Celebrities Who Turned Down Famous Roles!

#1 Pamela Anderson for Dana Scully in The X Files

In an odd casting choice, the show's producers reportedly had their eye on the busty blonde for the role of FBI Special Agent Scully, which eventually made Gillian Anderson a household name. since then, Gillian has been reported as saying: "Pamela was somebody who was more familiar to them in terms of what was on TV at the time. They were looking for someone bustier, taller, leggier than me."

#2 Will Smith for Neo in The Matrix

Though Smith passed on the role of Neo (as did Ewan McGregor), he's since said: "In the pitch, I just didn't see it. I watched Keanu's performance and very rarely do I say this but I would have messed it up. I would have absolutely messed up 'The Matrix'. At that point I wasn't smart enough as an actor to let the movie be. Whereas Keanu was smart enough to just let it be. Let the movie and the director tell the story, and don't try and perform every moment." Smith also passed on Django in "Django Unchained" because it wasn't the sole leading role, which was probably for the better, since Jamie Foxx was excellent.

#3 Matthew Broderick for Walter White in Breaking Bad

Is your mind totally blown? Ours was when we heard that Broderick, along with actor John Cusack, are both rumored to have passed on the role of ailing chemistry teacher turned meth kingpin Walter White on AMC's behemoth 'Breaking Bad." Lucky they did, because the part has undoubtedly cemented Bryan Cranston's place in television history.

#4 Sandra Bullock for Margaret “Maggie” Fitzgerald in Million Dollar Baby

Interestingly, Bullock actually was cast in the role, but decided to pull out after several delays. Oops! The boxing flick was a huge commercial and critical success, and earned its star, Hilary Swank, a second Oscar.

#5 John Travolta for Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump

In 1994, "Forrest Gump" became the highest grossing movie in North America, and Tom Hanks nabbed the Oscar for his portrayal of the unique character that year. However, Hanks wasn't the studio's first choice for the roleJohn Travolta was, followed by Bill Murray and Chevy Chase. Travolta has since admitted that passing on the part was a mistake.

#6 Emily Browning for Bella Swan in Twilight

This Australian actressbest known for her role in "Sucker Punch" reportedly flat-out refused to even audition for the role of Bella in the mega-successful "Twilight" franchise.

#7 Tom Cruise for Ren McCormack in Footloose

It's not terribly hard to picture a young Cruise starring in the 1984 hit, and apparently producers wanted him big-time (they'd obviously seen his underwear dance sequence in "Risky Business.") However, Cruise passed on the role to film "All the Right Moves" instead. The part of Ren went to Kevin Bacon, but only after Rob Lowe also had to pass because of an injury.

#8 Paul Giamatti for Michael Scott in The Office

Yes, the part of the world's most politically incorrect boss almost went to Paul Giamatti, who was hot off the success of wine-themed buddy flick "Sideways" and reportedly was the first choice for Michael Scott. Giamatti was offered the part, but declined andas Splitsider pointed outGiamatti's characters tend to be more cerebral than Michael Scott, while Carell nails the "dumb guy" routine in a way Giamatti can't.

#9 Garrett Hedlund for Christian Gray in 50 Shades of Gray

Apparently, it was kept quiet that Hedlund signed on to play the debonair S&M lover in the buzzy big-screen adaptation of the erotic novel, but dropped out for lack of a connection with the character. The role went to "Sons of Anarchy" star Charlie Hunnam, who actually resembles Hedlund quite a bit. Hunnam has since pulled out of the flick, and Jamie Dornan's replaced him.

#10 Denzel Washington for Michael Clayton in Michael Clayton

Washington passed on the lead in 2007's "Clayton," but has since admitted it was a mistake. "With Clayton, it was the best material I had read in a long time, but I was nervous about a first-time director, and I was wrong. It happens," he told GQ. The role ultimately went to George Clooney. Washington also turned down Brad Pitt's role in 1995's "Se7en.

#11 Drew Barrymore for Nomi Malone in Showgirls

Barrymore was first offered the lead role of Nomi Malone in camptastic flick "Showgirls," but (smartly) turned it down, since it went on to became regarded as one of the worst movies ever made. "Saved by the Bell" star Elizabeth Berkley accepted the part instead.

