Hollywood Actors Who Rejected Blockbuster Roles: From Emily Blunt to Jim Carrey

Pink Villa

22-05-2025

While we have always enjoyed the blockbuster movies that have mesmerized us with intriguing storylines, there have been actors who have rejected a significant role in these outings.
These actors range from Emily Blunt to Sean Connery to Jim Carrey. Read on to learn about the highly acclaimed roles that were rejected by some high-class actors.
Emily Blunt- Rejected Role in Iron Man 2
Role Rejected: Black Widow
Director: Jon Favreau
Release Year: 2010
Why It Was a Big Deal: The role later became an essential figure in the MCU, joining the Avengers.
Reason for Rejection: Emily Blunt rejected the role as she was contractually obligated to work on Gulliver's Travels.
What Happened Afterward: While the role later went to Scarlet Johansson, the Marvel Studios movie became a big thing, eventually the character getting its own solo film, Black Widow, in 2021.
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Where to Watch: Disney+
Why It's Noteworthy:
Black Widow happens to be a role that had a major say in the Avengers. After Emily Blunt rejected this role, the MCU continued to grow, gaining grand success in the years 2018 and 2019.
Leonardo DiCaprio-Rejected Role in Brokeback Mountain
Role Rejected: Ennis Del Mar
Director: Ang Lee
Release Year: 2005
Why It Was a Big Deal: Brokeback Mountain gained massive success and is one of the most appreciated films ever.
Reason for Rejection: While the cause is still unknown, it was not only Leonardo DiCaprio who rejected the role but also Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, as well as Ryan Phillippe.
What Happened Afterward: The role later went to Heath Ledger, who starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, in this drama focusing on a homosexual relationship.
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Where to Watch: Apple TV+
Why It's Noteworthy:
Brokeback Mountain is one of the greatest entries that talk about homosexual relationships. Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger both play a couple in love.
Anne Hathaway— Rejected Role in Knocked Up
Role Rejected: Alison
Director: Judd Apatow
Release Yea r: 2007
Why It Was a Big Deal: This movie could have played a major role in the success of Anne Hathaway's career. The movie was a rom-com that also starred Seth Rogen.
Reason for Rejection: Anne Hathaway revealed in a 2007 interview with Marie Claire magazine that it was the nudity she found unnecessary, which is why she rejected the role.
What Happened Afterward: The role later went to Katherine Heigl, and is still the one that is loved by many fans of romantic comedies.
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Where to Watch: Not available online
Why It's Noteworthy:
Later, the role of Alison was played by Katherine Heigl, which then also ignited a bit of controversy as people accused it of being "a little sexist," movie.
Sean Connery – Rejected Role in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Role Rejected: Gandalf
Director: Peter Jackson
Release Year: 2001
Why It Was a Big Deal: The Lord of the Rings is one of the most loved franchises in the history of cinema.
Reason for Rejection: As per Sean Connery, he never understood the role, even though he read the books and script.
What Happened Afterward: The LOTR franchise later went on to earn more than $2.9 billion worldwide at the box office.
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Why It's Noteworthy:
The role later went on to Ian McKellen, who helmed the character for all three grand entries.
Tom Hanks – Rejected Role in Jerry Maguire
Role Rejected: Jerry Maguire
Director: Cameron Crowe
Release Year: 1996
Why It Was a Big Deal: Jerry Maguire is an epic entry of Tom Cruise. It's not only about his personal life but also about the rejection and the struggle to become an independent agent in the world of athletics.
Reason for Rejection: Tom Hanks rejected the role as he was focused on That Thing You Do.
What Happened Afterward: Tom Cruise perfectly portrayed the character of Jerry Maguire, who even received praise from Tom Hanks, the actor who was kept in mind while writing the character.
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Why It's Noteworthy:
Tom Cruise was later approached with the offer, which he accepted. The movie is still called one of the best outings in Tom Cruise's career.
