Today, starring in a superhero film is an extremely profitable endeavor. For some, the regular paycheck is a large draw. Others use the cash and connections they make via superhero work to fund ardour tasks. Then, after all, there’s the fun of being in a superhero film. Exhausting to beat, proper?
Properly, the superhero film life is not for everybody. Some fairly well-known actors have turned down roles in superhero films. Some have cited scheduling conflicts as the explanation behind turning down a possibility, whereas others simply weren’t involved in committing to franchises or have been nervous in regards to the threat of being typecast sooner or later. Every actor on this checklist had his or her personal purpose for saying no, however one factor is evident. All of them went on to have spectacular careers even and not using a superhero connection.
10
Russell Crowe
Hugh Jackman has been taking part in the long-lasting X-Males character, Wolverine, for years now. He began within the 2000 X-Males film and has reprised the position a number of instances over the previous 24 years, most not too long ago in Deadpool & Wolverine. Today, it is arduous to think about anybody else within the position — but it surely virtually did not occur.
Hugh Jackman Has Russell Crowe to Thank
In a 2018 interview on The Howard Stern Present, Jackman revealed that the position was supplied to Russell Crowe earlier than he was thought of for the half. Director Bryan Singer had supplied the half to Russel Crowe, who was about to have enormous success with the film Gladiator. Crowe handed on the film and advisable Jackman for the position as an alternative. Jackman was filming the musical Oklahoma! for tv on the time and Wolverine was a game-changing position for him.
9
Angela Bassett
Crowe wasn’t the one actor to move on X-Males. Angela Bassett was initially supplied the position of Storm. By this time, Bassett had been performing in tv and movie for the reason that Nineteen Eighties. She starred in films equivalent to Malcolm X, Contact, and How Stella Bought Her Groove Again. Screenwriter David Hayter tells The Hollywood Reporter that Bassett was their “first selection” to play Storm, although the position finally go to Halle Berry. Hayter says that Bassett’s brokers wished the actress to be paid extra, however this was within the days earlier than superhero films have been enormous moneymakers and so there wasn’t sufficient within the funds to extend her wage.
Becoming a member of the MCU for Wakanda
Whereas Bassett did not be a part of the X-Males franchise, she finally joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In 2018, Bassett starred in Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther adaptation alongside Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Lupita Nyong’o. Bassett performs Queen Ramonda in Black Panther, who’s Queen Mom of Wakanda and mom to Boseman’s T’Challa. She returned for the sequel to reprise the position.
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8
Jon Hamm
Jon Hamm is a self-professed “comedian guide nerd” and has been selective about superhero films. In a 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Mad Males star defined that although he was supplied the 2011 Inexperienced Lantern film, he knew that was one he “positively didn’t wish to do.” The movie went ahead with out Hamm. Ryan Reynolds starred within the title position, however the movie did not fare effectively.
Hamm Hasn’t Dominated Superheroes Motion pictures Out
Whereas Hamm stated “no” to Inexperienced Lantern, he isn’t against sometime becoming a member of the MCU. “I’ve pitched myself for a pair elements of the Marvel universe,” notes the actor. “I don’t wish to say what precisely, but it surely was part of a comic book guide that I actually favored.” Hamm has but to reveal which comedian he’s involved in adapting for the display screen.
7
Sandra Bullock
This one is a little bit of a thriller. Fowl Field star Sandra Bullock has gone on document a number of instances admitting that she was supplied a job in a superhero film, however turned it down. Nevertheless, she will not say which film. Throughout an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Stay in 2021, Bullock defined that her son advised her to not take the position, and he or she listened to his recommendation.
Hypothesis Continues
Bullock famous that the film in query was not related to Marvel or DC, however she believes she made the best choice. Bullock noticed this movie when it got here out and was glad she hadn’t accepted the half. Web sleuths suspect that she turned down this thriller position someday round 2016, however have but to determine which superhero film she’s alluding to in interviews.
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6
Jude Regulation
Loads of actors have performed Superman through the years, and Jude Regulation was virtually one in all them. In a 2024 interview with The Playlist’s The Discourse podcast, Regulation admitted that he virtually starred in a Superman film directed by Brett Ratner 20 years in the past. They even had him are available in and take a look at on the swimsuit, hoping it will win him over. It did not work.
A Film That By no means Materialized
Whereas Regulation was tempted, he in the end turned down the half and the film by no means received made. David Corenswet is the most recent actor to play Superman, starring in James Gunn’s 2025 film. Earlier than that, Superman was performed by Henry Cavill in Zack Snyder’s Man of Metal and Batman v Superman: Daybreak of Justice.
