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Stars Who Almost Starred In Iconic Roles
16 Jun
Summary
- Madonna was considered for Catwoman, regretting passing on the role.
- Scarlett Johansson auditioned for Judy in Jumanji, losing to Dunst.
- Eddie Redmayne's audition for Kylo Ren was described as 'catastrophically bad'.
Hollywood casting decisions often create fascinating 'what-if' scenarios, with many major stars nearly appearing in roles that became iconic for others. Madonna, for instance, was considered for the role of Catwoman in Batman Returns, a decision she later expressed regret over.
Scarlett Johansson auditioned for the role of Judy in the 1995 film Jumanji, though Kirsten Dunst ultimately secured the part. Similarly, Amanda Seyfried auditioned multiple times for Glinda in Wicked before Ariana Grande was cast.
Eddie Redmayne recalled his audition for Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as 'catastrophically bad,' a role that Adam Driver ultimately took. Ben Affleck was also considered for Josh in Clueless, a part that would have marked a departure from his typical roles.
Other notable near-misses include Gwen Stefani auditioning for Jane Smith in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Emma Watson passing on Mia in La La Land due to a scheduling conflict. John Krasinski tested for Captain America, even wearing the suit, before Chris Evans was cast.
Matthew McConaughey was a contender for Jack in Titanic, reportedly losing the role over his accent. Jennifer Lawrence auditioned for Bella Swan in Twilight but was rejected quickly, and Robert De Niro was initially cast as Josh in Big before a dispute led to Tom Hanks taking the part.