Johnny Depp – Rejected Role in Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Role Rejected: Ferris Bueller
Director: John Hughes
Release Year: 1986
Why It Was a Big Deal: The role of Ferris Bueller was a perfect one for Johnny Depp as the character was shown to be a brash, and cocky high school senior.
Reason for Rejection: Reason unknown.
What Happened Afterward: The role would have been Depp's earliest role in the movie. However, the role later went to Matthew Broderick.
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Why It's Noteworthy:
Johnny Depp would have had his break in the film industry through this outing. However, Matthew Broderick played a significant part.
Tom Cruise – Rejected Role in Footloose
Role Rejected: Ren
Director: Herbert Ross
Release Year: 1984
Why It Was a Big Deal: Well, the movie had a perfect atmosphere to have a young Tom Cruise in the lead role, having all the energy.
Reason for Rejection: Tom Cruise had scheduling issues while filming All the Right Moves.
What Happened Afterward: Kevin Bacon took over the role, while he was already one of the highest-grossing stars back in the day.
IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Where to Watch: Apple TV
Why It's Noteworthy:
While Tom Cruise wanted to do the movie, he had to agree to Kevin Bacon taking over because of the scheduling conflicts.
Charlie Hunnam – Rejected Role in Fifty Shades of Grey
Role Rejected: Christian Grey
Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson
Release Year: 2015
Why It Was a Big Deal: Following the novel of the same name, the Fifty Shades film later became a widely loved franchise.
Reason for Rejection: He had already announced that he would play the role. However, he had to take a departure from the film after he had scheduling issues.
What Happened Afterward: The role went to Jamie Dornan, with Hunnman calling his departure 'the worst professional experience of [his] life.'
IMDb Rating: 4.2/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why It's Noteworthy:
The Fifty Shades of Grey series is the most celebrated franchise. The movie also stars Dakota Johnson.
Mel Gibson – Rejected Role in Gladiator
Role Rejected: Maximus
Director: Ridley Scott
Release Year: 2000
Why It Was a Big Deal: The movie is one of the highly acclaimed works of historical fiction.
Reason for Rejection: The actor thought he was too old.
What Happened Afterward: While the role went on to Russell Crowe, the film became a great art and a story that still mesmerises a lot of people.
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why It's Noteworthy:
Gladiator is a movie still celebrated by generations. It even got its sequel in 2024.
Benicio Del Toro – Rejected Role in Star Trek: Into Darkness
Role Rejected: Khan
Director: J.J. Abrams
Release Year: 2013
Why It Was a Big Deal: Khan's role in the Star Trek movie is still considered one of the greatest.
Reason for Rejection: The actor walked away due to disagreements over payment issues.
What Happened Afterward: The role went to Benedict Cumberbatch, who portrayed a perfect villain.
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Where to Watch: Apple TV
Why It's Noteworthy:
It was solely the disagreement over payment that led Benicio Del Toro to reject the role.
Matt Damon – Rejected Role in Avatar
Role Rejected: Jake Sully
Director: James Cameron
Release Year: 2009
Why It Was a Big Deal: Avatar is one of the highest-grossing films, which has now become a franchise.
Reason for Rejection: The actor had scheduling conflicts with The Bourne Ultimatum.
What Happened Afterward: The role went to Sam Worthington, who also reprised the role for Avatar: The Way of Water.
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Where to Watch: Disney+
Why It's Noteworthy:
The role could have been a big opportunity for Matt Damon, helping him become a part of another big franchise.
Jim Carrey – Rejected Role in Elf
Role Rejected: Buddy the Elf
Director: Jon Favreau
Release Year: 2003
Why It Was a Big Deal: It could have been a perfect role for the actor.
Reason for Rejection: By the time the movie came out of development and made it to production, which was 10 years later after he agreed to star in it, Jim Carrey had already starred as the Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
What Happened Afterward: The role of Elf went to Will Ferrell.
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Where to Watch: Hulu + Live TV plan
Why It's Noteworthy: