21 Major Movies That Almmmmooosst Had Completely Different Leads

I will never watch Mad Max: Fury Road the same way again.

1. Amy Schumer almost played Barbie in Barbie.

Netflix, Warner Bros. Pictures

Before Margot Robbie's Barbie, we almost had Schumer in the starring role. Due to creative differences, Schumer's vision never saw the light of day. When she spoke to the Hollywood Reporter, she said the studio "definitely didn’t want to do it the way I wanted to do it, the only way I was interested in doing it."

2. Claire Danes almost played Rose in Titanic.

20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures

Famous for her role as Juliet in Romeo + Juliet, Danes told Vanity Fair that she has "no regrets" in turning down the part of Rose. It's hard to imagine anyone else flying other than Kate Winslet.

3. Amanda Seyfried almost played Regina George in Mean Girls.

Paramount Pictures

Seyfried initially auditioned for the role of Regina, and Blake Lively tried out for Karen. I'm sure not too many other people could fit their whole fists in their mouths and have the gift to be able to tell that it's raining.

4. Al Pacino almost played Han Solo in Star Wars.

Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox

Pacino joked to Vanity Fair that he gave Harrison Ford a career thanks to him turning down the role of Han Solo. I think we're all thankful for that.

5. John Travolta almost played Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump.

Miramax Films, Paramount Pictures

Travolta was originally slated to be Gump. He regrets the decision but passed on the role to star in Pulp Fiction, so really it's a win-win.

6. Hugh Jackman almost played James Bond in Casino Royale.

20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures Releasing

Jackman thought he would have "no time" to play Bond since he was already attached to the X-Men movies as Wolverine. Daniel Craig went on to star as the infamous 007 in five films!

7. Eminem almost played Max in Mad Max: Fury Road.

Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures

Director George Miller considered casting the rap artist since he had shown he was capable in 8 Mile. Ultimately, the role went to Tom Hardy.

8. Emily Blunt almost played Black Widow in the MCU.

Warner Bros. Pictures, Paramount Pictures

Blunt had to pass on the role because she was signed to do Gulliver's Travels. Scarlett Johansson went on to don the red hair.

9. Will Smith almost played Neo in The Matrix.

Sony Pictures Releasing, Warner Bros. Pictures

Smith praised the work done by Keanu Reeves, and admits he would have ruined the film. I doubt it, Smith is a very talented actor, but it's hard to imagine anyone but Reeves dodging bullets.

10. Jim Carrey almost played Buddy the Elf in Elf.

Universal Pictures, New Line Cinema

The role was initially written with Carrey in mind, but Will Ferrell brought the character to life. Carrey would go on to star in a Disney retelling of A Christmas Carol, playing both Scrooge and several characters.

11. Denzel Washington almost played David Mills in Se7en.

TriStar Pictures, New Line Cinema

Washington regrets passing the role, and said he passed on the role because the film seemed "too dark and evil." Brad Pitt got the part and opened a box of phenomenal acting that made heads roll.

12. Ian McKellen almost played Dumbledore in the Harry Potter franchise.

20th Century Fox, Warner Bros. Pictures

McKellen rejected the offer to play the great wizard because he did not appreciate Richard Harris' criticism of him, who also auditioned for the part. We got Gandalf in return, so all is well in the world of wizards.

13. Matthew McConaughey almost played Jack in Titanic.

Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures

McConaughey was confident he landed the role, but Leonardo DiCaprio won the part. "I'm the king of the world, alright, alright!"

14. Tom Selleck almost played Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Paramount Pictures

One man's turned-down gold is another man's...gold. Harrison Ford has gone on record thanking Selleck, famous for Magnum P.I., for turning down the role.

15. Emma Watson almost played Mia in La La Land.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Summit Entertainment

Schedule conflicts derailed Watson from taking on the Oscar-nominated film.

16. Christina Applegate almost played Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.

DreamWorks Pictures, MGM

She passed on the role after just finishing many seasons of Married...With Children, and she felt like the part of Elle Woods was very similar to what she had been doing. Reese Witherspoon took up the role...what...like it was hard?

17. Henry Winkler almost played Danny Zuko in Grease.

ABC, Paramount Pictures

Winkler looks back now and jokes that he should have taken it. Travolta got the part and gave us chills that were multiplying.

18. Michelle Pfeiffer as Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs.

Warner Bros. Pictures, Orion Films

Much like Denzel with Se7en, Pfeiffer believed Silence of the Lambs seemed too "evil," saying, "I didn't want to put that out into the world," and passed on the role. Jodie Foster took on the part and gave us one of the best thriller performances ever.

19. Tom Hiddleston almost played Thor in Thor.

Audition tape exists, blonde wig and all, of Hiddleston's take on Thor. Then who would have killed it as Loki? The right choice was made.

20. Eric Stoltz almost played Marty McFly in Back to the Future.

Universal Pictures

It's hard to imagine anyone other than Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, but footage exists of the original casted actor, Stoltz. After filming a few scenes, the production studio wanted a different direction for Marty.

21. Harrison Ford almost played Alan Grant in Jurassic Park.

Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures

Director Steven Spielberg's original choice for the lead role of Alan Grant was none other than Harrison Ford. Since Ford was a part of so many major franchises, it's nice Sam Neill had the chance to bring Alan Grant to life with his own swagger.

Are there any "almost" acting roles you know about? Share in the comments below!