20 Famous Actors Who Didn’t Get Roles They Auditioned For

Big roles often come down to a few final auditions, and even the most established stars have stories of near misses. Many actors first read for parts that went to someone else, sometimes leading to a different breakthrough later. These audition tales reveal how casting choices shape careers in surprising ways. Here are twenty famous cases where the actor tried for the role and it went to another name in the end.

Henry Cavill

Henry Cavill screen tested for James Bond in ‘Casino Royale’. The producers chose Daniel Craig after extensive tests. Cavill later said he was told to lean up more for the part. He would eventually headline major franchises with ‘Man of Steel’ and ‘The Witcher’.

Tom Hiddleston

Tom Hiddleston auditioned for the title role in ‘Thor’ with full readings on camera. Marvel ultimately selected Chris Hemsworth for the hammer wielding hero. Hiddleston impressed the team and was recast as Loki instead. That decision launched one of the studio’s most popular characters.

Eddie Redmayne

Eddie Redmayne read for Bilbo Baggins in ‘The Hobbit’. The production went with Martin Freeman after long consideration. Redmayne later described a separate audition for a villain in a space saga that did not pan out. He soon anchored the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ series as Newt Scamander.

Kurt Russell

Kurt Russell auditioned for Han Solo in ‘Star Wars’. Casting director sessions included multiple reads with different actors for chemistry. The role went to Harrison Ford after final tests. Russell moved on to a steady run of hits with John Carpenter collaborations.

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone also tried for Han Solo during early ‘Star Wars’ auditions. He recalled not feeling right for the quick talking smuggler. The team chose Harrison Ford following additional readings. Stallone soon wrote and starred in ‘Rocky’ which defined his career.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence auditioned for Bella Swan in ‘Twilight’. The production selected Kristen Stewart after a wide casting search. Lawrence later said she received a simple call with the decision. She soon broke out with ‘Winter’s Bone’ and then led ‘The Hunger Games’.

Brie Larson

Brie Larson auditioned for Katniss Everdeen in ‘The Hunger Games’. The filmmakers chose Jennifer Lawrence for the lead. Larson also read for roles in a major space saga around the same time. She later led ‘Room’ and joined Marvel as Captain Marvel.

Tom Holland

Tom Holland auditioned for a role in ‘Star Wars The Force Awakens’. He described a reading that involved reacting to a drone as a stand in. He did not land a part in that film. Not long after, he won the lead in ‘Spider Man Homecoming’.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson auditioned for Lisbeth Salander in ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’. Director and studio favored a less familiar face for the role. Rooney Mara won the part after rigorous testing. Johansson continued with acclaimed roles and joined Marvel as Black Widow.

Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot auditioned for the Bond film ‘Quantum of Solace’ for the role of Camille. The part went to Olga Kurylenko after screen tests. Gadot’s read brought her to more casting rooms in Los Angeles. She later secured Wonder Woman in the DC films.

Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet auditioned to play Peter Parker in ‘Spider Man Homecoming’. The studio ultimately chose Tom Holland after multiple rounds. Chalamet said the process was intense and competitive. He soon led ‘Call Me by Your Name’ and later headlined ‘Dune’.

Sebastian Stan

Sebastian Stan screen tested for Steve Rogers in ‘Captain America The First Avenger’. Chris Evans was selected for the lead after final tests. Marvel then offered Stan the role of Bucky Barnes. That supporting part evolved into the Winter Soldier across several films.

Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal auditioned for Christian in ‘Moulin Rouge’. Director Baz Luhrmann went with Ewan McGregor after assessing singing and chemistry. Gyllenhaal later pursued other musical projects with additional vocal training. He went on to star in films like ‘Donnie Darko’ and ‘Nightcrawler’.

Michael B. Jordan

Michael B. Jordan auditioned for a role in ‘Star Wars The Force Awakens’. He later said he felt the read did not go well. The project moved forward with different casting choices. Jordan soon took on ‘Creed’ and later played Erik Killmonger in ‘Black Panther’.

Saoirse Ronan

Saoirse Ronan auditioned for Katniss in ‘The Hunger Games’. The production chose Jennifer Lawrence after broad testing. Ronan continued with a strong run of lead roles. She later earned multiple Oscar nominations with films like ‘Brooklyn’ and ‘Lady Bird’.

Elizabeth Olsen

Elizabeth Olsen auditioned for Daenerys Targaryen in ‘Game of Thrones’. The role ultimately went to Emilia Clarke after pilot reshoots and new tests. Olsen later joined Marvel as Wanda Maximoff. That character expanded with a lead turn in ‘WandaVision’.

Andrew Garfield

Andrew Garfield auditioned for the title role in ‘The Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian’. The studio selected Ben Barnes after final callbacks. Garfield later discussed being told he did not have the right look. He went on to lead ‘The Amazing Spider Man’ and win a Tony Award.

John Krasinski

John Krasinski tested for Steve Rogers in ‘Captain America The First Avenger’. Reports noted he even tried on the suit during the process. The studio chose Chris Evans for the role. Krasinski later found success with ‘A Quiet Place’ and ‘Jack Ryan’.

Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman auditioned to play the male lead opposite Sandra Bullock in ‘Miss Congeniality’. The part went to Benjamin Bratt after screen tests. Jackman has said he needed the job at the time and was disappointed. Soon after he became Wolverine in ‘X Men’.

Tom Felton

Tom Felton auditioned for both Harry Potter and Ron Weasley before final casting. The production team saw him for multiple roles during early reads. He did not land either lead part. He was then cast as Draco Malfoy which became a defining role in the series.

Share your favorite almost cast stories in the comments and tell us which near miss surprised you most.