linked to the female lead.
Actor who got the part: Cate BLANCHETT


 The Good Shepherd
Leonardo DiCaprio
DiCaprio was supposed to star in the film about the privileged and idealistic young American who helped found the CIA. Robert DeNiro directed the film.
Actor who got the part: Matt Damon


 The Illusionist
Liv Tyler
Liv was originally cast as Sophie but dropped out shortly before filming started.
Actor who got the part: Jessica Biel


 Little Miss Sunshine
Bill Murray
The role of uncle Frank was reportedly written for Bill Murray.
Actor who got the part: Steve Carell

Robin Williams
Robin Williams was said to be considered by the studio for the part of Frank.
Actor who got the part: Steve Carell


 The Lives of Others
Nicolette Krebitz
Nicolette Krebitz auditioned for the role of Christa.
Actor who got the part: Martina Gedeck


 Marie Antoinette
Alain Delon
Sofia Coppola originally considered the French actor to play Louis XV.
Actor who got the part: Rip Torn


 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Keith Richards
Keith Richards (of the Rolling Stones) was supposed to do a cameo as Captain Jack's father. It was cancelled due to a conflict with his tour schedule. He does play the role however in the third film.


 The Prestige
Sam Mendes
Sam Mendes had shown interest in directing, but Christopher Priest (author of the novel) requested Christopher Nolan.
Actor who got the part: Christopher Nolan


 Superman Returns
Mischa Barton
Considered to play Lois Lane.
Actor who got the part: Kate Bosworth

Jason Behr
Jason Behr, of the TV Show Roswell, was reportedly one of the actors in the running to play Superman.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

Selma Blair
Selma told MTV that she would love to play Lois Lane.
Actor who got the part: Kate Bosworth

Matthew Bomer
Matthew Bomer was considered for the role of Superman.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

David Boreanaz
Boreanaz was turned down for the role of Superman.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

Justin Bruening
Justin Bruening was up for the title role.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock was reportedly considered for the part of Lois Lane, when the project was in development as SUPERMAN LIVES when Robert Rodriguez was attached to direct.
Actor who got the part: Kate Bosworth

Tim Burton
When Nicolas Cage was attached to star, Tim Burton was attached to direct. Eventually, this incarnation of the project fell apart.
Actor who got the part: Bryan Singer

Nicolas Cage
When the film first entered pre-production (mid 1990's) Nicolas Cage was considered for the part of Superman.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

Jim Carrey
Supposedly considered for the role of Brainiac when Tim Burton was set to direct. The script was later changed and the role was cut.

James Caviezel
James Caviezel was considered for the role of Superman, but was considered "too famous" from the Passion of the Christ.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

Henry Cavill
Cavill was considered for the role of Superman.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

Hayden Christensen
According to India's National Newspaper "The Hindu," Hayden Christensen was rejected for the role of Superman.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

Elisha Cuthbert
Elisha Cuthbert was considered for the role of Lois Lane. Cuthbert said that she read for the part in an interview.
Actor who got the part: Kate Bosworth

Claire Danes
Claire Danes was considered for the role of Lois Lane.
Actor who got the part: Kate Bosworth

Johnny Depp
Considered for the roles of Lex Luthor and Jor-El.
Actor who got the part: Kevin Spacey, Marlon Brandon

Brendan Fraser
Brendan Fraser was considered for the lead role of Superman.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

Jake Gyllenhaal
According to teenhollywood, Gyllenhaal was considered for the role of Superman.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

Josh Hartnett
Hartnett was considered for the role of Superman.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

Hulk Hogan
Many reports said Hogan was asked to play Doomsday when Tim Burton was set to direct. The script was changed and the role was cut.

Anthony Hopkins
Signed on to play Jor-El when Brett Ratner was directing; left the project when Ratner left.
Actor who got the part: Marlon Brando

Scarlett Johansson
Johansson was considered for the role of Lois Lane.
Actor who got the part: Kate Bosworth

Keira Knightley
Auditioned to play Lois Lane.
Actor who got the part: Kate Bosworth

Beyonce Knowles
Knowles was considered for the role of Lois Lane.
Actor who got the part: Kate Bosworth

Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher was considered for the role of Superman.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

Shia LaBeouf
LaBeouf was considered for the role of Jimmy Olsen before Joseph Nichols' departure.
Actor who got the part: Sam Huntington

Hugh Laurie
Signed on for the role of Perry White and was about to shoot it before TV show House was renewed for a second season.
Actor who got the part: Frank Langella

Jude Law
Law was considered for the role of General Zod but declined and the part was cut.

Evangeline Lilly
JoBlo.com reported that Evangeline Lilly (from TV show Lost) was considered to play the role of Lois Lane, but the part later went to Kate Bosworth.
Actor who got the part: Kate Bosworth

Wentworth Miller
Wentworth Miller auditioned for the role of Superman when Bret Rattner was slated to direct. Miller did not get the part and Rattner went on work on another project. Rattner later invited Miller to audition for Prison Break (TV).
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

Natalie Portman
Portman was reportedly considered for the role of Lois Lane.
Actor who got the part: Kate Bosworth

Chris Rock
According to a movie fan magazine, Rock was considered for the role of Jimmy Olsen when Burton was prepping in the mid-90s.
Actor who got the part: Sam Huntington

Keri Russell
Keri Russell was the runner-up for Lois Lane.
Actor who got the part: Kate Bosworth

Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, etc.) was attached to write the screenplay.

Ian Somerhalder
Somerhalder was turned down for the role of Superman.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

Paul Walker
Walker was considered for the role of Superman.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

Tom Welling
Several sources have claimed that Tom Welling was considered to be Superman.
Actor who got the part: Brandon Routh

Debra Winger
In early stages, Winger was attached to play Lois Lane.
Actor who got the part: Kate Bosworth

Billy Zane
Billy Zane was considered for the role of Lex Luthor.
Actor who got the part: Kevin Spacey






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