Jamie Foxx, Jerry Maguire
A botched audition from nerves led toJamie Foxxnot receiving the role thatCuba Gooding, Jr.secured inJerry Maguire,according to a post fromWENN. “I blew it, man,” Foxx said of the experience. “Maybe I wasn’t ready. Tom was just too famous, and I was too young.”
At the time, Foxx was better known as a comedian rather than a dramatic actor. Though nervous auditioning alongsideTom Cruise, the actor is now a star in his own right. He won the Academy Award for his performance inRay,released 2005 and was nominated that same year for his supporting role inCollateral.
Scarlett Johansson, Jumanji
Many years beforeScarlett Johanssonwould become the Black Widow, she auditioned for the role of Judy inJumanjibut lost out on the role toKirsten Dunst. The 1995 film was yet another win for Dunst, who had already starred inLittle WomenandInterview With a Vampirein 1994.
This rejection did not deter Johansson, who would later go on to wow audiences inThe Horse Whispererin 1998, andGhost Worldin 2001. The actress has proven herself to be multi-faceted, with roles in arthouse movies likeGirl With a Pearl Earringto the blockbusterAvengersseries.
John Cusack, The Breakfast Club
It’s hard to imagine anyone butJudd Nelsonin the role of Bender fromThe Breakfast Clubnow, but the relatively unknownJohn Cusackwas considered for the role before Nelson was cast.Nicolas Cagewas also considered, well-known even back then and considered in an effort to bring star power to the movie.
DirectorJohn Hugheshad already worked with Cusack inSixteen Candles, which is likely why Cusack was considered. Ultimately, it was decided that Nelson would be the best fit and Cusack was snubbed for the role. Cusack didn’t have long to wait though, as his breakout role was that same year in 1985’sSay Anything.
Jennifer Aniston, Pulp Fiction
1994 was a big year for Jennifer Aniston, who, despite getting passed over for the role of Mia in the classic filmPulp Fictionstill performed in a breakout role that year. Mia was played byUma Thurman, while Aniston starred as Rachel in the hit tv showFriends.
Mia Wallace is often considered an iconic role, and it’s difficult now to imagine anyone but Thurman in the part.Friendsis still so popular that it even made headlines when the 90s sitcom was rumored to be expiring from Netflix. So for Aniston, it seems she lucked out after all.
Christopher Walken, Love Story
For an actor as seasoned asChristopher Walken, it’s hard to imagine a time before he was A-list let alone imagining him rejected for any roles. Of course, even he had to start somewhere. Though he had a few roles under his belt, Walken was rejected for the role of Oliver in the 1970 filmLove Story.
Though Walken had screen tested for the part and director Arthur Hiller was in favor of him taking on the role, the part ultimately went toRyan O’ Neal.Walken was also considered for the iconic role of Han Solo, which, of course, went toHarrison Ford.Walken’s breakout role was arguablyThe Deer Hunterin 1978.
Eric McCormack, Friends
Will & GracestarEric McCormackauditioned multiple times for the role of Ross onFriendsbut ultimately lost out toDavid Schwimmer.Though he missed out on the role for the series which started in 1994, just four years later he would star in his own sitcom alongsideDebra Messing.
Though he missed out on one of the most famous TV series of the 90s,Will & Graceran for a very respectable eight seasons originally and is now back and running again since 2017’s revival of the series. Besides, it’s hard to imagine anyone but Schwimmer saying “We were on a break!”
Meryl Streep, King Kong
Meryl Streepsaid she was rejected for a role in the reboot ofKing Kong(1976). ProducerDino De Laurentiis’s son took the actress to meet with his father. He said to his son, in Italian, “ [why do you bring me this] ugly thing,” according to Streep, who talked about the rejection onThe Graham Norton show.
The now Academy Award-winning actress was only 26 at the time. Since Streep spoke Italian, she was able to sardonically reply back to De Laurentiis that she was sorry to not be beautiful enough forKing Kong.It’s reassuring that even Meryl Streep faced rejection early in her career!
Harrison Ford, The Graduate
Though practically an unknown actor at the time,Harrison Fordalmost snagged the coveted role of Benjamin Braddock inThe Graduate. The role ended up going toDustin Hoffman. For Hoffman, it was a breakout role. Luckily for us, the then 25-year-old Ford wasn’t deterred from the industry.
Ford was also rejected for the role of John Buck inMidnight Cowboyand, as mentioned earlier, nearly missed out on the iconic role of Han Solo inStar Wars. From there, Ford was in high demand and spent far more time declining roles than being rejected, according toMental Floss.
Martin Sheen, The Godfather
Among several contenders for the role of Michael Corleone in the 1972 filmThe GodfatherwasMartin Sheen. At the time, Sheen was an actor with steady work in various TV and film roles, but he ultimately lost out toAl Pacino. Sheen did work with directorFrancis Ford Coppolalater.
In Coppola’sApocalypse Now,released in 1979, Sheen had his breakout performance asCaptain Benjamin L. Willard. Since then, Sheen went on to a number of notable projects, though he is perhaps most recognizable as the lead of the popular television seriesThe West Wing,which ran from 1999 to 2006.
Michelle Pfeiffer, Flashdance
Michelle Pfeifferauditioned for the lead role in the 1983 movieFlashdance— a role which ultimately went toJennifer Beals. Pfeiffer was relatively known at the time for her role inGrease 2but hadn’t really had her breakthrough role yet. She didn’t have to wait too long, though.
Pfeiffer portrayed Elvira Hancock inScarface, which also released in 1983 and was a notable performance for the young actress. The 80s proved to be a successful decade for Pfeiffer, who was praised for performances inThe Witches of Eastwick, Married to the Mob, Dangerous Liaisons, andThe Fabulous Baker Boys.
