15 Hollywood Rejection And Cancelation Stories That Have Convinced Me That Fate Is 100% A Thing

Okay, okay, I believe in destiny now...

1. We might not have had Barbie, Ladybird, or Little Women if How I Met Your Dad hadn't been canceled.

Warner Bros. / Bays & Thomas Productions / 20th Television

How I Met Your Dad, a spin-off of the wildly successful How I Met Your Mother, cast Greta Gerwig as the lead role. However, the show only made a pilot episode before being canceled, leaving Gerwig minus a potentially career-defining role.

Without her commitment to How I Met Your Dad in the way, Gerwig had the freedom to focus on her writing and directing projects. This could have paved the way for the creation of her critically acclaimed directorial debut Lady Bird, earning Gerwig Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Riding on the success of Lady Bird, Gerwig had the chance to direct the 2019 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, Little Women. The film's exceptional cast and skillful direction earned widespread praise, further solidifying Gerwig's position as a prominent filmmaker.

Beyond Lady Bird and Little Women, Greta Gerwig's canceled involvement in How I Met Your Dad may have also inadvertently contributed to her taking on the live-action Barbie film.

Warner Bros.

Combining her penchant for exploring complex female characters and her deft storytelling, the Barbie movie is Gerwig's style all over – a style Hollywood might never have seen without the cancelled show.

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#gretagerwig #howimetyourmother #howimetyourfather

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Here are some clips from the pilot:

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2. Jennifer Aniston got rejected for Pulp Fiction — only to accept the role as Rachel in Friends.

NBC / Miramax Films

Friends fans might struggle to see Jennifer Aniston in any other role than the iconic Rachel. But believe it or not, she did audition for the part of Mia in the iconic film Pulp Fiction (1994). Uma Thurman, of course, ended up securing the role.

Still, it wasn't all disappointment. Aniston accepted her career-defining role as Rachel in Friends in the same year (swings are roundabouts, right?). So, while Pulp Fiction might've slipped through her fingers, she went on to become a TV icon — forever etching her name (and her hairstyle) in Hollywood history. 

Here she is backstage in '94 with her coworkers:

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3. Robert De Niro lost out on a role in The Godfather, only to win an Oscar for his role in... The Godfather Part II.

Paramount Pictures

Throughout his illustrious career, actor Robert De Niro encountered his fair share of rejection. One of the most notable instances was when he auditioned for the role of Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, but the part ultimately went to James Caan. However, destiny (or maybe just casting directors) had something in store for De Niro, as he later secured the role of Vito in The Godfather Part II.

The role earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. De Niro continued to delight critics and audiences alike with stellar performances in Taxi Driver and Cape Fear — and now, well... He's Robert De freakin' Niro.

Here he is auditioning for Sonny:

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4. Jim Carrey's career might have looked very different if he hadn't been rejected from Saturday Night Live.

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

In the '80s, Jim Carrey faced multiple rejections while auditioning for the iconic comedy show, Saturday Night Live. However, these setbacks allowed him to pursue his passion for film and ultimately led to the creation of some of his most memorable works.

One of his breakthrough roles came in the form of the character Ace Ventura in the film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994). Following the success of Ace Ventura, Carrey continued to impress audiences with his roles in other classic comedies like The Mask (1994), Dumb and Dumber (1994), and Liar Liar (1997). 

And while I reckon SNL would have been a great way to display Carrey's comedy genius, we might not have seen his more serious side.

Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images

In addition to his comedic talents, Carrey also displayed his range as an actor in more dramatic roles. His role as Truman Burbank in The Truman Show (1998) earned him critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award. And his transformative performance as Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon (1999) landed him a second Golden Globe, this time for Best Actor in a Drama. 

Still, he got on the show eventually:

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5. We might not have had Indiana Jones if Steven Spielberg hadn't been rejected from multiple James Bond movies.

Paramount / United Artists

In 1970, Steven Spielberg was rejected for the opportunity to direct the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever (1971).  After that, Spielberg found himself in Hawaii, where he had a chance encounter with his friend, George Lucas. 

