Roles Almost Played by Others
By Radiocity Team
Published Jun 25, 2025
Will Smith as Neo in The Matrix
Will Smith turned down Neo to film Wild Wild West. Keanu Reeves took the role and became a sci-fi icon in cinematic history.
Tom Cruise as Iron Man
Before Robert Downey Jr. was cast, Tom Cruise was considered for Tony Stark. The Marvel Universe could’ve looked very different.
Emily Blunt as Black Widow
Emily Blunt was the original choice, but scheduling conflicts led to Scarlett Johansson taking over and owning the role for a decade.
Al Pacino as Han Solo
Pacino passed on Star Wars because he didn’t understand the script. Harrison Ford stepped in and made Han Solo legendary.
Gwyneth Paltrow as Rose in Titanic
James Cameron initially considered Paltrow before casting Kate Winslet, whose performance became iconic in the blockbuster love story.
Matt Damon as Jake in Avatar
Damon declined due to Bourne commitments—losing the biggest box office role ever, which eventually went to Sam Worthington.
John Travolta as Forrest Gump
Travolta turned down the part that won Tom Hanks an Oscar. He later admitted it was one of the biggest mistakes of his career.
Ancient Queen Massage Rituals