#12 Ray Liotta for Tony Soprano in The Sopranos

Considering Liotta made a career out of playing wiseguy types, it's not terribly shocking that he was approached for the role of conflicted mob boss Tony Soprano in the HBO hit. Liotta reportedly turned it down to focus on his film career, and the part went to the late James Gandolfini, whose portrayal made Tony Soprano one of the greatest TV roles of all time.

#13 Anne Hathaway for Tiffany Maxwell in Silver Linings Playbook

Hathaway was originally cast as Tiffany but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts, causing Jennifer Lawrence to get the role and win a Best Actress Oscar in 2012. Anne also won that year (though not quite as big), bagging a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for "Les Miserables."

#14 Cher for Morticia Addams in The Addams Family

Cher turned down the role of Morticia in the movie adaptation of the gothic TV show, which went to Angelica Huston. Interestingly, Cher was also considered for the part of the Grand High Witch in 1989's The Witches," which also went to Huston. Other roles Cher has turned down include Thelma in "Thelma and Louise," and Barbara Rose in "War of the Roses" (which went to Kathleen Turner.)

#15 Emily Blunt for Black Widow in Iron Man 2

The talented Brit was offered the role of Black Widow in "Iron Man 2" (which was assumed by Scarlett Johansson) but passed due to a scheduling conflict with "Gulliver's Travels," which totally tanked at the box office.

#16 Kevin Costner for Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption

Costner was arguably one of the biggest movie stars throughout the 1980s and early '90s, and was offered the leading role in the "Shawshank Redemption." In a sad story, Costner passed so he could focus on his passion project "Waterworld," which became one of the biggest flops in movie history. The role of Andy Defresne went to Tim Robbins.

#17 Jack Nicholson for Michael Corleone in The Godfather

While casting the now-classic mafia film in 1972, Paramount reportedly thought the project was a risky venture and wanted an established star to play the lead. Apart from Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Robert Redford, Ryan O'Neal, and Dustin Hoffman were offered the role, but they each declined. The part went to Al Pacino, and became one of the best performances in movie history.

#18 Johnny Depp for Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off

It's hard to picture the brooding actor as scheming slacker Ferris Bueller, but Depp was reportedly was offered the role in John Hughes' '80s classic before Matthew Broderick.

#19 Al Pacino for Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman

Pacino admitted he passed on the role of businessman Edward Lewis in the iconic rom com (which went to Richard Gere.) The accomplished actor also revealed he'd passed on the lead in "Die Hard," paving the way for Bruce Willis. "I gave that boy a career," Pacino said, adding he also gave Harrison Ford a career by declining "Star Wars." "That role was mine for the taking, but I couldn't understand the script," Pacino said.

#20 Reese Witherspoon for Sidney Prescott in Scream

Witherspoon turned down the lead role in the 1996 horror movie, which ultimately went to Neve Campbell. Reese also passed on another horror role, 1998's "Urban Legend." Clearly, she thought it best to stick to rom-coms.

#21 Tom Hanks for Jerry Maguire in Jerry Maguire

Cameron Crowethe director of the 1996 sports flickhas reportedly said he wrote the movie with Hanks in mind for the lead role. At the time, Hanks was directing "That Thing You Do," so had to pass, but he later approved Tom Cruise as his replacement. "I think you look at it now and it couldn't have been anybody other than Tom Cruise," Hanks told "Access Hollywood." "It's the way the movie's operated. I don't think anybody would look at that now and say, ‘That movie was not perfect.'"

#22 Katie Holmes for Buffy Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

"Buffy" star Sarah Michelle Gellar originally auditioned for the cheerleader role of Cordelia on the culty '90s series, but was given the lead only after Katie turned it down to finish high school.

#23 Angelina Jolie for Alex Munday in Charlie's Angels

Angie was originally offered the role of Alex Munday in the 2000 big-screen reboot of "Charlie's Angels" but passed, admitting she wasn't a fan of the original 1970s series. It eventually went to Lucy Liu, but not before being offered to Jada Pinkett Smith and Thandie Newton, both of whom had scheduling conflicts.

#24 Thomas Jane for Don Draper in Mad Men

It's pretty clear that Jon Hamm is "Mad Men" but it almost wasn't that way. Actor Thomas Jane passed on the role for a number of reasons thatlet's face itmade sense at the time, such as the fact that AMC was a network known for reruns of old movies, not robust television series, and the fact that it was a cerebral show, which Jane didn't think would attract viewers.