As Lucas says, “Steven was telling me how he really wanted to do a James Bond film, and that he actually went to the people who owned James Bond and asked them if he could direct one… and they turned him down.” But Lucas had another offer for the director.

George Lucas then sold Indiana Jones as a pumped-up Bond-style film.

Axelle / FilmMagic

“So I said, ‘Well, look, Steven, I’ve got a James Bond film. It’s great – it’s just like James Bond but even better. I told him the story about this archaeologist and said it was like a Saturday matinee serial that he just got into one mess after another. And Steven said, ‘Fantastic, let’s do this!’”, Lucas shared.

Six months after that fortuitous beach conversation, Raiders of the Lost Ark began production. The film went on to become the highest-grossing film of 1981 by a considerable margin and earned a nomination for Best Picture.

6. Eric Stoltz almost played Marty McFly in Back to the Future, but his firing from the film led to his award-winning role in Mask.

Universal Pictures / Home Entertainment / New Line Cinema

Eric Stoltz initially landed the iconic role of Marty McFly in the beloved 1985 classic Back to the Future. However, his time in the role was short-lived — he was let go after just five weeks of filming, because higher-ups thought his comedic style was a mismatch for the movie. The role was then recast, and Michael J. Fox stepped in, becoming forever associated with the beloved character.

Despite the disappointment, Eric Stoltz shone in the same year with his performance in Mask (1985). In the film, Stoltz played the character Rocky Dennis; a role which eventually earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Here's Stoltz in Back to the Future:

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7. Hannibal might never have been made if Pushing Daisies hadn't been canceled.

NBC / ABC

Pushing Daisies was a whimsical TV series that premiered in 2007. The show followed Ned, a pie-maker with the unique ability to bring the dead back to life with a touch, but with a catch — a second touch would send them back to the afterlife permanently. Using this gift, he teams up with a private investigator to solve murder mysteries. Despite its critical acclaim and devoted fan base, Pushing Daisies was canceled after just two seasons due to low ratings. However, this cancelation marked a turning point for its creator, Bryan Fuller.

Freed from the constraints of Pushing Daisies, Bryan Fuller went on to create the psychological horror-thriller Hannibal, a reimagining of Thomas Harris's iconic character Dr. Hannibal Lecter. "Fuller, whose credits on series like Pushing Daisies and Wonderfalls showed his gift for crafting strong, distinct characters and wildly imaginative scenarios to put them in," IGN shared.

The series, known for its stunning visuals, complex character dynamics, and macabre storytelling, gained a dedicated following and critical acclaim during its three-season run. Following the success of Hannibal, Fuller then ventured into the realm of fantasy with American Gods, an adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel. 

8. Zazie Beetz probably wouldn't have been able to play Vanessa in Atlanta if she'd accepted the role of Catwoman.

Warner Bros. Pictures / FX

When it came to casting Catwoman in 2022's The Batman, a slew of talented actresses, including Zazie Beetz, were considered. Director Matt Reeves narrowed down his shortlist to three final contenders: Beetz, Zoë Kravitz, and Eiza González. At the time of the audition, though, Beetz was already committed to filming Donald Glover's Atlanta, in which she played the character Vanessa "Van" Keefer. Ultimately, Beetz couldn't accept the Catwoman role, leading to Kravitz landing the part.

Her role in Atlanta ended up earning Beetz a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Here's Borys Kit from the Hollywood Reporter on the topic:

Zazie Beeetz was very high on Reeves' list but ATLANTA commitments took her out of the running. https://t.co/N2uMSIkbFZ

— Borys Kit (@Borys_Kit) October 14, 2019

Twitter: @Borys_Kit

9. Serenity might never have happened if Firefly hadn't been canceled.

Fox / Aviron Pictures

The cancelation of Firefly, a beloved sci-fi series, was a real blow to its passionate fan base (i.e., me). Despite its devoted following, Firefly was abruptly canceled after airing only 11 out of the planned 14 episodes. 

However, the show's cancelation sparked a significant and dedicated fan movement to bring it back, leading to the production of a feature film called Serenity in 2005. The film provided some closure to the storylines left unresolved in the TV show and received positive reviews from both critics and fans — a real testament to stan power, if you ask us.

