Marvel has managed to convince plenty of high-profile actors to join its ranks; now boasting the likes of Sir Anthony Hopkins, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Samuel L. Jackson just to name a few. But for every actor that signed up to the MCU, there's also a few who didn't.
Actors don't take every single role they're offered. They might turn down a part after reading the script but some of them don't even get that far. Seasoned actors quickly decide which roles suit them and which don't, and won't even audition for a part they aren't interested in. In some cases, the salary or film location might an issue for the actor. Actors might be torn between different offers or simply just not have time in their schedule for another job.
Today we're looking at some of the actors that Marvel had their eyes on, but who turned the studio down.
15 Jensen Ackles Turned Down The Role Of Hawkeye Because Of His Supernatural Commitments
Jensen Ackles originally auditioned for the role of Captain America and even though he didn't get the part, Marvel liked him enough to offer him another role: playing Hawkeye. Unfortunately, Ackles already had a long-term commitment to his series Supernatural and had to turn down the chance to be an Avenger.
14 Emily Blunt Missed Out On The Chance To Play Black Widow And Peggy Carter
Emily Blunt has been offered two Marvel roles but each time she's had to turn the studio down due to scheduling issues. She was first offered the role of Black Widow in Iron Man 2, and then later the role of Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger. Too busy for Marvel, Emily?
13 Joseph Gordon-Levitt Chose To Make The Sin City Sequel Instead Of Guardians Of The Galaxy
Looper star Joseph Gordon-Levitt could have taken on the role of Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy but he decided to turn Marvel down. Instead, he signed on for a major role in the Sin City sequel; Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. We wonder if he ever regretted that decision?
12 Jason Momoa Turned Down The Role Of Drax The Destroyer Because It Felt Too Similar To His Previous Roles
Marvel was keen for Jason Momoa to play the role of Drax but he declined because he felt it was too similar to his previous roles. “It didn’t really fit in my time because I’ve done so many things where I don’t say much and I’m colored up and I have my shirt off again,” he said.
11 Joaquin Phoenix Was In Talks To Play Doctor Strange But Ultimately Turned It Down
Before Joaquin Phoenix took on his Academy Award-winning role in Joker, he was offered another superhero role - by Marvel. Back in 2014, it was reported that Phoenix was in talks with the studio to play Stephen Strange in Doctor Strange but he ultimately turned them down because he didn't feel comfortable with all the green screens and SFX.
10 Olivia Wilde Passed On Playing Gamora Because She Was Tired Of Non-Human Roles
It seems that Olivia Wilde didn't want another non-human role on her resume, which is why she turned down the chance to play Gamora in the MCU. "It just doesn't feel very human. I got cast as a computer program in Tron: Legacy and an alien in Cowboys and Aliens. I was, like, 'There's something wrong here …" she explained.
9 Dougray Scott Was Set To Play Wolverine But Had To Drop Out When Filming For Mission Impossible 2 Ran Over Schedule
Dougray Scott (who you'll remember from films like Ever After, Hitman, and My Week with Marilyn) was originally cast to play the role of Wolverine in X-Men but he had to pull out when filming for Mission Impossible 2 ran over schedule. Hugh Jackman was then cast to take over from him.
8 Matt Damon Turned Down Daredevil Because He Wasn't Impressed With The Script
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck were both huge fans of Daredevil as kids, so imagine what it must have been like for them both to be offered the chance to play him? Damon, however, took one look at the script and turned down the role while Affleck, as we know, went ahead and did it.
7 Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson Passed On A Role In X-Men Origins: Wolverine Due To His Strict Training Schedule
Filmmakers had their eye on Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson for a role in X-Men Origins: Wolverine but unfortunately for them, he just couldn't spare the time with his strict training schedule. "You can't train for a fight and shoot a movie. Your focus has to be on that fight," he said.
6 Bryan Cranston Passed On X-Men First Class To Co-Star In Drive
Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston was offered the role of mutant Sebastian Shaw in X-Men: First Class but he chose to turn it down in favor of making Drive with Ryan Gosling instead. Marvel then offered the role of Shaw to Kevin Bacon, who turned out to be an excellent choice.
5 Olivia Munn Could Have Been Deadpool's Girlfriend But She Chose To Make X-Men Apocalypse Instead
We can't think that many actresses would turn down the chance to play alongside Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, but Olivia Munn did just that. She turned down the role of Wade Wilson's girlfriend because she felt the character lacked depth and didn't have enough action scenes. She chose to play Psylocke in X-Men: Apocalypse instead.
4 Mel Gibson Quickly Turned Down The Role Of Odin
While it's hard to imagine anyone but Sir Anthony Hopkins playing the role of Odin in the MCU, he wasn't the only actor considered for the part. Others in the running included Mel Gibson but he turned the studio down flat, without giving much of an explanation. This casting definitely worked out for the best!
3 Jessica Chastain Had To Decline A Role In Iron Man 3 Because She Was Too Busy
Marvel was keen for Jessica Chastain to play the role of Maya Hansen in Iron Man 3 but the actress was just too busy to accept the part. "I know many of you want me to be involved," she wrote on Facebook, "and I'm sorry to disappoint you. Hopefully there'll be another Marvel film in my future."
2 Matthew McConaughey Was Offered A Role In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 But Opted To Make The Dark Tower Instead
Matthew McConaughey was offered a role in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 but he declined the role, opting to make The Dark Tower instead. "I like Guardians of the Galaxy," he explained. "But what I saw was, 'It's successful, and now we've got room to make a colorful part for another big-name actor.' I'd feel like an amendment."
1 Leonardo DiCaprio Turned Down Spider-Man & Other Superhero Roles Because He Felt They Weren't Complex
Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the biggest names in Hollywood, so it's not surprising that he's been approached with plenty of superhero film offers. He was offered the role of Batman (in Batman Forever) and the role of Spider-Man (in the original Spider-Man trilogy) but he turned both down because he felt they weren't complex characters.