Actors Who Auditioned To Play The Hero And Ended Up As The Villain

Sometimes the path to a great villain starts with a hopeful try at the hero. Casting can twist in surprising ways and a brave audition can reveal something no one expected. When that happens the person who wanted to save the day discovers they are actually perfect for making life difficult for the real lead.

These switches are often the secret sauce behind memorable bad guys. The confidence you need to chase the heroic spotlight turns into sharp edges, charm, or a quiet menace that steals scenes. Here are ten times an actor reached for the protagonist and ended up making the antagonist unforgettable.

Cillian Murphy

Before he put on the burlap mask, Cillian Murphy tested for Bruce Wayne in ‘Batman Begins’. The suit fittings and camera tests proved he had the presence for Gotham but director Christopher Nolan noticed something else in those eyes. That cool intelligence felt unnerving in the best way.

Murphy did not get the cowl yet he became a perfect Scarecrow. His soft voice and clinical calm made fear feel precise and personal. The choice unlocked a thread that ran across the trilogy and showed how a near miss for the lead can invent a villain with lasting bite.

Tom Hiddleston

Tom Hiddleston swung the hammer during early tests for ‘Thor’. He bulked up, learned the moves, and chased the noble glow that defines the God of Thunder. The team saw a different spark though, one that tilted toward mischief and layered motives.

As Loki he slipped into scenes with wit and wounded pride. The audition for the hero gave him the posture and power to stand beside the lead while the performance leaned into sly timing and pain. The result turned a would be thunder god into the most delightful troublemaker in the room.

James Franco

James Franco read for Peter Parker in ‘Spider-Man’, aiming for the shy charm and quick brain that make the character click. The producers liked him yet the puzzle pieces fit another way once the cast came together. There was chemistry to explore from a different angle.

As Harry Osborn he started as a friend, which made the later turn sting. The earlier hero chase brought empathy to a role that could have felt simple. That mix of loyalty, jealousy, and grief created an antagonist who hurt because he once felt so close.

Tom Felton

Tom Felton first auditioned for Harry and also tried out for Ron in ‘Harry Potter’. The team saw a confident kid with an easy smirk who could command attention in a hallway scene. The hero did not fit, yet another role suddenly did.

As Draco Malfoy he became the perfect foil. Felton’s early hero attempts gave him a steadiness that kept Draco from feeling flimsy. The character’s swagger and insecurity landed because the actor knew how to carry lead energy and twist it into something sharper.

Michael Rosenbaum

Michael Rosenbaum walked into ‘Smallville’ hoping to wear the glasses and play Clark Kent. He nailed the warmth and quick humor yet the producers heard a magnetic edge in the reading. That edge sounded like a future adversary.

As Lex Luthor he turned charm into calculation. The hero minded audition taught him how to play sincerity, which made betrayals land harder. His Lex worked because you could believe the friendship first, then watch ambition slowly take the wheel.

Iwan Rheon

Iwan Rheon came very close to playing Jon Snow in ‘Game of Thrones’. He had the quiet intensity and the grit for the Wall. The showrunners noticed how that intensity could also curdle into something cruel if aimed the other way.

As Ramsay Bolton he turned silence into threat and smiles into weapons. The initial push for a noble lead gave him the stillness of a hero in waiting, which made the vicious choices feel chilling. It was a bold swerve that the show used to terrifying effect.

Lee Pace

Lee Pace tested for Peter Quill in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. He brought looseness and a playful streak to the room, yet the filmmakers also saw a towering presence that could anchor a very different energy. That presence found a new home.

As Ronan the Accuser he became a wall of purpose. The hero tryout taught him confidence that read as heavy conviction when he switched sides. The contrast helped the movie sing, putting bright comedy against a villain who refused to bend.

Sebastian Stan

Sebastian Stan went after Steve Rogers in ‘Captain America’. He had the resolve and the heart, but the puzzle shifted when the right shield bearer appeared. What the team kept seeing was a loyal spark that might one day burn in a darker way.

As Bucky Barnes he began as a steadfast friend and later became the Winter Soldier. The earlier focus on heroism gave depth to the fall, so the antagonist felt tragic rather than simple. That history made every fight feel like a plea as much as a punch.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams auditioned to play Cady Heron in ‘Mean Girls’. She could easily lead the story with warmth and curiosity. During the process the filmmakers realized she also carried a perfect poise that could tilt into social dominance.

As Regina George she turned sugar into steel. The hero leaning read gave the character clarity and presence, which made the comedy sharper and the power plays feel real. The switch created a teen villain who still defines the genre.

Ben Hardy

Ben Hardy tried out for Scott Summers in ‘X-Men Apocalypse’. He chased the straight arrow leadership and the quiet pressure that sits on a team’s shoulders. The creative team saw how his athletic focus and intensity might flare in a different direction.

As Angel he flew into the story with raw edges and pride. The earlier hero tests gave him clean lines and control that turned fierce once the character made harder choices. The result delivered a rival who looked built for the skies and ready for a fight.

Share your favorite hero to villain audition switch in the comments and tell us which performances surprised you the most.