10. John Travolta was the number one pick to play Forrest Gump — but the role didn't work out, and he went on to make Pulp Fiction.

Miramax Films /  Paramount Pictures

John Travolta's refusal of the leading role in the 1994 classic Forrest Gump proved to be a significant turning point in his career. The lead role eventually went to Tom Hanks, who delivered an unforgettable performance that earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor. 

But 1994 was also the year Travolta secured the role of Vincent Vega in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. The critical and commercial success of the movie not only revitalized Travolta's career, but also earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. 

I'm sorry, but it had to be Hanks:

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11. Winona Ryder lost out on a role in the Coen brothers' The Hudsucker Proxy, only to star as Jo in Little Women.

Warner Bros. /  Columbia Pictures

Winona Ryder auditioned for the role of Amy Archer in the 1994 Coen brothers' film The Hudsucker Proxy but lost the part to Jennifer Jason Leigh. She candidly revealed to Charlie Rose that the rejection left her feeling devastated — but the setback clearly didn't harm her career in the long term.

In the same year, Ryder's performance as Jo March in the beloved adaptation of Little Women earned her a well-deserved Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. 

Here's Ryder in the role:

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12. Michelle Pfeiffer lost out on a role in Flashdance, but starred in Scarface instead.

Paramount Pictures / Universal Pictures

Michelle Pfeiffer had her eyes on the lead role in the 1983 film Flashdance, but it slipped through her grasp, ultimately landing in the hands of Jennifer Beals. At that time, Pfeiffer was recognized for her part in Grease 2, which apparently hurt her career more than it helped it — "The actor’s agent later stated that her role in Grease 2 was the reason why 'she couldn’t get any jobs. Nobody wanted to hire her,'" Far Out shared. However, she didn't have to wait too long for her moment in the spotlight.

Her time in the limelight came in the same year when she portrayed Elvira Hancock in the intense crime drama Scarface — a role that solidified her position as a bona fide Big Deal.

13. Brad Pitt Lost out on a role in Backdraft — but landed a part in Thelma & Louise instead.

Universal Pictures / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Sony Pictures

When Brad Pitt auditioned for the 1991 film Backdraft, he had yet to solidify his status as a talented actor. Ultimately, Pitt was passed over for the lead role, which eventually went to William Baldwin landing the part.

However, it was his role in Thelma & Louise, also released in 1991, that got Pitt noticed by higher-ups. "After gaining attention for his role in Thelma & Louise (1991), Pitt channeled his magnetism as a leading man in such movies as A River Runs Through It (1992) and Legends of the Fall (1994) but avoided being typecast by assuming unorthodox roles in 12 Monkeys (1995) and Fight Club (1999)," Encyclopedia Brittanica shared.

Here's a young Brad Pitt auditioning for Backdraft:

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14. Selma Blair was almost cast as Joey in Dawson's Creek, but took a breakout role in Brown's Requiem instead.

The WB / Union Distribution

Selma Blair came incredibly close to landing the iconic role of Joey in the hit TV series Dawson's Creek, which launched in 1998. But Katie Holmes ultimately secured the part that catapulted her to stardom — and although she lost the part, Blair's talent soon led her to a breakthrough moment of her very own.

In 1998 (the same year Dawson's Creek came out), Blair took on the leading role in the film Brown's Requiem. Her performance in this noir crime film garnered critical praise, earning Blair recognition as one to watch. 

Here's the trailer for the film:

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15. Tom Selleck had to pull out of Indiana Jones to star in Magnum, P.I.

Paramount / CBS

While the opportunity to play Indiana Jones in the 1981 movie Raiders of the Lost Ark was undoubtedly tempting, Selleck had already committed to the lead role of the charismatic detective Thomas Magnum in the TV series Magnum, P.I. (1980–1988). 

"How I got the job? Tom Selleck had the job, but he also incurred an obligation to do a television series, and he was unable to get out of that contract," Harrison Ford said of the role.

Selleck's portrayal of Magnum earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1984. The character's signature mustache and Hawaiian shirts became iconic symbols of the show (as they should, to be fair).

Do you agree that these rejections and cancelations ended up being good for Hollywood? Let us know in the comments below!