Jane went on to star on sex-themed series "Hung," which aired on solid-as-a-rock HBO, but got canceled after two seasons.

#25 Hugh Jackman for James Bond & Billy Flynn in Casino Royale & Chicago

The multi-talented actor reportedly passed on the role of singing lawyer Billy Flynn in the movie-musical "Chicago" (which scored Richard Gere an Oscar nom), stating he felt he was too young at the time. Jackman also was approached to play iconic character James Bond, but didn't want to be stereotyped as an action star after already earning fame as Wolverine in the first X-Men movie. The part went to Daniel Craig, though Jackman has since hinted that Bond wouldn't be out of the question.

#26 Leonardo Dicaprio for Patrick Bateman in American Psycho

This movie had a veritable who's who of leading men signed on to play the role of yuppie and (maybe) murderer Patrick Bateman, including Ed Norton, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, and Ewan McGregor. However Lions Gate Films actually announced Dicaprio as the lead before he was ultimately pressured to drop out because his camp was worried that his "Titanic" fanbase might not have wanted to see him play such a volent tole (it's called acting, people.) Eventually, Christian Bale got the role andpardon the punkilled it.

#27 Matt Damon for Jake Sully & Harvey Dent in Avatar & The Dark Knight

Damon has an uncanny knack of choosing the right roles, though he passed on two of the highest-grossing movies ever. Damon was James Cameron's first choice to play the lead in "Avatar" but declined due to a scheduling conflict with "The Bourne Ultimatum" (the role went to Sam Worthington), and Damon turned down the role of Harvey Dent in "The Dark Knight," which went to Aaron Eckhart.

#28 Lindsay Lohan for Stripper in The Hangover

Lohan declined the stripper role in the 2009 that went to Heather Graham, because she felt she was too young at the time.

"People love to attack her for everything, like: "Ha, she didn't see how great The Hangover was going to be. She turned it down." the directr, Todd Phillips School director told THR. 'She didn't turn it down. She loved the script, actually. It really was an age thing."

Lindsay was 20 when casting began for the movie, and Heather was 37.

#29 Harrison Ford for Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List

Ford was offered the role of German industrialist and Nazi member Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg's 1993 epic, but reportedly turned it down because he felt viewers wouldn't be able to look past him as a "star" to see the importance of the film. We think that's called a "challenge" dude. Instead, the role went to Liam Neeson.

#30 Tom Selleck for Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones

According to WhatCulture, the producers of "Magnum PI"the show that made Selleck famousrefused to allow their star to participate in what would have been an even bigger break for him as the adventure-seeking archeologist. Selleck was reportedly torn on the choice, and he decided to be a stand-up guy and stick with the show. Obviously, we know Harrison Ford assumed the iconic role.

#31 Molly Ringwald for Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman

Ringwaldcoming off the success of iconic '80s flicks like "The Breakfast Club" and "Pretty in Pink"was offered a major role that made Julia Roberts a star in "Pretty Woman." It seems playing a hooker wasn't in her plans, since she turned it down. Ringwald also said no to playing Molly Jensen in "Ghost," a role that eventually went to Demi Moore.

#32 Julia Roberts for Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side

Roberts was offered the part of feisty mom and activist Leigh Anne Tuohy in the 2009 footbal flick "The Blind Side," but reportedly turned it down to star in the ensemble rom-com "Valentine's Day" directed by Garry Marshall, the man who made her a star with 'Pretty Woman." The role of Tuohy went to Sandra Bullock anddespite her distractingly heavy-handed Southern accentwon her an Oscar. "Valentine's Day," however, was a flop.

#33 Mel Gibson for Roman Maximus in Gladiator

Gibson was approached for the part of Maximus in Gladiator before Russell Crowe, but passed reportedly because he felt he was getting too old for those types of action roles. Crowe went on to win an Oscar and become a huge star.

#34 Dana Delaney for Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and The City

It's hard to imagine anyone but Sarah Jessica Parker playing the iconic role of Carrie Bradshaw, but Delaney was actually creator Darren Star's first choice. The actress claims to have had turned it down because she'd previously done other projectsincluding one with Kim Cattrall called "Live Nude" girlswhose focus were also on sex. Sidenote: Delaney also passed on the role of Bree van de Kamp on "Desperate Housewives." Consideiring her recent ABC show "Body of Proof" got the axe, we say both passes were big misstakes.