5
Amanda Seyfried
Do you know Amanda Seyfried was virtually in Guardians of the Galaxy? The Mamma Mia! star was supplied the position of Gamora, however turned it down, and the half in the end went to Zoe Saldaña. As a substitute of becoming a member of the MCU, Seyfried accepted a job in MacFarlane’s western comedy A Million Methods to Die within the West.
Afraid the Film Would Flop
Seyfried wasn’t thrilled in regards to the concept of shifting to London for manufacturing or having to be painted inexperienced for the position. She favored director James Gunn when she met him, however wasn’t positive the film would succeed. “I believed that as a result of this was a couple of speaking tree and a speaking raccoon, that it was going to be Marvel’s first bomb,” Seyfried explains on Josh Horowitz’s Completely happy Unhappy Confused podcast. In fact, Guardians of the Galaxy went on to be an enormous success, however on the time Seyfried wasn’t comfy taking the danger.
4
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Joseph Gordon-Levitt was no stranger to superhero films when he was supplied the a part of Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord) in Guardians of the Galaxy. In 2012, the previous youngster star performed a key position in Christopher Nolan’s The Darkish Knight Rises. In response to Indiewire, Gordon-Levitt was up for the position of Peter Quill after Joel Edgerton, Jim Sturgess, and Eddie Redmayne had all handed on it.
Choosing a Graphic Novel Sequel As a substitute
As a substitute of becoming a member of the MCU, Gordon-Levitt determined to play Johnny in Robert Rodriguez’s 2014 Sin Metropolis sequel. Parks and Recreation star Chris Pratt in the end gained the position of Peter Quill, which supercharged the actor’s movie profession. Additionally it is reported that Gordon-Levitt was up for the title position in Ant-Man however misplaced out to Paul Rudd.
3
Leonardo DiCaprio
Think about turning down a superhero film not as soon as, however twice. That is precisely what Leonardo DiCaprio did. In 1995, DiCaprio was eyed for the position of Robin in Tim Burton’s Batman Perpetually. As a substitute, DiCaprio opted to star in The Basketball Diaries, which actually showcased his skills as an actor and gained him an award on the Los Angeles Movie Competition.
How Tobey Maguire Grew to become Spider-Man
A superhero position got here knocking for DiCaprio once more within the early 2000s. The completed actor, who had starred in Titanic a couple of years earlier, was author and director James Cameron’s option to play Peter Parker in a Spider-Man adaptation. DiCaprio declined the half, recommending pal and fellow actor Tobey Maguire as a substitute. Maguire went on to star within the extremely profitable 2002 Spider-Man film directed by Sam Raimi.
2
Emily Blunt
Emily Blunt is one other A-Record actor who turned down two superhero films. In a 2021 look on The Howard Stern Present, Blunt defined that she was in talks to play Natasha Romanoff (often called Black Widow) in Iron Man 2 — a job that may be expanded upon because the MCU grew. Sadly, Blunt was already contracted to star in Gulliver’s Travels. She wished to play Black Widow as an alternative, however her arms have been tied. The position went to Scarlett Johansson.
A number of Scheduling Conflicts
The subsequent yr, Blunt was later supplied the a part of Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger. Sadly, she had a scheduling battle there as effectively. “It simply wasn’t the best time,” Blunt tells Vulture. Peggy Carter was in the end performed by Hayley Atwell, who appeared because the character in a number of films and tv reveals.
1
Josh Hartnett
Josh Hartnett is greatest identified at this time for indie movies, the Gothic tv sequence Penny Dreadful, and daring character decisions in films like M. Evening Shyamalan’s Entice. Again within the day, nonetheless, he was an early 2000s heart-throb eyed for a number of superhero tasks. Whereas it is typically been stated that he turned down three superhero films, Hartnett insists that he solely turned down one superhero position.
How Many Did He Actually Flip Down?
Hartnett was in talks to play Spider-Man at one level and in talks to play Batman in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins in 2005, however he did not flip down formal presents. “I might solely turned down Superman as a straight-up provide,” he clarifies. This is able to have been the identical Superman film that Jude Regulation turned down. Hartnett admits that he was thought of for quite a lot of superhero films throughout this time, however did not decide to any of them. “I am a little bit bit outdoors of the field and had the leverage to do this,” he provides, “and that is the path I selected.”